Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

Latest Episodes:

Why We Miss the Abuse — And How to Break Free from the Confusion Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

Why do so many survivors miss they’re being abuse?

In this Labor Day Special, I’m revisiting three powerful interviews that follow the journey from denial to freedom.

Whether you’re still in or out of a toxic relationship, learning to recognize the psychological patterns can help you plan your next step toward freedom.

Have a Fan Mail Question?

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Resources

The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support

Follow Kerry!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D., an author and educator, helps listeners decode toxic dynamics, recognize manipulation, and rebuild self-trust.

As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases.

This podcast/video is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute therapy, counseling, or professional mental health advice, nor does listening create a doctor-patient or therapist-client relationship. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911 or contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 (US/Canada).

Why the Narcissist’s Mask Slips: Answering Your Fan Mail Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

Is my daughter-in-law a malignant narcissist? How did she hide her worst qualities for so long?

Today, Dr. Kerry answers 2 listeners’ questions.

The first is from New York, New York about narcissists’ public and private personas. Many narcissistic individuals create a false mask to hide their worst qualities.

The second comes from Southern Pines, North Carolina, who wants to know more about love-bombing.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION!

If you would like your question addressed on air, please respond here!

Submit your question to be answered on air here!

Resources

The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support

Follow Kerry!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D., an author and educator, helps listeners decode toxic dynamics, recognize manipulation, and rebuild self-trust.

As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases.

Exposing Love Bombing: Insights from The Wolf of Wall Street’s Ex-Wife Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

What if the person you fell in love with never really existed?

In this episode, Dr. Nae — psychologist, author of Run Like Hell, and former wife of the real “Wolf of Wall Street” — exposes how master manipulators use love-bombing, mirroring, and coercive control to create a false sense of intimacy.

Podcast Extra Exclusive Interview
Find it here the exclusive interview and weekly newsletter.
More About the Podcast Extra Interview

🔹 Leaving a trauma bond isn’t just about walking away—it’s about planning your freedom in a way that keeps you safe.

In this exclusive podcast extra conversation, Dr. Nae shares the exact steps survivors need to protect themselves before, during, and after leaving a toxic relationship.

Get immediate access to this extended interview for effective strategies and confidence-building insight.

👉 Gain access today

More About Dr. Nae

Submit your question to be answered on air here!

Resources

The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support

Follow Kerry!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D., an author and educator, helps listeners decode toxic dynamics, recognize manipulation, and rebuild self-trust.

As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases.

He Has Successfully Destroyed Me! Answering Your Fan Mail Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to our new podcast segment called Fan Mail! This is where Dr. Kerry answers your questions.

To kick off our weekly bonus episode, Dr. Kerry is responding to a listener who writes, “He has destroyed me and my world after 16 years of marriage.” -- from Westminster California
More About the Episode

Today Dr. Kerry answers two fan mail requests:
1. "Please address abuse from a man's perspective." -Cleveland, Ohio
2. "I can't heal...He's successfully destroyed my world. -Westminster, California
Submit Your Question

If you would like your question addressed on air, please respond here.

Submit your question to be answered on air here!

Resources

The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support

Follow Kerry!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D., an author and educator, helps listeners decode toxic dynamics, recognize manipulation, and rebuild self-trust.

As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases.

Dr. Les Carter on the #1 Sign Someone Lacks Emotional Maturity in Conflict Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

What’s the single biggest giveaway that someone lacks emotional maturity — especially when the pressure’s on?

In this episode, Dr. Les Carter, psychologist, best-selling author, and expert on narcissism and emotional health, reveals the #1 sign of low emotional maturity during conflict. We dive into how this pattern plays out in everyday disagreements, and what you can do to protect your own emotional space when dealing with it.

Podcast Extra Exclusive Interview
Find it here for the exclusive interview and weekly newsletter.
More About the Podcast Extra Interview
🔹 Ever wish you could walk away from a heated argument without feeling guilty—or second-guessing yourself?

In this exclusive bonus conversation, Dr. Les Carter shares his best strategies for stepping out of circular or controlling exchanges before they drain you.
👉 Gain access today!

More About Dr. Carter
Books:

Submit your question to be answered on air here!

Resources

The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support

Follow Kerry!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D., an author and educator, helps listeners decode toxic dynamics, recognize manipulation, and rebuild self-trust.

As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases.

The Part No One Talks About: What It Really Takes to Heal from Narcissistic Abuse Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

This week, I’m pulling back the curtain on something few of us talk about—the emotional toll of surviving narcissistic abuse after the relationship ends. Healing is hard. Helping others heal while still navigating your own recovery? Even harder. In this episode, I share why I’m taking a short summer hiatus—and how you can still stay connected and supported during this time.

Submit your question to be answered on air here!

Resources

The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support

Follow Kerry!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D., an author and educator, helps listeners decode toxic dynamics, recognize manipulation, and rebuild self-trust.

As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases.

What’s Wrong With Me? Why Abuse Victims Believe They're the Narcissist May 26, 2025

Show notes

This US holiday weekend, let’s revisit three of your favorite podcast episodes. Interestingly, they all have the same theme: why narcissistic abuse survivors initially think they’re the problem.

Clip 1 is from Season 3 Episode 133: "How mad can I make you?" The Toxic Games Covert Narcissists Play”

Video: https://youtu.be/pfU0y1ycgtg

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150391/episodes/15052505

Clip 2 is from Seoson 3 Episode 123: “Am I The Narcissist? When Toxic People Accuse You of Being The Problem”

Video: https://youtu.be/wwKnai4Gu2M

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150391/episodes/14715474

Clip 3 is from Season 2, Episode 107: “Here's Why You're Not Spotting a Covert Narcissist…”

Video: https://youtu.be/QaZovKhVoTc

Audio https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150391/episodes/13845831

Submit your question to be answered on air here!

Resources

The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support

Follow Kerry!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D., an author and educator, helps listeners decode toxic dynamics, recognize manipulation, and rebuild self-trust.

As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases.

Have Bad Taste in Partners? The Red Flags We Often Miss May 19, 2025

Show notes

Why do we pick bad partners? Is purely because of deception or are we missing early warning signs of a toxicity?

This week, author and clinician, Mary Crocker Cook joins us to discuss the problems of early socialization and different expectation in the dysfunctional relationship.

Submit your question to be answered on air here!

Resources

The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support

Follow Kerry!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D., an author and educator, helps listeners decode toxic dynamics, recognize manipulation, and rebuild self-trust.

As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases.

How Your Relationship Changes When Your Partner Has Narcissism and ADHD May 12, 2025

Show notes

Can someone be both narcissistic and neurodivergent?

This week, ADHD coach and neurodiversity educator Sheila Henson joins Dr. Kerry to explore the nuanced overlap between narcissistic traits and ADHD. Together, they unpack how these two very different dynamics can sometimes co-exist—and what that means for the health of your relationship.

Submit your question to be answered on air here!

Resources

The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support

Follow Kerry!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D., an author and educator, helps listeners decode toxic dynamics, recognize manipulation, and rebuild self-trust.

As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases.

When Is It Really Over? The Top Signs a Dying Relationship May 05, 2025

Show notes

Is your relationship displaying signs that it’s over? Maybe it’s on its last legs, and you wonder if it can be saved?

In this episode, Dr. Becky Whetstone delves into the complexities of relationships, particularly focusing on the challenges faced during marriage crises. She shares her experiences and insights as a marriage therapist, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and recognizing the signs of an unhealthy relationship.

Learn more about Dr. Whetstone:

Website

Dr. Becky's Blog

Book: I (Think) I Want Out: What to Do When One of You Want to End Your Marriage

Submit your question to be answered on air here!

Resources