Beyond Survival - The Therapy Podcast with Katie McKenna

ADHD is something many people have heard of. You may know someone who has been diagnosed. You may already have a diagnosis, or maybe you’ve quietly wondered if it could explain parts of your life that have always felt harder than they should.
For a lot of people, the story sounds like this: “This is just me. I’m scattered. I’m forgetful. I start things and don’t finish them. I’m bad at routines.”
And over time, those patterns can become identity.
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Carthy, who specialises in ADHD, to unpack what ADHD can actually look like in real life — especially in girls and women, where it so often goes unseen and misunderstood.
Because ADHD doesn’t always look like the stereotype.
It can look like being high-functioning on the outside but overwhelmed on the inside.
It can look like chronic procrastination, emotional intensity, people-pleasing, or burnout.
It can look like constantly trying to “keep up” with a world that feels just slightly out of sync with how your brain works.
And for many women, it goes undiagnosed for years.
Instead, it gets labelled as anxiety.
Or sensitivity.
Or “just the way you are.”
In this conversation, we explore:
The different ways ADHD presents, particularly beyond the hyperactive stereotype
Why so many girls and women are missed or misdiagnosed
The emotional impact of living without answers
How ADHD can shape self-worth, relationships, and daily functioning
I also share my own personal journey with ADHD — what led me to explore it, what shifted when I began to understand it, and my experience with medication.
Because this isn’t just about diagnosis.
It’s about knowledge.
It’s about context.
It’s about recognising that some of the things you’ve been blaming yourself for, have never been character flaws to begin with.
Dr Sarah Carthy: www.adhddoc.ie
www.irelandadhd.ie
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BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

Adult children of narcissists parents often struggle to name what happened to them.
In this episode, I’m joined again by Dr. Rachna Buxani, and we’re exploring the different faces of narcissism — and why it can be so hard to recognise. 
While many people can spot the grandiose narcissist — the constant need to be the centre of attention, the arrogance, the lack of empathy — it’s the other, quieter forms of narcissism, that often go unnoticed and can be most confusing.
In this episode we explore more covert (or vulnerable) narcissism—the “poor me” dynamic, where someone positions themselves as the victim, appearing sensitive or misunderstood, while quietly centring everything around their own needs. 
This can show up as guilt-tripping, emotional withdrawal, stonewalling and blame-shifting that leaves you feeling responsible for their pain.
We also look at communal narcissism — where the narcissist is widely seen as generous and selfless. They can be deeply admired in their community, yet behind closed doors it's a complexity different story. There is a constant need for admiration, validation and control. This makes the relationship confusing and one-sided — and you doubt yourself, especially when your experience doesn’t match how the world sees them.
This conversation about making sense of what you’ve lived through — so you can begin to rebuild self-trust, set boundaries, and reconnect with your voice.
Unseen - A Therapist's Reflection on a Daughter's Journey Through a Narcissistic Father's Shadow
Dr. Rachna Buxani-Mirpuri
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BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

Becoming a mother is often spoken about as a time of softness. A time where a mother is held, supported, celebrated. Where care naturally gathers around her.
But for many adult children of narcissistic parents, pregnancy and having their own children can feel like the exact opposite.
Instead of support, there can be intrusion.
Instead of care, there can be control.
Instead of being seen, there can be a sudden and overwhelming sense of being claimed.
In this week’s episode of Beyond Survival – The Therapy Podcast, I’m joined by Kristin Morgan, who brings over a decade of experience in maternal mental health and reproductive psychology. Together, we explore the emotional complexity that can arise when an adult child steps into motherhood while still navigating a relationship with a narcissistic parent.
Because for many, pregnancy doesn’t just mark the beginning of a new life — it marks the re-emergence of old patterns.
Contact Kristin: www.morgancounsel.com 
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BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

When you’re raised by a narcissistic parent, the harm doesn’t come labelled as abuse.
 It comes wrapped in concern, protection, closeness, and sacrifice. “This is for your own good.” “I’m only saying this because I love you.” 
Over time, these messages don’t just justify the behaviour — they shape how you understand yourself.
In this episode, I unpack one of the most confusing and painful questions for adult children: How did I not know it was abuse? 
The reason you didn’t see it wasn’t because you missed something. It’s because it was never meant to be seen.
Through real-life examples, this episode breaks down the subtle ways narcissistic abuse hides in plain sight — from criticism framed as care, to control framed as protection, to emotional enmeshment disguised as closeness. I also look at why, even in adulthood, so many adults continue to turn the blame inward — and why that response makes sense.
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BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

There is such a thing as Healthy Anger — but if you grew up around narcissistic rage, that can feel hard to believe.
In this solo episode, I untangle the belief many adult children of narcissistic parents carry: the learned belief that anger is dangerous, destructive, or something to fear within yourself. 
When anger was only ever modelled as explosive outbursts or cold withdrawal, it makes sense that your system learned to shut it down entirely — or to associate it with shame.
I explore the crucial difference between anger, aggression, and rage. My hope is that you’ll begin to see anger —  not as something that turns you into “them” — but as a clean, protective signal from your nervous system. A signal that something matters. That something isn’t right. That something is wrong or unfair or unjustified. 
Our Healthy Anger signals to us that we deserve care, respect, and boundaries. That we exist. That we matter.
I also look at narcissistic rage — what drives it, why it feels so destabilising, and why it was never actually about you.
This is a steady, clarifying conversation about reclaiming anger as something safe, informative, and deeply self-respecting. Not something to act out — but something you’re allowed to feel.
The C.A.L.M Method is starting this Monday 20th April - I can't wait to welcome you in
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BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast