Beyond Survival - The Therapy Podcast with Katie McKenna

When you finally find the strength to go no contact with abusive parents, it can feel like the hardest decision you'll ever make. 
But what when of those parents becomes seriously ill?
This week we hear from a listener who spent decades trying to make sense of life with a covertly narcissistic mother and an enabling father before choosing to protect herself and her own family through estrangement. 
Over time, things have quietened, but the attempts to provoke contact have never fully stopped.

And then a brief letter arrives revealing her father's diagnosis, bringing with it an unexpected wave of grief, guilt and emotional conflict.

Together, Ruth and I explore one of the most painful questions adult children of narcissistic families face: 
Does a parent's illness change anything? 
Are boundaries possible?
Can you hold compassion for someone's suffering while still protecting yourself from further harm? 
If you've ever questioned your decision to remain no contact, worried that illness means you "should" go back, or struggled with the guilt that can surface when an abusive parent becomes vulnerable, this episode offers understanding, validation, and a compassionate framework for navigating one of the most emotionally complex situations adult survivors can face.

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BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

What happens when the behaviours that hurt you look similar to traits associated with autism or ADHD?
Where is the line between someone struggling because they're neurodivergent and someone causing harm through narcissistic patterns?

In this episode, we explore the important differences between intention, impact, empathy, accountability, and "own agenda" behaviour. 
We also talk about why understanding someone's neurodivergence doesn't require you to minimise your own experience or abandon the boundaries you've worked so hard to build.
If you've ever found yourself questioning whether the person who hurt you was narcissistic, neurodivergent, or both, this conversation will help you bring more clarity to a topic that is often misunderstood.
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BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

For many children raised by narcissistic parents, their body becomes another battleground where they learn that who they are is never quite acceptable. 
Too thin? There's a problem.
Too heavy? There's a problem.
Trying to improve yourself? That's a problem too.
" I always felt that I disappointed my parents and they didn't like me."
"I always went from chunky to super skinny and kept moving back and forth with my weight."
"As an adult now, I'm an emotional eater. Food is my comfort."
"I don't drink or use any substances but when it comes to eating I just struggle." 
"When I feel even a bit hungry I start to panic like the food will not be there later." 
If you've spent years blaming yourself for emotional eating, binge eating, constantly thinking about food, or feeling out of control around eating, this episode may help you understand something important:
What if your relationship with food isn't really about food at all?
Many adult children of narcissistic, emotionally immature, or dysfunctional parents grow up believing they have a lack of willpower. They tell themselves they're lazy, undisciplined, or simply incapable of maintaining healthy habits.
But often, what looks like a food problem is actually a nervous system problem.  
In this week's episode Dr. Ruth Callaghan and I, dive deep into this weeks letter of a listener of growing up with a narcissistic mother, an enabling father, family alcoholism, religious dysfunction, and a childhood where food became tangled up with love, safety, criticism, and survival.
Watch 'Beyond Survival' on YouTube
www.Bodywhys.ie
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BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

In this episode, Katie & Ruth hear from a listener in the "raw stages of estrangement" – navigating the grief, fear, and disorientation that can come when the reality of a dysfunctional family system finally comes into focus.
After years of minimising and carrying the impact of her father's emotional abuse, aggression, and physical violence – everything changed when that same behaviour was directed towards their young child. 
Faced with a choice between protecting family relationships or protecting her child – she chose to break a cycle that had been running for generations.
If you're currently navigating the painful early stages of estrangement, or questioning whether you're doing the right thing by choosing distance from harmful family dynamics, this conversation offers validation, understanding, and a reminder that protecting your children often begins with protecting yourself.
Watch 'Beyond Survival' on YouTube
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BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

What happens when the parent who always refused accountability finally agrees to therapy?

In this episode, Ruth and Katie explore the complex realities of dysfunctional family systems, the difference between reconciliation and repair, the risks and potential benefits of family therapy with a narcissistic or emotionally immature parent, and we delve deep into the pressure many adult children face to "keep the peace" from extended family – at the expense of their own wellbeing.

If you've ever wondered whether attending one final conversation is an act of self-respect or self-betrayal, this episode is for you.
Watch 'Beyond Survival' on YouTube
 Sign up to receive Parenting Support and get notified when Katie is running the next round of The CALM Method
BEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast