Beyond Survival - The Therapy Podcast with Katie McKenna

In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and author Dr Rachna Buxani, whose book Unseen: A Therapist’s Reflection on a Daughter’s Journey Through a Narcissistic Father’s Shadow.Together, we explore what happens when a father’s love feels more like control than care?We discuss the impact of growing up in emotional silence, the silent erosion of self-trust, and how a child learns to survive by disconnecting from her own voice. Dr Buxani shares reflections on memory, self-doubt, and the invisible grief of never feeling truly seen by a narcissistic father.If you’ve ever questioned your own experiences, apologised for having needs, or felt like love was something you had to earn, this episode is for you!Looking Forward 2026I’m excited to announce that I’ll be running another 6-Week C.A.L.M. Parent Method in February - Doors open January 26th -  Join the Waitlist today.Here's what some of the parents who completed the course last year have shared:“Doing The Calmer Parent course was absolutely invaluable” Nicola“This has been the most impactful course I’ve ever taken” Steph“I’m sincere when I say my husband and I have repeatedly said this is the best parenting course we’ve ever paid for” AnnalisaBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Natalie Fabert to explore a question I often return to: What if a narcissistic family system operates like a cult?When we hear the word cult, it can conjure images of something extreme, distant, or dramatic, something that happens to other people. But what if a cult simply describes a system. A system where one person’s reality becomes the only acceptable reality. Where it’s “my way or the highway.” Where you’re trained to question yourself, but never the person in charge.We’ll talk about how these systems are upheld through conditional love, inconsistent rules, and roles that determine your worth based on how well you perform. While education often focuses on the narcissist’s behaviour, this conversation looks beyond the individual to the wider system that protects and maintains the dynamic.Using real-life examples, we explore how the psychological dynamics of cults and narcissistic families can be strikingly similar.Dr. Natalie Fabert joins us from the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion, where she serves on the board of directors and oversees continuing education for clinicians. She is an associate teaching professor of psychology at Arizona State University and a licensed psychologist in private practice, specialising in work with survivors of cultic abuse, spiritual and religious abuse, and coercive control.If you grew up in a family where love felt conditional and you became hyper-vigilant, constantly monitoring and managing your narcissistic parent’s moods. Where you learned not to trust your own mind, and self-doubt became second nature, where obedience felt like survival in a home that trained you to question yourself but never the person in charge! Then this episode offers a powerful new lens for understanding what you lived through, and why it was never your fault.Dr. Natalie FabertLalich Center on Cults and CoercionAdd your name here if you'd like to know more about my parenting courseBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

In this episode, I explore the trauma responses many of us developed just to survive childhood and why they still show up in our adult lives. I’ll break down the main trauma responses, the core wounds they originate from, and how these patterns are shaped by growing up with narcissistic parents.I’ll also walk you through the four types of narcissistic parents and how each one impacts a child’s nervous system, sense of self, and relationships, and why your responses were never flaws, they were there survival responses!Most importantly, we’ll talk about healing: how to begin meeting the wounds underneath your trauma responses with compassion, safety, and choice, rather than shame. This episode is for anyone who has ever asked, “Why do I react this way?” and is ready to move beyond survival and into self-trust and emotional freedomIf you'd like to know more about my parenting course - add your name hereBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

This week, I'm unpacking one of the most common yet misunderstood experiences for adult children of narcissistic abuse: Narcissistic Parentification. I’ll walk through the different roles the children are cast into; Scapegoat Child, Golden Child, Enmeshed / Gilded Child, The Invisible Child, and how these roles profoundly shape your relationships, boundaries, identity, and sense of self today.By understanding the dynamics behind the role you were assigned, you can finally challenge the narratives that kept you small and start healing on your own terms.If you'd like to know more about my parenting course - add your name hereBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

In today’s episode, I'm diving into Instrumental Parentification — a dynamic where a child becomes the household’s “mini Cinderella.” They’re the ones cooking, cleaning, managing bills and appointments, caring for siblings, or even being conditioned into the role of caregiver for an ill family member.We’ll explore how these adult-sized responsibilities shape a child’s sense of self, and how the impact often follows them into adulthood, influencing their relationships - especially with their siblings.Listen to understand how this pattern develops, why it’s so damaging, and what healing can look like.Get notified about the next Calmer Parent Method with Katie McKennaBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast