Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

• Why You Keep Picking Narcissists and What to Do About It, Featuring Jessica Baum

  Ever wonder why you keep attracting the same kind of person—the ones who feel magnetic at first but end up draining you emotionally?This week, therapist and author Jessica Baum, creator of Anxiously Attached and SAFE: An Attachment-Informed Guide to Building Secure Relationships, joins Dr. Kerry to explore the hidden attachment wounds that pull us toward toxic partners. Podcast Extra Exclusive InterviewFind the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here.More About the Podcast Extra Interview🔹 What does healing really look like after a narcissistic or toxic relationship? In this members-only bonus, therapist and author Jessica Baum dives deep into the real work of recovery—how safety, connection, and self-compassion rebuild what trauma once broke.👉 Get immediate access to this extended interview: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuseMORE ABOUT JESSICA BAUM GIFT FOR LISTENERSWebsiteBook - SAFE: An Attachment-Informed Guide to Building More Secure RelationshipsInstagramJESSICA BAUM, is a licensed psychotherapist whose journey began with a lifelong curiosity about the “Whys” of life—why we feel, connect, and experience the world the way we do. This passion led her to specialize in trauma, attachment theory, and interpersonal neurobiology. Jessica is the founder of the Relationship Institute of Palm Beach, a private group practice, and she leads a global coaching company offering support to clients worldwide. Stay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.Submit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Support the showDisclaimer: This podcast/video is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute therapy, counseling, or professional mental health advice. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or your local emergency number.

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• Why I Stopped Being the Perfect Wife and Daughter-in-Law

  “How can someone seem loving for years—then suddenly turn cruel?”This week’s Fan Mail revisits a letter that struck a nerve with listeners. A woman wrote about her daughter-in-law, who had seemed like a wonderful addition to the family for seven years—until she “suddenly turned into a monster.”But after the episode aired, Dr. Kerry received another listener’s response who offered the opposite perspective: “I was in a 23-year marriage marked by coercive control and escalating abuse. My in-laws adored me—until I began calling out my husband’s behavior. Then they rallied around him and turned on me.”In this episode, Dr. Kerry unpacks six possible explanations for why someone may seem to “suddenly change” in a relationship or family dynamic.Submit Your QuestionIf you’d like your question addressed on air, send it here:  👉 https://kerrymcavoyphd.fillout.com/fan-mailStay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.Submit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Support the showDisclaimer: This podcast/video is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute therapy, counseling, or professional mental health advice. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or your local emergency number.

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• Can You Spot the 5 Types of People Who Could Ruin Your Life? Here's Bill Eddy's List

  Ever feel blindsided by someone who seemed charming, helpful, or even caring—only to realize later they were quietly dismantling your peace?This week, conflict expert Bill Eddy, author of The Five Types of People That Ruin Your Life, joins Dr. Kerry to unpack the five high-conflict personality types most likely to cause chaos in relationships, workplaces, and families.Podcast Extra Exclusive InterviewFind the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. More About the Podcast Extra Interview 🔹 What do you do when walking away from a toxic or high-conflict person feels impossible? In this members-only bonus, Bill Eddy breaks down his CARS Method—a practical framework to stay calm, set firm limits, and respond strategically when emotions run high. 👉 Get immediate access to this extended interview: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuseMORE ABOUT BILL EDDYWebsiteBook - 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life: Identifying and Dealing with Narcissists, Sociopaths, and Other High-Conflict PersonalitiesBILL EDDY, LCSW, Esq. is HCI’s co-founder and Director of Innovation. While pioneering High Conflict Personality Theory (HCP), he was the National Conflict Resolution Center’s Senior Family Mediator for 15 years, a Certified Family Law Specialist for 15 years, and a licensed clinical social worker and therapist for over 12 years.He is the author or co-author of over 20 books, manuals, and workbooks. He also has a popular blog on the Psychology Today website with millions of views. He co-hosts the podcast It’s All Your Fault! with HCI co-founder Megan Hunter. Stay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.Submit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Support the showDisclaimer: This podcast/video is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute therapy, counseling, or professional mental health advice. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or your local emergency number.

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• My Ex is Blaming Me For His Broken Relationships With Our Kids

  “Why does my ex always blame me when the kids want nothing to do with him?”This week’s Fan Mail comes from a listener in Rochester, New York, who writes about the heartbreak of watching her children pull away from their abusive father, only to be blamed for it.Her ex insists she’s turned the kids against him, while his family defends him as “such a good man” who’s “done so much for us.”In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains how emotionally immature and abusive individuals deflect accountability, making others feel guilty for the natural consequences of their own harmful behavior.Submit Your QuestionIf you’d like your question addressed on air, send it here:  👉 https://kerrymcavoyphd.fillout.com/fan-mailStay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.Submit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Support the showDisclaimer: This podcast/video is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute therapy, counseling, or professional mental health advice. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or your local emergency number.

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• Why Narcissists Use Secrets to Avoid Intimacy

  Ever feel like your relationship was the most intoxicating connection of your life—only to discover shocking lies and betrayal later?This week, intimacy expert Gary Katz reveals how narcissists protect themselves by keeping secrets, building false connections, and manipulating trust—and why survivors are often left questioning their own instincts.Podcast Extra Exclusive InterviewFind the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here.More About the Podcast Extra Interview🔹 Think your relationship is missing intimacy, but not sure why? In this members-only bonus, Katz shares practical tools to reignite connection, repair conflict, and restore closeness—even if years of avoidance or emotional neglect have taken their toll.👉 Get immediate access to this extended interviewMORE ABOUT GARY KATZ:Center for Intimacy RecoveryGARY KATZ, M.S.W., C.S.A.T., C.P.T.T. is a psychotherapist and founder of The Center for Intimacy Recovery in New York. With over two decades of experience in education and advanced clinical training in sex addiction and partner trauma, he helps individuals and couples heal from betrayal and rediscover authentic connection. When he’s not working with clients, Gary enjoys walking the streets of New York, reflecting on the resilience of the human heart, and spending time with his family.Stay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.Submit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Support the showDisclaimer: This podcast/video is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute therapy, counseling, or professional mental health advice. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or your local emergency number.

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