Out of Crazytown: Your Guide to Divorcing a Narcissist

What happens when you go through your own divorce and custody battle—and then become the kind of family law attorney you wish you’d had?

That’s part of what makes my guest, Hannah Hembree Bell, so refreshing. Hannah is the founder of Hembree Bell Law Firm in Texas, and she brings lived experience, practical advice, and plenty of Southern charm to the divorce process.

In this episode, Hannah answers some of the biggest questions people have when starting a divorce—from attorney’s fees, discovery, child support, and custody to getting your spouse out of the house, following court orders, prenups, and choosing the right attorney.

We also talk about Hannah’s mission to reimagine the divorce experience for women and the community she’s building through My Confident Divorce. And if you love her advice here, her Instagram is packed with more of it!

If you’re considering divorce, just getting started, or somewhere in the messy middle, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Hannah's Website

Hannah's Podcast

Hannah's Instagram

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.

In this episode of Out of Crazytown: Your Guide to Divorcing a Narcissist, Jackie sits down with trauma therapist Jessica Dineen to talk about one of the hardest parts of healing after emotional abuse: learning to trust yourself again.

After gaslighting, post-separation abuse, or years of living in a high-conflict relationship, many survivors are left questioning their instincts, decisions, and even their own reality. Jessica explains why leaving doesn’t always feel like freedom, how trauma can keep the nervous system stuck in survival mode, and what can help rebuild self-trust.

They also explore EMDR, parts work, nervous system healing, and why recovery often begins when the focus shifts away from understanding the narcissist and back toward reconnecting with yourself.

OC Trauma Therapy Website

Jessica's Instagram

No Bad Parts - The Book

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, medical, or mental health advice.

What does it really mean to be the CEO of your own divorce?

In this episode, Jackie talks with Amy Polacko, divorce coach, award-winning journalist, domestic abuse survivor, co-author of FRAMED: Women in the Family Court Underworld, and host of the Girl, Wake Up! podcast.

Amy shares how her own high-conflict divorce led her to become an advocate for women and family-court reform, the mistakes she made along the way, and what she now helps her clients do differently.

They also discuss Amy’s article, inspired by Belle Burden’s memoir Strangers, which explores how wealth can complicate divorce, how financial dependence can create vulnerability, and why money does not always protect someone from coercion, control, or prolonged conflict.

You’ll hear practical insights on recognizing unhealthy patterns, becoming more financially aware, preparing strategically, and taking an active role in your own divorce without trying to manage everything alone.

Freedom Warrior Divorce Coaching - Amy Polacko

FRAMED: Women in the Family Court Underworld

Girl Wake Up! Podcast

Amy's article on Belle Burden's Amy's article on Belle Burden's Book: Strangers

Amy's Strong Savvy Women Support Group

 

This conversation is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, medical, or mental-health advice.

Why is it so hard to leave a toxic relationship even when you know it's unhealthy?

And why does the confusion often continue long after it's over?

In this episode of Out of Crazytown, I'm joined by psychologist, author, and narcissistic abuse expert Dr. Kerry McAvoy to explore one of the most powerful concepts in abuse recovery: cognitive dissonance.

We discuss why intelligent, capable people become trapped in unhealthy relationships, how gaslighting and manipulation create profound self-doubt, and why survivors often feel torn between what they know to be true and what they desperately hope is true.

Together, we unpack the psychology behind narcissistic abuse, the mental fog that keeps so many people stuck, and the first steps toward rebuilding clarity, self-trust, and lasting freedom.

If you've ever wondered, "Why couldn't I just leave?" or "Why do I still question myself?" this conversation will help you understand that your experience wasn't a sign of weakness, it was the result of a very real psychological process.

In this episode, we discuss:
• What cognitive dissonance is and why it keeps people stuck
• The difference between cognitive dissonance, trauma bonding, and codependency
• How gaslighting causes survivors to question their own reality
• Why hope can become part of the psychological trap
• What it looks like to "wake up" to the truth
• How to begin rebuilding self-trust and moving forward

Whether you're still in a toxic relationship, navigating the aftermath, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers insight, validation, and practical guidance for reclaiming your life.

 

Dr. McAvoy's Website

Break Free From Narcissistic Abuse-Podcast

Love You More-Book

Surviving To Thriving: A Six-Step Blueprint to Narcissistic Abuse Healing and Recovery

WINNING: Rewiring Your Brain and Reclaiming Your Life After Toxic Love

What is narcissistic abuse, really? And why is it so difficult to make sense of the behavior of a narcissist, especially during divorce?

In this episode, I sit down with licensed psychotherapist, speaker, and best-selling author Chelsey Brooke Cole to unpack the realities of narcissistic abuse and the lasting impact it can have on your identity, self-worth, and ability to trust yourself.

We discuss how a narcissist's need for control often escalates during divorce, the different types of narcissistic personalities, why survivors often blame themselves, and what it takes to rebuild confidence after years of manipulation, gaslighting, and emotional abuse. Chelsey also shares practical communication strategies for dealing with high-conflict personalities and offers guidance for protecting and supporting children when a narcissistic parent is involved.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What narcissistic abuse actually is

Why narcissists think and behave differently

How control and manipulation show up during divorce

The different types of narcissism

How to release shame and self-blame

What rebuilding self-worth really looks like

Communication strategies that can reduce conflict

Ways to support your children during a high-conflict divorce

Chelsey's Website

If Only I'd Known-Chelsey's Book

Restoring Resilience Podcast

WINNING-Jackie Miller's Book