55 episodes

Hi friend. I’m Sarah Morales - Relationship coach and gaslighting abuse survivor turned specialist. If you’re where I was 13 years ago, then you’re looking for answers; looking for relief from things like confusion, anxiety, doubt, fear. You’re also looking for hope – ESPECIALLY the hope that comes from seeing someone who has been through the same type of hell you are going through emerge on the other side. I’m Sarah, the host of this podcast… I’m a relationship coach and gaslighting thought leader; but even more than that – I’ve been where you are, and I’m here to cultivate a place for you to begin to find those answers.

It’s my mission and passion to make recognizing and understanding gaslighting easier. This podcast is the result of my life’s work over the past decade, and I can’t wait to share it with you. On Deconstructing Gaslighting, my guests and I will do two of the most important things needed to heal from the effects of gaslighting and emerge on the other side: first, we will share real-life stories so that you can see yourself in others and not feel so alone. Second, we will help you find names for the things you are experiencing and connect dots so you can find some answers.

New episodes air every Tuesday, 8 am EST, available for free on any app that supports podcasts. You are invited friend.

And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broke and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.

Deconstructing Gaslighting‪™‬ Sarah Morales

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 51 Ratings

Hi friend. I’m Sarah Morales - Relationship coach and gaslighting abuse survivor turned specialist. If you’re where I was 13 years ago, then you’re looking for answers; looking for relief from things like confusion, anxiety, doubt, fear. You’re also looking for hope – ESPECIALLY the hope that comes from seeing someone who has been through the same type of hell you are going through emerge on the other side. I’m Sarah, the host of this podcast… I’m a relationship coach and gaslighting thought leader; but even more than that – I’ve been where you are, and I’m here to cultivate a place for you to begin to find those answers.

It’s my mission and passion to make recognizing and understanding gaslighting easier. This podcast is the result of my life’s work over the past decade, and I can’t wait to share it with you. On Deconstructing Gaslighting, my guests and I will do two of the most important things needed to heal from the effects of gaslighting and emerge on the other side: first, we will share real-life stories so that you can see yourself in others and not feel so alone. Second, we will help you find names for the things you are experiencing and connect dots so you can find some answers.

New episodes air every Tuesday, 8 am EST, available for free on any app that supports podcasts. You are invited friend.

And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broke and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.

    "His nicknames for me were Monkey and Ugly"

    "His nicknames for me were Monkey and Ugly"

    Did you experience gaslighting in your family of origin? While most of my clients find me to help heal from the gaslighting they’ve experienced in their intimate partnership, almost every single one eventually begins to see how the gaslighting they’ve endured goes all the way back to things that happened in their childhood. Today, I’ve brought on an old friend and colleague whose experiences in this realm will help you see the impact this type of gaslighting has on so many of us.
     
    Welcome to Deconstructing Gaslighting the podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Morales. And if you’re new here, welcome. I’m so glad you’re here. I hope that the resources I have on my podcast and website help you find clarity, empowerment, and healing.
     
    My guest today is Christy Kane of Soul Work Counseling.
     
    Story Time: Sarah and Christy have a candid conversation around the GASLIGHTING Christy endured at the hands of her family of origin, and it's profound impact throughout her life.
    Top Take-Aways:
    If you're trying to decide about which route to take with your family of origin - either cutting them out of your life or trying the boundaries route: look out for the "shoulds". Like, "I should let them stay with me when they visit", etc. Give yourself permission to reassess your boundaries periodically/as needed. Remind yourself of the "broken chair analogy".

    If you want to understand more about the ways GASLIGHTING has shown up in your life, and robbed you of knowing yourself, loving yourself, and trusting yourself, check out my and Chrity’s websites. We both have offerings that will help you break the hold self-GASLIGHTING has had over you and help you step into that Radical self-love.
    I also invite you to follow me on your preferred social media platform… I’m on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

    And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broke and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.

    • 44 min
    When the boss tells you to "Calm Down"

    When the boss tells you to "Calm Down"

    When you stop and do the math, what consumes most of your time? When you think about the relationships that may involve GASLIGHTING, what makes the top of your list? Was work your first or second response? If not, it might need to be. So today I’m going to talk just a little bit about GASLIGHTING in the work environment.
    I’m Sarah Morales, the host of this podcast, and I wanted to let you know about a FREE summit that is happening right now. The 2024 Choose Connection Summit. It’s theme this year is: Strengthened by the Storm. This summit is the only one I am speaking at this year that is primarily focused on couples working on healing from the trauma of secret betrayal. If this is you, I encourage you to jump on this opportunity while it’s still FREE, and hear from not only me, but many other of the worlds’ leading experts in this field.
     
    Story Time: Sarah has fun sharing the lyrics from the song, "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton, while also sharing some things to be aware of when trying to notice GASLIGHTING in your work environments.
       
    GASLIGHTING in the workplace can be a very real, very disempowering, abusive experience. It causes confusion, depression, anxiety; it can take an intelligent, confident, super-qualified person and reduce them to a person who questions whether any decision they make it the right one or will be “good enough”.
    Top Take-Aways:
    Look for ways DARVO may show up in the work world.Remember it's not always between your boss/management & you - OFTEN it’s between coworkers. Remember to stay connected to what you know to be true. Keep a record of what was said, when, by whom. Whether you do anything with this information or not depends on a LOT of the potential fallout of your actions.The main point is to not lose yourself and take on the other people’s perceptions. This is what will help you not get stuck in toxic work environments longer than you have to.

    As I wrap up today, I wanted to remind you of the different offering I have on my website that help you recognize GASLIGHTING in ALL the areas of your life. Check them out or even schedule a free consultation with me to talk about what programs are the best fit for you in your situation or relationships.
    I invite you to follow me on your preferred social media platform… I’m on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

    And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broke and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.

    • 19 min
    That's me in the corner...

    That's me in the corner...

    Welcome to Deconstructing Gaslighting the podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Morales. Today’s episode may be one of the most difficult I’ve ever done, and that’s because the topic is SO TRICKY. It’s also super, super important. So, I’m going to ask that you hang with us for a bit. If it feels like a sensitive topic to you, I invite you to give my guest and I just five to ten minutes to see our hearts and hear how we unpack today’s topic. That topic is about the ways GASLIGHTING and religion intersects, and the myriad of ways that’s playing out in both our individual and corporate lives.
     
    Bio: My guest today is no stranger to the pod... Ms. Jenni Rochelle!
    Story Time: Sarah and Jenni start by talking about the difference between faith (a belief) and religion (a system), in the hopes of setting the stage for a safe place to ask the questions and challenge any toxicity we may see in the religious systems we find ourselves in. They share some of the most common ways people experience religious GASLIGHTING/abuse.
     
    Top Take-Aways:
    Look for signs of religious gaslighting: feeling a LOT of fear, shame or coercion; experiencing isolation/being told not to trust “non-believers”; inconsistency in messaging and/or inconsistency between messaging and living things out; the dogma of there being only one “right” way (values; how to be a good person, etc.) and look for incongruence in yourself – when you can’t “shake” a bad feeling in your gut/soul/body Give yourself permission to ask questions… and keep asking them and seek out answers from a variety of sources – not just ones that will reinforce what you’ve been told already by your “leaders”. Be willing/ready to sit in the cognitive dissonance that this kind of work creates – that means you’re doing the work! Trust that the process will bring you to truth.
    If you want to understand more about the ways gaslighting has shown up in your life, and robbed you of knowing yourself, loving yourself, and trusting yourself, check out my website. I have offerings that will help you break the hold religious GASLIGHTING has had over you and help you step into self-trust and Radical self-love.
    I invite you to follow me on your preferred social media platform… I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
     
    And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broke and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.

    • 49 min
    When I see your true colors

    When I see your true colors

    This episode is going to be a tough one. Today my guest and I are going to talk about racial and cultural gaslighting. I say this is going to be a tough one, because as a white woman who, for the majority of her life, lived as a white, cis-gender, heterosexual, Christian woman, I was near the top of privilege – EVEN though I didn’t know it. And that’s kind of the point – when we are gaslit, we don’t realize we’ve taken on other people’s thoughts, beliefs, values, feelings, or perspectives as our own. So, we need to have this conversation to bring awareness to places we’ve either experienced or been an unintentional part of perpetuating the system that gaslights the Bipoc community.
     
    I want to get my message of clarity and hope around gaslighting in front of more people. If you know of a podcast or conference where my messages would benefit the listeners/attendees, will you email me here and let me know?
    My guest today is Tara Beall-Gomes. Check out her website here!

    Story Time: Sarah and Tara discuss a variety of ways gaslighting and racial discrimination intersect. It’s important to note that they are doing this as two white women who are trying to learn and be a part of the change. Their hearts are to help raise awareness on this important topic!
     
    Top Take-Aways: (For white people)
    Don’t be "colorblind". To see color means, I see you. Wait to be assigned allyship.  We can’t just assign that label to ourselves.Get educated/training…. Get involved.Share spaces with our Bipoc people.
    More about the Deconstructing Gaslighting training and certification for therapists and life coaches. The aim is to create a standard of care for people who have been impacted by gaslighting experiences. If you want to heal from the effects of gaslighting, AND you already have a coach or therapist, I encourage you to advocate for yourself and tell them you’d love it if THEY could support you and guide you as you go through my programs. They can do this by going through the training. IF you are a coach or therapist, I encourage you to go check out the webpage that goes into detail about what you’ll get in the training.
    I’d love to interact with you! We can do that on your preferred social media platform… I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. If you’d like to follow Tara, she is on Facebook and Instagram.
     
    And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broke and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.

    • 53 min
    "It's especially hard when you've been GASLIT that long!"

    "It's especially hard when you've been GASLIT that long!"

    Welcome to Deconstructing Gaslighting the podcast, and welcome to a new month, with a new theme. This month we’re going to be exploring different areas or relationships people experience gaslighting in, and we’re going to start with the one that people are typically MOST aware of – gaslighting in their intimate partnership. And I’m REALLY excited today, because I’m brining on a woman who gives representation to a demographic that is sorely under-represented – but whatever demographic you find yourself in, I’m sure you’re going to be able to relate to things she share about the gaslighting she experienced in her 43 year marriage.  
     
    Thank you for being a part of this community. I’d love for you to follow me AND interact with me on your preferred social media platform where we can interact… I’m on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
    Story Time: Sarah and her guest, Pat, talk about what is was like for Pat to experience GASLIGHTING in her over 40 years of marriage!

    Top Take-Aways: Things that I thought could be some take-aways from my and Pat’s conversation:
    Notice when you’re putting all your focus on the other person, and instead focus on yourself!
    Ask yourself the “better question” – what is and is not okay with me in this relationshipWhen you look at the amount of work your person is putting into the relationship and their own healing, ask yourself, is it enough for me?If/when they say they’re doing their best, remind yourself that just because it’s their best, that doesn’t mean it has to be good enough for you. Learn to be the love of your own life.

    And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broke and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.

    • 37 min
    When the bomb drops

    When the bomb drops

    Welcome to Deconstructing Gaslighting the podcast, I’m your host, Sarah Morales, and today’s episode it going to be a bit different.
    On Tuesday of last week, I put the final touches on my next speaking opportunity at a summit. The theme of the summit is post-traumatic growth, and my title, "I no longer fear the storm". Irony can be a bitch, because on Wednesday – the very next day – a bomb my ex built probably 15 years ago blew up.

    So today I wanted to talk a bit about what it’s been like for me the past few days, and the observations I have about how allllll the work that I’ve been doing for the past 13 years is serving me – big time! Side note, if you're interested, my talk with be at the Daring Ventures Summit.

    Top Take-Aways:
    Reminder/experience solidarity - that you are NOT aloneFeel inspiration or hopeWhat can we learn from Sarah's post-traumatic growth?SUPPORT TEAM is CRUCIALSELF-CARE is a mustHEALTHY DISTRACTION, spending time in your ZONE OF COMPETENCE/GENIUSGive yourself PERMISSION TO FUNCTION AT LOWER LEVELSBE GENTLE WITH YOURSELFTry giving GOOD, CLEAR COMMUNICATION - especially around things you have AWARENESS OF around your TRAUMA SYMPTOMSFind/gather INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO EMPOWERMENT

    I wanted to let any new listeners know about the many resources I have on my website.

    I also wanted to invite you to follow me on your preferred social media platform, where we can connect and even interact! I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

    And remember – you may have crashed and burned; been broke and hurt, but damn it, you’re a phoenix and you’re rising again. I think it’s time we fly.

    • 26 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
51 Ratings

51 Ratings

Heidi Monuteaux ,

This is what we’ve been missing!

I cannot praise this podcast enough! As a betrayed partner myself and a therapist who specializes in treating betrayal trauma, this is a resource that I highly recommend to my clients. I wish I would have had this information 20 years ago. So good, Sarah! Thank you!

Amy G 4567 ,

So much greatness here!

Sarah takes this nebulous new buzzword “gaslighting” and gives us practical definitions and examples of what this actually is. She breaks this down so expertly for the listeners with real lives experiences from her guests. Bonus she helps us know where/why we might be susceptible to these tactics and how to spot these things going forward.

Oliveoilpouch ,

Reality Reclaiming…game changer

Powerful. A much needed voice in an arena where the silence was deafening. Even if you’ve been doing the work, you will learn and find community here.

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