Healing From Emotional Abuse

Marissa F. Cohen
  • 4.9 (11)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

Healing From Emotional Abuse is the award-winning podcast helping survivors recognize red flags, set boundaries, and rebuild their lives after toxic relationships. Hosted by relationship wellness educator Marissa F. Cohen and co-host Sami Litchert, this show explores emotional abuse, narcissistic relationships, gaslighting, trauma recovery, and what healthy love actually looks like—without judgment or expert ego. What You'll Learn: ✨ How to recognize emotional abuse and manipulation tactics ✨ Setting boundaries in dating, family, and workplace relationships ✨ Healing from narcissistic abuse and rebuilding self-worth ✨ Red flags in relationships (and green flags to look for) ✨ Recovering from sexual assault and intimate partner violence ✨ Communication skills for healthy relationships ✨ Trauma-informed strategies for emotional healing Why Listeners Love This Podcast: 🏆 Purple Ribbon Award Winner (DomesticShelters.org) 🌍 Top 10% of podcasts globally 🎙️ 130+ episodes featuring survivors, therapists, and relationship experts 💜 Authentic conversations—real stories, practical advice, zero shame Whether you're healing from past abuse, supporting a loved one, or learning to build healthier relationships, this podcast gives you the tools, community, and hope you need to thrive. New episodes weekly covering narcissistic personality disorder, codependency, divorce recovery, dating after abuse, consent education, and reclaiming your power. Your healing journey starts here. Subscribe now.

  1. 5h ago

    "I Thought He Was Going to Kill Me": Vicious Vickie on Surviving Abuse, Addiction, and the Wrestling World | Healing From Emotional Abuse

    In this episode of Healing From Emotional Abuse, host Marissa F. Cohen sits down with Vicious Vickie, a professional wrestler from the New Jersey independent scene, to talk about the experiences that shaped her long before she ever stepped into a ring. Vickie opens up about being sexually assaulted at 15 and the reputation-driven backlash that followed, an abusive high school relationship that escalated into a terrifying night she thought she might not survive, and the addiction and loss that came afterward. She talks candidly about getting sober, being sabotaged within the wrestling industry years later, and how that experience reopened trauma she thought she had already worked through. The back half of the conversation turns toward healing: the neuroscience behind why we can feel drawn back to chaos, what it took to build a relationship rooted in real communication, and the small, unexpected things that still trigger her today. She also shares her honest take on the wrestling industry's Speaking Out movement and closes with advice for anyone chasing a dream while carrying real weight. Content note: this conversation includes descriptions of sexual assault, physical abuse, and addiction. Please take care while listening. Learn more about Foundations of Healthy Relationships, a six week guided experience to help you recognize unhealthy patterns, build stronger boundaries, and learn what healthy relationships look like. Link in the show notes and on our Instagram community. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and podcast mission 00:03 Meet Vicious Vickie 00:03 A great childhood before the trauma began 00:05 Sexual assault at 15 and being disbelieved 00:07 Losing three family members in four months 00:07 An abusive relationship in high school 00:09 A terrifying night on the highway 00:11 Addiction, loss, and getting sober 00:14 When new trauma reopens old wounds 00:17 Being sabotaged in the wrestling industry 00:19 How abuse shows up in different forms 00:20 Recognizing trauma responses in real time 00:22 A painful relationship and a breaking point 00:26 Taking healing one day at a time 00:27 Preemptive defensiveness as a trauma response 00:29 The neuroscience behind trauma bonding 00:32 What a healthy relationship feels like now 00:36 Communication as the saving grace 00:38 Sponsor message: Foundations of Healthy Relationships 00:39 Triggers that show up in unexpected places 00:44 Wrestling, fans, and finding purpose 00:47 The Speaking Out movement and its aftermath 00:52 On movements, motives, and real survivors 00:53 Sponsor message: Foundations of Healthy Relationships 00:54 Advice for people entering wrestling 00:58 Closing thoughts and gratitude If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services. For confidential support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233, and RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-4673. Subscribe to Healing From Emotional Abuse for more conversations on recognizing unhealthy patterns, setting boundaries, and building a life rooted in respect and peace.

  2. Aug 26

    "I Didn't Know What Unconditional Love Was": Tammy Vincent on Growing Up With Two Alcoholic Parents | Healing From Emotional Abuse

    In this episode of Healing From Emotional Abuse, host Marissa F. Cohen sits down with Tammy Vincent, bestselling author, speaker, and coach, to talk about growing up as the adult child of two alcoholic parents and what that early chaos did to her sense of safety, love, and identity for decades afterward. Tammy shares how she came to recognize complex PTSD in her own life, how dissociation became a survival tool she didn't even realize she was using, and what it was like to face a period of serious childhood harm with no way out. She also opens up about the moment she realized, at 26, that she didn't know what unconditional love was, and how that became the start of a decades long healing journey through Al-Anon, ACOA, therapy, and eventually coaching others through the same process. This episode also covers the science behind generational trauma, including how trauma can physically shape the body and get passed down, and closes with Tammy's honest advice for anyone still in survival mode. Content note: this conversation includes descriptions of childhood abuse and exploitation. Please take care while listening. Connect with Tammy Vincent: www.tammyvincent.com Learn more about Foundations of Healthy Relationships, a six week guided experience to help you recognize unhealthy patterns, build stronger boundaries, and learn what healthy relationships look like. Link in the show notes and on our Instagram community. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and podcast mission 00:03 Meet Tammy Vincent 00:03 Growing up with two alcoholic parents 00:05 A childhood custody battle 00:06 Recognizing complex PTSD 00:07 A period of serious harm and exploitation 00:08 Dissociation as a coping mechanism 00:09 Sponsor message: Foundations of Healthy Relationships 00:10 How childhood trauma shaped her adult relationships 00:11 Becoming a parent and facing old patterns 00:12 The science of generational trauma 00:15 A study on inherited fear responses 00:17 Finding support through Al-Anon and ACOA 00:19 Trying every healing modality 00:20 Sponsor message: Foundations of Healthy Relationships 00:21 Mindfulness, letting go, and moving forward 00:22 Advice for survivors 00:23 Tammy's book and how to work with her 00:24 Closing thoughts If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services. For confidential support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233. Subscribe to Healing From Emotional Abuse for more conversations on recognizing unhealthy patterns, setting boundaries, and building a life rooted in respect and peace.   Join The Foundations of Healthy Relationships exclusive Instagram community here: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbbgOHlUYPYDdZBq/

  3. Aug 19

    From Love Bombing to Freedom: Heather Safory on Leaving a Narcissistic Marriage | Healing From Emotional Abuse

    In this episode of Healing From Emotional Abuse, host Marissa F. Cohen sits down with Heather Safory, a certified high performance coach and certified core energy coach, to talk about her journey through a ten year marriage marked by love bombing, gaslighting, and emotional abuse and how she rebuilt her life and identity on the other side. Heather opens up about the early relationship patterns that set the stage for her marriage, the health crisis that became a turning point, what post separation contact with a narcissistic co-parent actually looks like, and the small daily choices that helped her reconnect with herself. She also shares how core energy coaching and high performance coaching can support anyone working to build a more intentional life. If you are recognizing these patterns in your own relationship or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers practical language and real steps forward. Connect with Heather Safory and Decide to Rise Coaching: www.decidetorisecoaching.com Learn more about Foundations of Healthy Relationships, a six week guided experience to help you recognize unhealthy patterns, build stronger boundaries, and learn what healthy relationships look like. Link in the show notes and on our Instagram community. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and podcast mission 00:03 Meet Heather Safory 00:03 Early relationship patterns and love bombing 00:06 Marriage, gaslighting, and a health crisis 00:08 Loss of her father and a sponsor message 00:10 Leaving the marriage and post separation abuse 00:11 Co-parenting with a narcissistic ex 00:14 Building a support system after isolation 00:16 A message from Foundations of Healthy Relationships 00:17 Rebuilding community after isolation 00:19 The healing journey and rediscovering herself 00:22 Core energy coaching and high performance coaching explained 00:24 Advice for survivors and how to reach Heather If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services. For confidential support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233. Subscribe to Healing From Emotional Abuse for more conversations on recognizing unhealthy patterns, setting boundaries, and building a life rooted in respect and peace. #HealingFromEmotionalAbuse #NarcissisticAbuse #DomesticAbuseAwareness #SurvivorStory #HealthyRelationships #Coparenting #Podcast To join the Foundations of Healthy Relationship Instagram Community, click on this link: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbbgOHlUYPYDdZBq/

  4. Aug 12

    Laura Richards: Healing After 33 Years of Emotional Abuse and Narcissistic Patterns

    Marissa sits down with Laura Richards, speech therapist turned podcaster and host of That's Where I'm At Podcast, for a candid conversation about her 33-year marriage and the emotional abuse she didn't have language for until near the end. Laura shares how she started noticing the patterns, what gaslighting actually felt like from the inside, and how she's rebuilding her life nine months into her divorce. They talk about identifying safe friendships, why vulnerability (not just community) is what helps people heal, and how Laura uses journaling, walking, and humor as part of her recovery. It's an honest, often funny, always grounded conversation about what it takes to name what happened to you and move forward anyway. Connect with Laura: thatswhereimatpodcast.com Coaching with Marissa: www.coachingwithmarissa.com A note: this episode discusses emotional abuse and relationship trauma. If it brings anything up for you, please consider reaching out to a trusted friend or a professional for support. One thing worth flagging: the transcript uses "narcissist" fairly loosely throughout as Laura's own personal shorthand for her ex, which is fine as her lived description.

  5. Aug 5

    From Childhood Trauma to Energy Healer: Robin McTague on Reclaiming Your Story | Healing From Emotional Abuse Podcast

    In this episode, Marissa F. Cohen talks with Robin McTague, founder of "A Life of Choice Coaching and Consulting", about her path from a deeply difficult childhood through a marriage that echoed old patterns, to the health crisis that finally pushed her to do the deeper healing work. Robin shares how she learned to separate her own emotions from what she absorbs from others, how the Enneagram and inner-child work reshaped her relationship with herself, and the practical tools she now teaches to help survivors set boundaries, manage their inner critic, and stop taking things personally. This is a candid, layered conversation about what real healing looks like when it doesn't happen all at once, and about turning a painful past into work that helps other people move forward. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Welcome to Healing From Emotional Abuse 2:00 – Podcast awards and mission 3:00 – Introducing Robin McTague 4:00 – Robin's early childhood and family background 6:00 – Moving, instability, and shutting down emotionally 7:00 – Repeating old patterns in her first marriage 8:00 – A breast cancer diagnosis becomes a turning point 9:00 – How she chose the relationships she did 11:00 – Recognizing the patterns she'd normalized 12:00 – Leaving her marriage and rebuilding her life 14:00 – Learning to sit with hard emotions 15:00 – Discovering energy healing work 16:00 – What it's like to work with Robin 19:00 – For Survivors By Warriors: empowering merchandise 23:00 – Advice for survivors: not taking things personally 25:00 – Learning boundaries and how to say no 27:00 – Getting curious about yourself and others 29:00 – Reconnecting with her inner child 32:00 – How to work with Robin 33:00 – Closing thoughts and coaching resources 🎧 SUBSCRIBE to Healing From Emotional Abuse for new episodes every week. 💛 CONNECT WITH ROBIN MCTAGUE Website: alifeofchoice.ca 💛 CONNECT WITH MARISSA F. COHEN Coaching: www.coachingwithmarissa.com Website: www.marissafayecohen.com Instagram & Facebook: @marissa.faye.cohen / facebook.com/marissafcohen 📌 This episode discusses childhood trauma, family abuse, and a parent's suicide attempt. It's shared for education and support, not as a substitute for therapy or professional care. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact local emergency services or a crisis line in your area. #HealingFromEmotionalAbuse #TraumaRecovery #InnerChildHealing #EmotionalAbuseAwareness #SurvivorStory #Boundaries #Enneagram #HealthyRelationships #DomesticAbuseAwareness

  6. Jul 29

    Can You Heal From Abuse? Krystle Weaver on Turning Trauma Into Film | Healing From Emotional Abuse Podcast

    In this episode, Marissa F. Cohen sits down with writer, director, and filmmaker Krystle Weaver to talk about Aspersian, her short film inspired by her own experience in emotionally abusive relationships. Krystle opens up about using screenwriting as a healing tool, what it was like to watch her own story reflected on screen, how she cared for herself through triggering moments during production, and the advice she'd give to anyone recognizing similar patterns in their own life. If you're navigating your own healing journey, Marissa also shares an update on the podcast's growth and a resource for survivors looking to build a personalized path forward. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Can healing from abuse happen without it taking years? 1:00 – Podcast milestones + a thank-you to the community 3:00 – Welcome back: introducing Krystle Weaver 4:00 – Krystle introduces herself and her creative work 5:00 – Racial justice work and a teaser of today's topic 6:00 – The origin story of Aspersian 7:00 – What the film is about 8:00 – Finding her filmmaking team, Red Flight Pictures 9:00 – Casting, rehearsals, and a pandemic delay 10:00 – How much of the film reflects her real experience 11:00 – Writing as a healing practice 12:00 – Self-care while filming triggering scenes 13:00 – The "wounded puppy dog" era of healing 14:00 – Making the film with her daughter in mind 15:00 – Release timeline and what's next for Aspersian 16:00 – Where to watch it once it's released 17:00 – Krystle's advice to survivors 18:00 – How to connect with Krystle 19:00 – Marissa's closing reflection on the healing journey 🎧 SUBSCRIBE to Healing From Emotional Abuse for new episodes every week. 💛 CONNECT WITH KRYSTLE WEAVER Instagram: @krystlemweaver Email: krystle@redflightpictures.com 💛 CONNECT WITH MARISSA F. COHEN Website: [add current site URL] Private Coaching: www.marissafayecohen.com/private-coaching Instagram: @marissa.faye.cohen Facebook: facebook.com/marissafcohen 📌 A note: This podcast is for educational and support purposes and isn't a substitute for therapy, medical care, or legal advice. If you're in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services or a crisis line in your area. #HealingFromEmotionalAbuse #NarcissisticAbuseRecovery #TraumaRecovery #EmotionalAbuseAwareness #SurvivorStory #IndieFilm #WritingAsHealing #HealthyRelationships #DomesticAbuseAwareness

  7. Jul 22

    Healing From Emotional Abuse: From Corporate Burnout to Energy Healer: Sexual Assault, Emotional Abuse & The Soul Intelligence Method

    Healing From Emotional Abuse: The Soul Intelligence Method with Kristine Glein In this episode of Healing From Emotional Abuse, host Marissa F. Cohen sits down with Kristine Glein: conscious leadership executive and creator of the Soul Intelligence Method to talk about the connection between unresolved trauma and physical health. Christine shares her own healing journey, including surviving a sexual assault, navigating an emotionally abusive relationship, and later healing from cervical cancer using a combination of conventional medicine and energy work. She and Marissa explore how functional medicine practitioners are increasingly recognizing the link between trauma, stuck emotional patterns, and chronic illness and why coaching (focused on where you're going) can complement therapy (focused on how you got there) rather than replace it. In this episode: - What the Soul Intelligence Method is and how it works - Why coaches and functional medicine doctors are turning to energy-based approaches - The link between suppressed emotion and chronic physical illness - Christine's personal healing journey, in her own words - Practical ways to release stress and reconnect with your body - Christine's four levels of consciousness and advice for survivors on reframing their story   Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to Healing From Emotional Abuse 03:00 – Meet Kristine Glein 04:00 – How the Soul Intelligence Method was born 07:00 – Functional medicine, chronic illness & emotional root causes 11:00 – Past patterns, phobias & the mind-body connection 15:00 – Christine's personal story: assault, abuse & self-healing from cervical cancer 26:00 – Healthy ways to move stored energy 34:00 – Supporting a partner through illness without losing yourself 39:00 – Wellness retreats for healthcare workers & coach burnout 42:00 – Emotional frequency, the nervous system & the science behind the method 46:00 – Where to find Christine & work with her 47:00 – The four levels of consciousness & advice for survivors   Resources mentioned: Learn about the Soul Intelligence Method: soulintelligencemethod.com Free Healer Restoration Kit: sqmethod.com Therapeutic Writing course: healwithmarissa.com   Book a coaching session with Marissa: coachingwithmarissa.com Connect with Marissa F. Cohen: Website: marissafayecohen.com Follow on Instagram & Facebook   ⚠️ This podcast is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical, psychological, or legal advice. If you are in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services.   #HealingFromEmotionalAbuse #TraumaRecovery #SoulIntelligenceMethod #SurvivorSupport #EnergyHealing #FunctionalMedicine #EmotionalAbuseAwareness

    Healing From Emotional Abuse: From Corporate Burnout to Energy Healer: Sexual Assault, Emotional Abuse & The Soul Intelligence Method

  8. Feb 19

    The Files Don't Save Survivors. We Do. | Epstein, Carroll, & Centuries of Protected Predators

    Everyone is talking about the Epstein files. But the survivors — the actual women and girls whose lives were stolen — issued a statement saying the releases retraumatized THEM while Epstein's enablers stayed hidden. So who are these files actually for? In this episode, host Marissa Cohen goes deep on the full Epstein story — the 3.5 million pages released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the devastating 2008 non-prosecution deal that let a convicted predator walk free after only 13 months while 30 identified child victims were never even told, and the system of wealth and power that made all of it possible. She centers the survivors who paid the highest price for coming forward: Virginia Giuffre, who fought for 16 years, helped convict Ghislaine Maxwell, and died by suicide in April 2025 at 41 years old. Courtney Wild, recruited at 14. Jennifer Araoz, raped at 15. And E. Jean Carroll — the only person in U.S. history to win a civil sexual abuse verdict against a sitting president — who waited nearly 30 years to have her story heard in a room where someone had to listen. This episode asks the harder question: when powerful men have been protected from accountability for centuries, what does releasing files actually change? And what do WE need to change instead? The answer isn't in the documents. It's in how we treat survivors when they speak. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, rape, institutional betrayal, and suicide. If you need support: Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or RAINN at 1-800-656-HOPE.

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4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Healing From Emotional Abuse is the award-winning podcast helping survivors recognize red flags, set boundaries, and rebuild their lives after toxic relationships. Hosted by relationship wellness educator Marissa F. Cohen and co-host Sami Litchert, this show explores emotional abuse, narcissistic relationships, gaslighting, trauma recovery, and what healthy love actually looks like—without judgment or expert ego. What You'll Learn: ✨ How to recognize emotional abuse and manipulation tactics ✨ Setting boundaries in dating, family, and workplace relationships ✨ Healing from narcissistic abuse and rebuilding self-worth ✨ Red flags in relationships (and green flags to look for) ✨ Recovering from sexual assault and intimate partner violence ✨ Communication skills for healthy relationships ✨ Trauma-informed strategies for emotional healing Why Listeners Love This Podcast: 🏆 Purple Ribbon Award Winner (DomesticShelters.org) 🌍 Top 10% of podcasts globally 🎙️ 130+ episodes featuring survivors, therapists, and relationship experts 💜 Authentic conversations—real stories, practical advice, zero shame Whether you're healing from past abuse, supporting a loved one, or learning to build healthier relationships, this podcast gives you the tools, community, and hope you need to thrive. New episodes weekly covering narcissistic personality disorder, codependency, divorce recovery, dating after abuse, consent education, and reclaiming your power. Your healing journey starts here. Subscribe now.

Information

  • Creator
    Marissa F. Cohen
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Healing From Emotional Abuse

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