Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

Kerry McAvoy, Ph.D.
  • 4.6 (295)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Confused by your relationship? Do you catch yourself second-guessing, walking on eggshells, or feeling emotionally drained? Whether you’re still in the chaos or trying to rebuild after leaving, this podcast is your lifeline. Join retired psychologist Dr. Kerry McAvoy as she exposes the hidden dynamics of toxic relationships. You’ll learn how destructive personalities operate, the manipulative tactics they use, and the stages of abuse—plus the practical steps to heal and reclaim your life. If you’re ready to break free, rebuild your self-worth, and find lasting emotional freedom, hit play and start your recovery journey today.

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Nobody Taught Us What a Healthy Relationship Looks Like — Here's the Cost

    Nobody taught us what a healthy relationship should feel like. Not in school. Not in graduate training. Not in the culture we grew up in.   And that missing lesson? It's costing survivors years of confusion, repeat heartbreak, and an obsession with understanding the very people who harmed them.  This week marks a major shift for Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse. After a year of flying solo, Dr. Kerry welcomes Lynn Strathdee as her new co-host — a UK-based psychodynamic psychotherapist, echoism specialist, and survivor whose path to this work mirrors so many of yours.  Inside this episode: How Kerry and Lynn met through echoism — and why their shared focus on the survivor's inner world changes everything  How free, violent porn rewired intimacy into rage  The Predator's Playbook: cobras, pit bulls, and the deliberate targeting of survivors  (Get your copy of the Predator's A-Z Playbook here!)Why you can't stop talking about the abuser 🔹 PODCAST EXTRA — MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS SEGMENT  Why does studying the abuser feel productive but actually keep you stuck?  In this exclusive bonus, Lynn and Dr. Kerry break down the difference between understanding your abuser and healing from them — and the one shift that moves you from analysis to recovery.  Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse   LYNN STRATHDEE is a UK-based psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in echoism, narcissistic abuse recovery, and the unconscious patterns that keep survivors stuck in repeating relationship cycles. A former educator turned therapist, Lynn brings both clinical training and lived experience to her private practice, where she works with clients online and in person. Her approach goes beyond surface-level psychoeducation to the deeper identity work that creates lasting change.  Lynn’s Website Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community supportFollow Dr. Kerry! YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist & author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism.  As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases. 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.

    26 min

  2. 6d ago ·  Video

    Alpine Divorce: When Narcissistic Abuse Turns Physically Dangerous

    Have you heard of an Alpine Divorce?  During a listener’s two-year marriage to a psychopath, her husband took her hiking and then left her clinging to a rock in gale-force winds while he filmed her terror and laughed. This is what’s commonly called an "Alpine Divorce."  It is also an example of malignant sadism. In this episode, Dr. Kerry unpacks one of the most chilling tactics in a dangerous personality's playbook.  Learn how some abusers engineer life-threatening situations to trap their victims in forced dependency. Also, learn how environmental gaslighting (the weaponized use of weather, terrain, and wilderness) gives these dangerous individuals plausible deniability. If you or someone you know has experienced this:  ▸ Be sure to preserve the photos and videos as digital evidence of criminal behavior  ▸ Consider seeking out a CPTSD-specialized clinician  ▸ And the only safe path is total severance   Submit Your Question  If you'd like Dr. Kerry to answer your question on air, email it to clients@kerrymcavoyphd.com or use this link.  Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community supportFollow Dr. Kerry! YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist & author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism.  As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases. 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.

    12 min

  3. May 25 ·  Video

    Narcissists Are Waging a Secret War Against You: 5 Dark Psychology Experts Expose Their Tactics

    As we honor Memorial Day, there's another war, something that rages invisible, deliberate, and inside the most intimate relationships. This episode is dedicated to you. In this special compilation,  5 world-class experts answer the questions survivors ask most:  How did I end up here? Why didn't I see it coming? And why was I the one chosen? Discover how narcissists and dangerous personalities identify, groom, and trap their targets — and why your kindness, not your weakness, made you vulnerable to narcissistic abuse. Enjoy a full complimentary Substack newsletter this week. EXPERTS FEATURED • Joe Navarro — Former FBI Special Agent & Author (Dangerous Personalities) • Dr. Peter Salerno — Psychologist & Author • Don Hennessy — Irish Psychotherapist & Author (How He Gets Into Her Head) • Dr. Leslie Dobson — Clinical & Forensic Psychologist • Dr. Peter Favaro — Forensic Psychologist & Author #NarcissisticAbuse #NarcissistRecovery #EmotionalAbuse #CPTSD #DangerousPersonalities #NarcissisticAbuseRecovery #Narcissism #ToxicRelationship Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community supportFollow Dr. Kerry! YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist & author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism.  As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases. 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.

    25 min

  4. May 21 ·  Video

    Why Your Kids May Have Blamed You for the Narcissist's Abuse — and What to Do Now

    A listener from Texas writes in: after escaping a narcissistic marriage, her adult daughter is now demanding that she admit that she was an abuser too.  How does she reach her daughter now?  In this episode, Dr Kerry unpacks one of the most painful and least-talked-about consequences of narcissistic abuse — what happens to your children when you stay. How do you hold two devastating truths at the same time: you were a victim, and your child was hurt by your inability to leave? Submit Your Question  If you'd like Dr. Kerry to answer your question on air, email it to clients@kerrymcavoyphd.com or use this link. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community supportFollow Dr. Kerry! YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist & author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism.  As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases. 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.

    10 min

  5. May 18 ·  Video

    Childhood Neglect: The Hidden Damage From Narcissistic Families That Follows You Into Every Relationship

    Did you experience childhood neglect? If you keep repeating painful patterns in your relationships — choosing wrong partners, feeling invisible, never asking for what you need — this might be why. Dr. Rachna Buxani, author of "Unseen," joins Dr. Kerry to expose the hidden roles children are assigned in narcissistic family systems — and the lasting damage those roles leave behind in every relationship you'll ever have. Childhoos neglect doesn’t stay in childhood — it follows you. PODCAST EXTRA — EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT 🔹 Were you the invisible child — and do you even know it yet? Find Dr. Buxani's specific, practical steps for healing from childhood narcissistic abuse in the members-only bonus segment and weekly newsletter. DR. RACHNA BUXANI-MIRPURI is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and National Certified Counselor with over 23 years of experience across the United States, Dubai, and the Cayman Islands. Known for her compassionate, culturally sensitive approach, she specializes in trauma, family dysfunction, and identity development. She is the founder of Buxani Counseling Care in Miami, a mental health advocate, and a board member of NAMI Miami-Dade. Her work extends to prisons, schools, and underserved communities, reflecting her deep commitment to accessible, inclusive care. BOOK: UNSEEN: A Therapist’s Reflection on a Daughter’s Journey Through a Narcissistic Father’s ShadowWebsiteSubmit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community supportFollow Dr. Kerry! YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist & author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism.  As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases. 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.

    28 min

  6. May 14 ·  Video

    The Real Reason You Can't Stop Snooping on Your Narcissistic Partner

    A YouTube viewer asks: What about someone's makeup drives them to snoop instead of simply addressing the red flags? In this episode, Dr. Kerry digs deeper into a question raised in the February 19, 2026, Fan Mail segment, Feeling the Urge to Snoop on Your Partner? Here's What It's Really Telling You. Learn why victims of narcissistic abuse feel compelled to hunt for proof and why it never brings the relief you're looking for. Submit Your Question  If you'd like Dr. Kerry to answer your question on air, email it to clients@kerrymcavoyphd.com or use this link. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community supportFollow Dr. Kerry! YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist & author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism.  As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases. 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.

    15 min

  7. May 11 ·  Video

    Dreading Their Next Message? How to Stop the Toxicity With a Narcissistic Co-Parent

    Are you bracing for impact when your phone buzzes? Does every conversation turn into a nasty fight? This week, Sol Kennedy joins Dr. Kerry to reveal why co-parenting is never get better when dealing with a narcissistic or an emotionally immature co-parent.  Learn why courts don't understand narcissistic co-parents will never become reasonable and why most co-parenting apps only make the conflict worse. Sol Kennedy shares how to take back control by changing the entire dynamic.  List of the latest AI Tools for Narcissistic Abuse survivors PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT   Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse  🔹 You can divorce a spouse — but you can't quit your co-parent.  In this members-only bonus, Sol Kennedy goes deeper on how to set firm limits on when and how often your ex can reach you.  SOL KENNEDY is a technology entrepreneur and co-parenting advocate who built the first AI-powered co-parenting app after navigating his own high-conflict divorce. BestInterest has earned the backing of renowned narcissism expert Dr. Ramani Durvasula and is now used by co-parents, family law professionals, and therapists across the U.S. and Canada. Sol also hosts the podcast Co-Parenting Beyond Conflict.  FOLLOW SOL KENNEDY  Website Podcast: Co-Parenting Beyond Conflict Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community supportFollow Dr. Kerry! YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist & author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism.  As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases. 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.

    28 min

  8. May 7 ·  Video

    5 Years of Stalking Hell After an Interaction With a Neighbor

    What happens when a simple, healthy boundary triggers five years of stalking, dismantling your life?  A viewer declined an odd social interaction with a neighbor that then sparked a stalking campaign that has followed her and her 15-year-old daughter across state lines. Learn what’s called "street theater” and how these repeated tactics were ussd to make this victim sound crazy.  In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains:  • Why the public tends to dismiss extreme gang stalking stories • How stalking can be carried out across states and social circles  • How to protect yourself and your sanity if you’re being stalking. Submit Your Question  If you'd like Dr. Kerry to answer your question on air, email it to clients@kerrymcavoyphd.com or use this link. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community supportFollow Dr. Kerry! YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist & author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism.  As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases. 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.

    12 min
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4.6
out of 5
295 Ratings

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Confused by your relationship? Do you catch yourself second-guessing, walking on eggshells, or feeling emotionally drained? Whether you’re still in the chaos or trying to rebuild after leaving, this podcast is your lifeline. Join retired psychologist Dr. Kerry McAvoy as she exposes the hidden dynamics of toxic relationships. You’ll learn how destructive personalities operate, the manipulative tactics they use, and the stages of abuse—plus the practical steps to heal and reclaim your life. If you’re ready to break free, rebuild your self-worth, and find lasting emotional freedom, hit play and start your recovery journey today.

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