The Rising Beyond Podcast

Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS
  • 5.0 (40)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Are you ready to thrive as you are coming out of a toxic or abusive relationship? Join Sybil Cummin, a licensed professional counselor who has specialized in working with victims and survivors of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse for over a decade and runs a membership community for women on their healing journey. On this podcast you will finally feel understood and your experience will be validated as you learn tangible strategies to handle family court, coparent with your abuser, improve your connection with your children, and heal from the trauma of narcissistic abuse and domestic violence.

  1. 3d ago

    Ep 206: Waiting for the Shoe to Drop: Why Survivors Stay on Edge Even When Things Are Quiet

    What if the reason you can’t relax… is because your body learned that calm never lasted and does not mean you are safe? In this episode, I’m talking about something so many survivors experience after coercive control and domestic violence: feeling constantly on edge, even when nothing is actively happening. The messages stop. The house is quiet. Things seem calm. But your body still feels like it’s bracing for impact. We explore why survivors often struggle to feel safe even after separation, how trauma and unpredictability train the nervous system to stay hypervigilant, and why this is not a character flaw or “loving drama.” It’s survival. I also break down the difference between being safe and feeling safe, the role of the nervous system and amygdala in trauma responses, and why healing has to include more than just insight or positive thinking. Most importantly, we talk about “felt safety” — those moments where your body starts to believe you might actually be okay — and how building those moments can change the way you parent, communicate, respond to stress, and begin healing after abuse. In This Episode We Discuss: Why survivors feel anxious even during calm momentsHypervigilance and the nervous system after abuseThe impact of unpredictability in coercive controlWhy healing is not just cognitiveFelt safety and nervous system regulationHow trauma responses impact parentingPractical grounding and regulation strategiesThe difference between being safe and feeling safeIf you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I just relax?” this episode is for you. Nervous System episodes: Ep 150: Post-Separation Abuse Burnout: A Nervous System Perspective https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/17103086 Ep 11: Your Nervous System is Shot: Strategies to Move Out of Fight, Flight, and Freeze https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/11272280 Join the Rising Beyond Community today. Learn more at https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/membership.html Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people. If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community. If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond: Rising Beyond Facebook Rising Beyond LinkedIn Rising Beyond Pinterest  If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7 Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles FreebieCanned Responses FreebieMic Drop Moments Freebie...

    36 min
  2. Bonus Coaching: When Your Ex Suddenly Becomes the “Perfect Parent” During a PRE Evaluation

    May 29

    Bonus Coaching: When Your Ex Suddenly Becomes the “Perfect Parent” During a PRE Evaluation

    What happens when the parent who was minimally involved suddenly becomes “Parent of the Year” once court professionals start watching? In this Friday Coaching Corner episode, we’re talking about a situation many protective parents quietly fear: A second court evaluation where the abusive parent is seeking 50/50 parenting time and increased decision-making authority while pushing a narrative that the protective parent is exaggerating concerns or harming the child through over-medicalizing or overprotectiveness. Meanwhile, the protective parent feels terrified of looking emotional, reactive, or “high conflict” while trying to advocate for their children’s safety and well-being. If you are navigating a PRE, custody evaluation, or other family court professional process, this episode will help you think more strategically about grounding yourself, communicating clearly, and staying focused on your children’s needs. Questions from this episode: Can a PRE evaluator in Colorado recommend decision-making authority?How do I show up credibly when my ex suddenly acts like the perfect parent once people are watching?How do I talk about coercive control and my children’s wellbeing without sounding reactive or “high conflict”?Join the Rising Beyond Community today. Learn more at https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/membership.html Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people. If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community. If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond: Rising Beyond Facebook Rising Beyond LinkedIn Rising Beyond Pinterest  If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7 Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles FreebieCanned Responses FreebieMic Drop Moments Freebie...

    17 min

  3. May 27

    Ep 205: Children as Collateral Damage in Family Court | The Hidden Impact of Post-Separation Abuse

    We don’t talk enough about the real collateral damage of broken systems. And it’s not just survivors. It’s our kids. In this episode, I’m naming something that so many of you are living through but rarely see acknowledged out loud — the ways children are impacted when systems like family court, child protection, and even therapeutic settings fail to fully understand coercive control and domestic violence. Because this isn’t just about what happened in the relationship. It’s about what continues to happen after separation… when you’re doing everything “right,” and your child is still paying the price. We’re talking about the full spectrum of collateral damage — from the quieter, everyday barriers (like not being able to access therapy due to joint decision-making) to the more extreme and devastating outcomes that can occur when abuse is minimized, misunderstood, or ignored. This episode is honest. It’s heavy. And it also holds space for hope — because that matters too. In this episode, we cover: How coercive control and post-separation abuse continue to impact kidsWhy joint decision-making can block access to critical careHow children learn to stay silent in medical, legal, and therapeutic settingsThe impact of misinformed professionals (including in therapy and court)How fear, threats, and “provoke and record” dynamics affect childrenThe misuse of terms like “parental alienation” and its consequencesWhat happens when abuse (including sexual abuse) is not believed or substantiatedThe emotional and psychological toll on protective parents and childrenPeer-Reviewed Articles https://www.law.georgetown.edu/georgetown-law-journal/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2022/06/Meier_Denial-of-Family-Violence-in-Court.pdf https://scholarship.law.gwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2809&context=faculty_publications https://scholarship.law.gwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1857&context=faculty_publications https://barrygoldstein.net/component/tags/tag/the-saunders-study Join the Rising Beyond Community today. Learn more at https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/membership.html Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people. If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community. If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond: Rising Beyond Facebook Rising Beyond LinkedIn Rising Beyond Pinterest  If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7 Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles FreebieCanned Responses FreebieMic Drop Moments Freebie...

    24 min

  4. May 20

    Ep 204: Why Context Matters in Abuse Cases and How an Expert Witness Can Help with Carol Ann Peterson, PhD

    What actually happens when domestic violence cases enter the courtroom? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Carol Ann Peterson—expert witness, consultant, and longtime advocate—who brings a behind-the-scenes look at how abuse is understood (and often misunderstood) in criminal, civil, and family court. We talk about what expert witnesses really do, when they can make a difference, and why context—not isolated incidents—is critical in understanding abuse. Dr. Peterson also shares how survivors are often misperceived in court, how abusers present, and what decision-makers frequently get wrong. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the systems many survivors are navigating—and highlights where change is still urgently needed. About Carol Ann: Dr. Carol Ann Peterson is an expert witness, consultant, and nationally recognized trainer specializing in domestic and intimate partner violence. She has trained with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and has consulted with the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, the California Attorney General’s Office, the Los Angeles County District Attorney, and the Los Angeles City Attorney. Dr. Peterson has served as an expert witness in criminal, civil, and family court cases for both prosecution and defense, including district attorneys, public defenders, and private attorneys. She is a certified strangulation prevention expert and a member of the Expert Advisory Group for DomesticShelters.org. Join the Rising Beyond Community today. Learn more at https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/membership.html Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people. If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community. If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond: Rising Beyond Facebook Rising Beyond LinkedIn Rising Beyond Pinterest  If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7 Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles FreebieCanned Responses FreebieMic Drop Moments Freebie...

    45 min

  5. May 13

    Ep 203: Anger After Trauma: What Do You Do With It?

    A lot of survivors feel exhausted for a long time. Physically tired. Mentally overloaded. Emotionally drained. And then one day, something shifts. Anger shows up. And what surprises many people is not just the anger. It is the energy that comes with it. In this episode, we are looking at anger in a different way. Not just as something to manage or calm down, but as something that can actually be useful when you understand how to work with it. Because anger is one of the few emotions that brings movement back into a system that has been stuck in survival mode. In this episode, we talk about: • Why trauma often leads to exhaustion and low energy  • What is happening in your body when anger shows up  • Why anger can feel uncomfortable or even scary  • The ways anger often gets pushed down or turned inward  • How anger can support boundaries and decision making  • The difference between feeling anger and acting on it  • Practical ways to release and direct anger energy  • How anger can reconnect you with your values and your voice This episode is especially helpful if you have started to feel more anger and are not sure what to do with it. Join the Rising Beyond Community today. Learn more at https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/membership.html Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people. If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community. If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond: Rising Beyond Facebook Rising Beyond LinkedIn Rising Beyond Pinterest  If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7 Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles FreebieCanned Responses FreebieMic Drop Moments Freebie...

    29 min

  6. May 6

    Ep 202: Inside Family Court: What Domestic Violence Assessments Actually Do with Lisa Fontes

    What actually happens in a domestic violence assessment? And how do you know if you even need one? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Lisa Fontes, an expert in coercive control and domestic violence assessments, to talk about something many survivors are navigating but don’t fully understand — how these evaluations and expert witnesses show up in family court. If you’ve ever been told to “get an expert” or wondered if that would help your case, this conversation will give you a clearer picture of what that actually means and when it might (and might not) be helpful. We also talk about the reality that many survivors face in family court — where experiences like coercive control, sexual coercion, and post-separation abuse are often misunderstood, minimized, or not given the weight they deserve. Inside this episode, we talk about: • What a domestic violence or coercive control assessment actually looks like  • The difference between an expert witness and a subject matter expert  • When an expert can be helpful in family court — and when they may not be necessary  • Why self-report assessments can be unreliable in abuse cases  • How coercive control and sexual abuse often go unrecognized in legal settings  • What “manufactured” claims and “provoke and record” tactics can look like  • The misuse of the term “parental alienation” and how it shows up in court  • Why post-separation abuse is often missed — and why that matters  • How to evaluate whether an expert witness is actually qualified  • The growing trend of survivors pursuing civil cases for damages This episode is especially relevant if you are navigating family court, dealing with custody issues, or trying to figure out how to advocate for yourself in systems that may not fully understand abuse. Join the Rising Beyond Community today. Learn more at https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/membership.html Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people. If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community. If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond: Rising Beyond Facebook Rising Beyond LinkedIn Rising Beyond Pinterest  If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7 Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles FreebieCanned Responses FreebieMic Drop Moments Freebie...

    50 min

  7. Apr 29

    Ep 201: The Healing Plateau: Why Progress Slows Down After Abuse and Trauma

    At some point in healing, a lot of people hit this moment: You were making progress. You were starting to feel a shift. And then… it feels like nothing is happening anymore. It can feel confusing. Frustrating. Even discouraging. In this episode, we’re talking about something that does not get talked about enough: the phase of healing where things slow down and it starts to feel like you are stuck. If you have caught yourself thinking: Am I actually getting better? Why does this feel harder again? Shouldn’t I be further along by now? You are not alone. What many survivors don’t realize is that there is a phase of healing that is less about big changes and more about integration. And that phase often feels quiet, slow, and sometimes even uncomfortable. In this episode, we talk about: • Why healing is not linear and tends to happen in layers  • What the plateau phase actually is and why it matters  • Why things can feel slower after the initial stages of healing  • What is happening in your nervous system during this time  • Signs you are healing that are easy to miss  • Why comparison can make this phase feel worse  • How to look at progress in a more realistic way  • What actually helps during this stage Join the Rising Beyond Community today. Learn more at https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/membership.html Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people. If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community. If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond: Rising Beyond Facebook Rising Beyond LinkedIn Rising Beyond Pinterest  If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7 Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles FreebieCanned Responses FreebieMic Drop Moments Freebie...

    24 min
  8. Bonus Coaching: Afraid CPS Will Believe Your Ex? What Protective Parents Need to Know

    Apr 24

    Bonus Coaching: Afraid CPS Will Believe Your Ex? What Protective Parents Need to Know

    When child protection gets involved, it can feel like everything your ex threatened is starting to happen. Many survivors were told: “If you leave, I’ll make sure everyone thinks you’re unstable—and I’ll take the kids.” So when CPS opens an investigation, the fear isn’t just about the process. It’s about the possibility that the narrative could be turned against you. In this Friday Coaching Corner episode, we’re talking about how to navigate a CPS investigation when there is a history of coercive control—and when you’re worried your ex will present well while you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or misunderstood. We’ll walk through: How to gauge whether a caseworker understands coercive control and domestic violenceHow to present in a way that is grounded, credible, and child-focused (without overexplaining)What CPS is often paying attention to beyond first impressionsHow to prepare your children in a supportive way without coaching or adding pressureThis episode also focuses on something that often gets missed: You don’t need to outperform your ex. You need to stay steady, consistent, and anchored in what your children need. If you’re in the middle of an investigation—or fear this could happen—this conversation will help you move from panic to strategy. Join the Rising Beyond Community today. Learn more at https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/membership.html Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people. If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community. If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond: Rising Beyond Facebook Rising Beyond LinkedIn Rising Beyond Pinterest  If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7 Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles FreebieCanned Responses FreebieMic Drop Moments Freebie...

    18 min
See All (216)

5
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

Are you ready to thrive as you are coming out of a toxic or abusive relationship? Join Sybil Cummin, a licensed professional counselor who has specialized in working with victims and survivors of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse for over a decade and runs a membership community for women on their healing journey. On this podcast you will finally feel understood and your experience will be validated as you learn tangible strategies to handle family court, coparent with your abuser, improve your connection with your children, and heal from the trauma of narcissistic abuse and domestic violence.

Information

  • Creator
    Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    216
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Rising Beyond Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Rising Beyond Podcast

You Might Also Like