Mama Shrink

Dr. Cynthia Hawver
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  • MENTAL HEALTH
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The Mama Shrink Podcast with Dr. Cynthia Edwards-Hawver is a raw, compassionate space for midlife moms navigating the emotional aftermath of toxic relationships, narcissistic abuse, divorce, and burnout. Hosted by a licensed psychologist and certified coach with 25+ years of experience (and lived it herself), Dr. Cynthia dives deep into the hard stuff: gaslighting, single parenting, parallel parenting with a high-conflict ex, emotional exhaustion, identity loss, grief, and healing. Each episode brings insight, validation, and real tools for women parenting through pain and trying to rebuild their lives—without shrinking themselves in the process. Whether you’re recovering from a toxic marriage, trying to set boundaries, or just crying in your car between drop-offs, you’re not alone. Subscribe now to reclaim your strength and take your next brave step toward healing.

  1. 06/16/2025

    DARVO: The Manipulation Pattern That Makes You Think You're the Problem | The Mama Shrink Podcast (Season 3, Episode 6)

    Ever walk away from an argument thinking maybe I'm the crazy one? If you've ever tried to bring up a concern and suddenly you’re the problem—you might be experiencing DARVO. DARVO stands for Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. It’s a psychological abuse tactic used to flip the script—and it’s more common than you think.   In this episode, Dr. Cynthia breaks it all down: What DARVO looks like in real life (with examples involving partners, kids, and co-parents) Why this tactic is so confusing and effective How it impacts your nervous system, your confidence, and your kids What to do when it’s happening—and how to protect your truth 🎧 A must-listen for any mom navigating emotional manipulation, co-parenting with a toxic ex, or feeling constantly blamed in her own home. 👉 Subscribe, review, and share with a mama who needs to name what’s really happening.   Hashtags/SEO Keywords: #DARVO #narcissisticabuse #gaslighting #toxicrelationships #emotionalabuse #highconflictcoparent #narcissisticex #mentalmanipulation #burnoutrecovery #healingafterabuse #midlifemoms #parallelparenting #truthandhealing #traumabonding #momshealing #covertabuse #psychologicalmanipulation #emotionalneglect #divorcemoms #dr.cynthiahawver #themamashrinkpodcast

    34 min

  2. 06/09/2025

    When the Label Doesn’t Matter: Toxic Is Toxic | The Mama Shrink Podcast (Season 3, Episode 5)

    Too many women stay stuck in toxic relationships because they’re trying to “figure it out.” Is it narcissism? Addiction? Passive-aggression? Something diagnosable? In this powerful episode, Dr. Cynthia Edwards-Hawver challenges the belief that we need a perfect label before we’re allowed to leave. What if the pain is enough? What if the confusion, exhaustion, and emotional fallout are the evidence?   You’ll learn: Why obsessing over a label keeps you stuck in analysis paralysis How to validate your reality without outside proof What to pay attention to in your body, mind, and home environment How toxic behavior—no matter what you call it—impacts your kids Questions to ask yourself when you're stuck between fear, guilt, and clarity   🎧 A must-listen for any mom wondering, “What if I’m wrong?” or “Do I have the right to leave?” 👉 Subscribe, review, and share with a mama who needs this message. Hashtags/SEO Keywords: #narcissisticabuse #toxicrelationships #emotionalabuse #midlifemoms #burnoutrecovery #divorcerecovery #traumabonding #narcissisticex #healingafterabuse #parallelparenting #truthandhealing #momshealing #gaslighting #mentalhealthawareness #dr.cynthiaedwardshawver #themamashrinkpodcast

    27 min

  3. 06/02/2025

    Cognitive Dissonance: The Quiet Mind Game That Keeps You Stuck | The Mama Shrink Podcast (Season 3, Episode 4)

    Cognitive dissonance is one of the most powerful forces keeping women stuck in toxic relationships. It’s the reason you doubt yourself, excuse red flags, and feel like you're going crazy—while holding onto hope. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Cynthia Edwards-Hawver explains how cognitive dissonance plays out in toxic marriages, narcissistic relationships, and parallel parenting—and why it leads directly to burnout.   You’ll learn: How cognitive dissonance causes confusion, guilt, and emotional shutdown The sneaky link between toxic relationships and physical burnout Why high-functioning women blame themselves—and how to stop How to begin seeing the truth clearly (even when it hurts) Practical steps for healing your mind, body, and boundaries 🎧 This one is raw, real, and validating for any midlife mom wondering, “Is it really that bad, or is it me?” 📝 Get free tools + join the newsletter: https://www.drcynthiahawver.com/empower 👉 Like this video? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs this message.   Hashtags/SEO Keywords: #narcissisticabuseawareness #gaslighting #traumabonding #toxicrelationship #divorcesupport #midlifemoms #healingjourney #cptsd #narcissisticex #emotionalabuse #burnoutrecovery #selfcareformoms #cognitivedissonance #youarenotcrazy #mamastrong #dr.cynthiahawver #mamasrinkpodcast

    35 min

  4. 05/26/2025

    You Can’t Make Someone Change | The Mama Shrink Podcast (Season 3, Episode 3)

    This week on The Mama Shrink Podcast, we’re talking about one of the hardest, most painful truths: You can’t make someone change if they don’t want to. You can love them. Beg them. Do everything “right.” But if they’re not willing to change, nothing will change. 🎧 Season 3, Episode 3 – Hope, Grief, and Letting Go: What to Do When They Won’t Change is out now. In this episode, I walk you through: ✔️ Why your empathy and effort won’t save someone who won’t change ✔️ How grief, trauma bonds, and guilt keep you stuck ✔️ What boundaries and healing really look like This one is real. Raw. And necessary. #YouCantChangeThem #LettingGo #EmotionalBurnout #MamaShrinkPodcast #DrCynthiaEdwardsHawver #WomensMentalHealth #HighFunctioningBurnout #HealingAfterNarcissisticAbuse

    27 min

  5. 05/19/2025

    Sorry Not Sorry: Let’s Talk About Toxic Apologies | The Mama Shrink Podcast (Season 3, Episode 2)

    Have you ever gotten an apology that left you feeling… worse? In this powerful episode of The Mama Shrink Podcast, Dr. Cynthia Edwards-Hawver breaks down the subtle art of the toxic apology. If you’ve ever felt confused, blamed, or dismissed after someone said “sorry,” this one’s for you. You’ll learn how to spot the difference between a real apology and manipulative gaslighting. Whether you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, recovering from emotional abuse, or simply trying to model healthy behavior for your kids, this episode will help you reclaim your clarity and power. Dr. Cynthia explains: The 3 elements of a genuine, healing apology Why “I’m sorry you feel that way” is not an apology How toxic apologies impact your mental health and contribute to burnout How to set boundaries and stop blaming yourself This episode is essential listening for high-functioning moms navigating emotional manipulation, parallel parenting, and the exhausting cycle of narcissistic burnout. 📝 Get free tools + join the newsletter: https://www.drcynthiahawver.com/empower Hashtags/SEO Keywords: #toxicapologies #narcissisticabuse #gaslighting #emotionalmanipulation #emotionalabuse #highfunctioningburnout #singlemomlife #healingafterdivorce #parallelparenting #MamaShrinkPodcast #DrCynthiaEdwardsHawver #BurnoutRecovery #MentalHealthForMoms #sorrynotsorry #podcastforwomen #truthaboutnarcissists

    27 min

  6. 05/07/2025

    How to Embrace Healing When Life Falls Apart | The Mama Shrink Podcast (Season 3, Episode 1)

    In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Cynthia Edwards-Hawver returns to The Mama Shrink Podcast after surviving a year that nearly broke her. From the end of a 31-year marriage to the financial and emotional shock of becoming a single mom at 52, she shares what true healing looks like behind closed doors.   If you’re navigating burnout, divorce, narcissistic abuse, or just trying to hold it all together while raising kids—you are not alone.   Dr. Cynthia opens up about: Grieving the loss of the family you imagined How high-functioning women often break silently The difference between self-care and soul survival Parenting through heartbreak without losing your mind What healing really looks like when life falls apart Why slowing down isn’t failure—it’s survival How to keep going when everything in you wants to give up   Whether you’re in the middle of a toxic relationship, post-separation grief, emotional trauma, or burnout at midlife, this episode is your gentle reminder: you can be broken and brave at the same time. 📝 Get free tools + join the newsletter: https://www.drcynthiahawver.com/empower 👉 Like this video? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs to hear this message. Every share helps another woman find support.

    57 min

  7. 12/26/2023

    My Holiday Miracle

    Hello Mamas! In today’s podcast I want to share my personal story and journey of how Mama Shrink became a mama. This is my holiday miracle and the one I am always most grateful so it felt good to share it. I get asked a lot about adoption, especially when people see us with our 2 boys who are both bi-racial. I am sensitive in sharing this story from my perspective as my kids will someday have their own adoption story. There are parts of my journey removed to protect their birthmother’s and things that I am not comfortable sharing publicly. Adoption is a whole other level of becoming a mom. It’s very different from how other women become moms in terms of trying to get pregnant and being able to conceive. I often refer to it as an emotional rollercoaster because there are so many highs and lows and unknowns that being able to conceive does not bring. My boys were meant to be mine.... I know that for sure. In this story you will see the signs and miracles that took place that brought them to my husband and I. We may not be connected biologically but we are connected a soul level which I will take any day over genetics. I hope this story helps all moms unable to conceive to have hope that you can become a mom through the amazing gift of adoption. I never thought we might have a problem getting pregnant. And we did. For those of you out there who have struggled with infertility I’m sure you understand that every month that you don’t get pregnant feels so sad and so discouraging. When I was in my 20s, I worked hard to not get pregnant. Then all of a sudden in my 30’s when I wanted to get pregnant, I couldn’t. After going through tests and numerous doctors and being told that our chances of conceiving were about 30%, even with IVF. And the cost of IVF was around $25,000 at the time for three tries and our odds were low. I am not a gambler and I also was not thrilled with the thought of injecting hormones into my body. My husband had mentioned that he always wanted to adopt. After a period of trying, he and I sat down and talked about adopting. And the group forums I read on failed IVF was incredibly depressing. One day I picked up a book on adoption and I remember reading the words “Congratulations you are going to become a mom.” Everything in my soul changed that day and shifted towards adoption. I felt excited and hopeful for the first time in a very long time. There are so many options for adoption. You need to be ok with the adoption path you choose. We looked into the different options and decided to go with domestic newborn adoption. We began our journey - mounds of paperwork, meetings with social workers, home visits, and interviews. You have to go into it with an open heart and not be frustrated with the process. When you go through the adoption journey, listen to your gut because there were so many things that were happening during the process that weren’t making any sense to me that I should have listened to. It’s sad because when you are in that process, you want so much to become a mom that you’re willing to overlook things that maybe you shouldn’t. People that have not gone through domestic newborn adoption journey, they don’t realize that when you do it every state has different laws. People can change their minds. It’s a really big risk. It’s an emotional roller coaster. We had a failed adoption experience and I had to grieve for the child we were supposed to adopt like grieving a miscarriage. I went through a lot of anger and sadness. We told our social worker that we wanted to be back in the books on January 2nd. This was not an easy decision to make and was actually quite scary. On January 4th 2012, our social worker called and told us we were matched. It was truly a miracle. 2 weeks before I was heartbroken and now, we had to pull ourselves together to go and get our little boy (Thomas) who was waiting for us. We drove all night, got to Virginia and we when I met Thomas for the first time, I knew in my heart that HE was my baby. We then decided to adopt again when Thomas was 16 months old. We got a call in December saying that a birth mother had picked us but we said no the first time because of issues with the birth father. The birth mother refused to pick any other family but us and by the third time we felt safe enough to say yes. On New Years Eve 2012 we went to New Jersey to pick up or second son Lucas and we became a family of 4 before the clock struck midnight. Second miracle indeed.   Resources:   Dr. Cynthia Hawver's website: drcynthiah.com and you can find me on the socials @dr.cynthiahawver

    55 min

  8. 12/19/2023

    Parenting a Strong Willed Child

    Ever wondered how to navigate parenting a strong-willed child? Curious about effective strategies that can transform challenging behaviors?    In this insightful episode, the host delves into the challenges and triumphs of parenting a strong-willed child. Drawing from personal experiences, the discussion unfolds a narrative that encapsulates the intricacies of managing a child with a strong personality. From setting boundaries to the significance of consistency, the conversation covers various aspects of parenting, illustrating real-life scenarios that many parents can relate to. Strategies such as using time-outs effectively, providing choices, and employing positive motivation are discussed, offering a comprehensive guide for parents facing similar situations.   The episode commences by emphasizing the importance of setting clear boundaries for strong-willed children, elucidating that a firm "no" should mean "no." Consistency emerges as a key theme, with the host highlighting the need for unwavering adherence to rules and consequences. Practical tips, such as offering only two choices and using timers for time limits, are introduced to foster a sense of control for the child while maintaining discipline. The incorporation of effective consequences and the power of forgiveness in disciplining form essential components of the discussed parenting strategies. The narrative further explores the use of timeouts, stressing the significance of creating a distraction-free environment for its efficacy.   Key Takeaways:   Consistency is key in parenting strong-willed children; rules and consequences must be unwavering. Tailor discipline strategies to the individual child; what works for one may not work for another. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool; acknowledge and praise good behavior consistently.   Resources:   Dr. Cynthia Hawver's website: drcynthiah.com and you can find me on the socials @dr.cynthiahawver

    1h 1m
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5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Mama Shrink Podcast with Dr. Cynthia Edwards-Hawver is a raw, compassionate space for midlife moms navigating the emotional aftermath of toxic relationships, narcissistic abuse, divorce, and burnout. Hosted by a licensed psychologist and certified coach with 25+ years of experience (and lived it herself), Dr. Cynthia dives deep into the hard stuff: gaslighting, single parenting, parallel parenting with a high-conflict ex, emotional exhaustion, identity loss, grief, and healing. Each episode brings insight, validation, and real tools for women parenting through pain and trying to rebuild their lives—without shrinking themselves in the process. Whether you’re recovering from a toxic marriage, trying to set boundaries, or just crying in your car between drop-offs, you’re not alone. Subscribe now to reclaim your strength and take your next brave step toward healing.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Cynthia Hawver
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Mama Shrink

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