Kerry McAvoy

S3 EP86: Why is My Partner a Narcissist? Which is it—A Nature or Nurture Problem?

Send us a text Are narcissists born or made? And why does this question matter, considering the terrible toll of narcissistic abuse? This week, psychotherapist Dr. Peter Salerno joins me to discuss the root causes of narcissism along with the common misunderstandings about Narcissistic Personality Disorder.  Learn the importance of understanding the underpinning of this…

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S3 EP85: Does Childhood Abuse Leave a Lasting Legacy in Adult Relationships: An Interview with Nia Renee

Send us a text What is the impact of childhood abuse on adult relationships? Can children overcome early trauma? Nia Renee joins me this week to discuss the lasting legacy of abuse. She describes the impact of chronic gaslighting and neglect on her later relationships. Learn what role resiliency and determination played in helping break…

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S3 EP84: How Narcissistic Abuse Could Cost You Your Identity: The Dangers of Echoism

Send us a text Are you speaking up less? Fawning more? There’s a high cost to living with a narcissist, and it could be your identity. This week, Lynn Strathdee, psychodynamic therapist, joins me to discuss echoism, the true opposite personality style to narcissism. She shares how fawning could result in a loss of our…

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S3 EP83: How Relationships Become Dangerous: The Slow Shift from Toxic to Deadly

Send us a text Dangerous relationships rarely begin physically abusive. Initially, you think you’ve met a fantastic partner, but slowly, the toxicity turns into something more insidious and lethal. Trigger warning: this week, Lisa Sonni and I share vulnerable details of how we missed the early signs of danger in our narcissistic relationships. IF YOU…

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S3 EP82: If You’re in a Narcissistic Relationship, Why Couples Therapy is a Bad Idea

Send us a text When there’s trouble in a relationship, most couples are urged to seek couples counseling. In today’s episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to talk about why this suggestion is a terrible idea if your partner is a narcissist. Too many couples therapists lack the education to identify narcissistic abuse, and narcissistic and…

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S3 EP81: Why Narcissists Have Problems with Being Securely Attached to You

Send us a text What’s the connection between attachment styles and narcissism? This week, Dr. Erin Leonard, a practicing psychotherapist, joins me to discuss the common problems narcissists have with emotional intelligence and creating secure connections with others. She’s recently authored How to Outsmart a Narcissist, where she describes the best ways to protect ourselves…

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S3 EP80: Dr. Carter’s Best Advice About Narcissists That Every Survivor Needs to Know

Send us a text Have you wondered what a narcissist was thinking? Why would they do what they do? Do they intentionally know they were being cruel? This week, I’m going to re-release an interview I did with Dr. Carter in 2023. In it, he gave a unique perspective on the narcissist’s mindset and explained…

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S3 EP79: Why Family Court Too Often Takes the Side of the Narcissistic Abuser

Have you noticed that too off family court becomes just another battle ground for the narcissist? Lisa Sonni joins me this week to discuss post-separation of abuse. Most of us passionately want to protect our children from our toxic ex only to experience more helplessness in the mediation and courtrooms. To learn how to tip…

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S3 EP78: Why Most People, Including the Victim, Fail to Recognize Narcissistic Abuse

Send us a Text Message. Are you being abused and don’t know it? Not only is society blind to narcissistic abuse, but so are most victims. In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to talk about why narcissistic abuse is so difficult to spot, even to the victims, and the role this plays in the…

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S3 EP77: Bill Eddy’s Best Advice For Dealing with Narcissistic Bullies

Send us a Text Message. Every person who has dealt with a narcissist has been bullied. This week, expert and author Bill Eddy joins me to discuss what we get wrong about bullying behavior and the practical steps we all should take to better protect ourselves from antagonistic and vindictive people. To learn more about…

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