Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

Are you walking into your divorce expecting the court to finally see the truth about your narcissistic ex? 
This week, divorce attorney Hannah Bell Hembree joins Dr. Kerry to pull back the curtain on what really happens in the courtroom when you're leaving a narcissist. With nearly two decades of legal experience and her own custody battle behind her, Hannah shares the hard truths every survivor needs to hear before they file. 
PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT 
Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. 
🔹 Is the court biased against men — or women? In this members-only bonus, Hannah Bell Hembree gives her candid, real-world take on courtroom bias. Her answer may surprise you.  
👉 Get immediate access to this extended interview
MORE ABOUT HANNAH BELL HEMBREE  
Podcast: Not Saving It for Later 
Community & Free Divorce Prep Course 
Instagram: @HannahHembreeBell 
HANNAH BELL HEMBREE is a divorce attorney based in Austin, Texas, where she leads a firm of nearly 50 people dedicated to helping marriages end well. She is also the founder of the My Confident Life Circle, an online community supporting women through divorce and beyond, and the host of the new podcast Not Saving It for Later. Drawing on her own experience navigating divorce and two custody modifications, Hannah equips women with the practical strategies and mindset shifts they need to protect their kids, their money, and their sanity.
Submit your question to be answered on air here!
Resources
ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app
The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support
Follow Dr. Kerry!
Youtube
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Kerry 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.

My best friend divorced her narcissistic ex two months ago — but she keeps talking to him, then ignoring him, then reaching out again. She says she wants to move on, but she can't seem to break the cycle. 
In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why leaving a narcissist doesn't automatically break the trauma bond — and what's really driving the painful push-pull your friend can't escape. Learn how to support someone you love through this without shaming, lecturing, or pushing them further away.
Submit Your Question
If you'd like Dr. Kerry to answer your question on air, email it to [email protected] or use the link in the show notes.
Submit your question to be answered on air here!
Resources
ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app
The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support
Follow Dr. Kerry!
Youtube
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Kerry 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.

Have you ever tried to walk away from a toxic person, only to find yourself right back in the middle of their reality?
This week, Dr. Robin Stern (author of The Gaslight Effect) joins Dr. Kerry for a conversation that will change how you view manipulation. Most people think gaslighting is just about lying—but the truth is much darker. It’s a "relational mess" that requires two people to function.
Previous Interviews with Dr. Stern
What's wrong with me? The Power of Gaslighting to Confuse and Control: Interview with Dr. Robin Stern
Breaking Chains: Dr. Kerry McAvoy's Triumph Over Marital Gaslighting and Narcissism
PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT  
Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. 
MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW  
🔹 Dr. Stern shares the shift that breaks the cycle for good: "Don't allow somebody to matter more than you matter." 
In this members-only bonus, Dr. Stern and Dr. Kerry unpack how to stay open and connected in relationships without surrendering yourself in the process. 
👉 Get immediate access to this extended interview
DR. STERN'S BOOKS 
• The Gaslight Effect: How to Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use to Control Your Life: https://amzn.to/4b50aRu 
• The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide: https://amzn.to/40qzc0B 
MORE ABOUT DR. ROBIN STERN  
Dr. Robin Stern, Ph.D., is a licensed psychoanalyst, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor to the Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, and one of the world's leading authorities on gaslighting. She is the author of The Gaslight Effect and host of The Gaslight Effect Podcast. 
Website: robinstern.com  
Podcast: The Gaslight Effect Podcast (available on all platforms)
Submit your question to be answered on air here!
Resources
ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app
The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support
Follow Dr. Kerry!
Youtube
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Kerry 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.

Why does someone who divorces a narcissist keep going back to them? 
A listener writes in, “My best friend divorced her narcissistic ex two months ago — but she keeps talking to him, then ignoring him, then reaching out again. She says she wants to move on, but she can't seem to break the cycle.”  
In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why leaving a narcissist doesn't automatically break the trauma bond and why survivors struggle to escape. 
Submit Your Question  
If you'd like Dr. Kerry to answer your question on air, email it to [email protected] or use this link.
Follow on Apple 
Follow on Spotify
Submit your question to be answered on air here!
Resources
ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app
The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support
Follow Dr. Kerry!
Youtube
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Kerry 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.

Have you ever felt completely drained after spending time with certain people in your life? 
This week, Coach Dan Ratner joins Dr. Kerry to explore the hidden world of emotional vampires: the 12 types of energy-draining people we all have in our lives and why narcissists are the most dangerous of them all. Dan shares his powerful KEEPER framework for identifying who truly deserves a place in your life. 
PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT 
Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse 
MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW 
🔹 Already know you have an emotional vampire in your life? Here's what to do next. 
Coach Dan breaks down practical strategies for managing toxic people you can't simply cut out — from family members to coworkers — and how to protect your emotional energy without blowing everything up. 
DANIEL RATNER is a relationship coach, speaker, and author helping people build healthier connections by recognizing draining patterns and setting stronger boundaries. A former entrepreneur turned personal growth expert, he is the author of Infinite Marriage and The Ten Secrets to a Passionate Marriage, with his upcoming book, Emotional Vampires, teaching readers how to protect their happiness from toxic people. Through his coaching, books, and public talks, Daniel provides clear, practical tools for improving self-esteem, cultivating "keepers," and creating relationships that fuel joy. 
GET HIS BOOK
Emotional Vampires: How to Protect Your Happiness from People Who Will Suck You Dry

FOLLOW COACH RATNER
• Website
• Instagram
• YouTube
• TikTok

Submit your question to be answered on air here!
Resources
ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app
The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources
First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course
Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support
Follow Dr. Kerry!
Youtube
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Kerry 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.