Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

• Why Some Families Scapegoat Their Child And What to Do If It Happens to You

  This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a Spotify listener: “Can you please do an episode on scapegoat children?”Why do some people get scapegoated, especially in families? Dr. Kerry explains the role of the scapegoat and how families use this person to address systemic stress and dysfunctional. Submit Your Question If you’d like your question addressed on air, send it here: 👉 https://kerrymcavoyphd.fillout.com/fan-mailStay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.Submit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Support the showDisclaimer: 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.

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• How Dangerous People Target You (Without You Even Knowing it!)

  Ever wonder why you didn't see the danger coming?This week, Dr. Leslie Dobson joins Dr. Kerry to unpack the psychological mechanisms that drive narcissistic and antisocial behavior—where they overlap, where they differ, and how they show up in relationships. We explore how predators groom their victims, why the legal system struggles to address coercive control, and the subtle tests that reveal danger long before violence occurs. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENTFind the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuseMORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW🔹 Red flags you're missing: how to spot pressure, boundary testing, and grooming before it's too late.Dr. Dobson breaks down the early warning signs—from gold-toothed "tests" to rushed intimacy—and why trusting your intuition (even when you can't name what's wrong) could save your life.👉 Get immediate access to this extended interview: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuseMORE ABOUT DR. LESLIE DOBSONWebsite: https://www.DrLeslieDobson.comInstagram & TikTok: @DrLeslieDobsonYouTube: Dr. Leslie DobsonPodcast: Intentionally Disturbing (iHeartRadio, available on all platforms)Book: The Friend Cleanse: How to identify energy vampires, set boundaries & balance your glass of life - https://amzn.to/4oEKc54DR. LESLIE DOBSON is a clinical and forensic psychologist specializing in dangerous personalities. With extensive experience working inside jails, prisons, and state hospitals—including assessments of high-risk sex offenders and violent psychopaths—Dr. Dobson brings rare expertise to understanding the dark side of human behavior. She now works in civil litigation, using her forensic training to expose manipulation and coercion in family court and beyond. Through her social media platforms and upcoming television projects, she educates the public about recognizing and protecting themselves from predatory individuals.Stay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosSubmit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Break free from narcissistic abuse with ReclaimYou. The app that's like having Dr. Kerry as your personal coach in your pocket 24/7. Get personalized support, healing exercises, and expert guidance whenever you need it. Join the waitlist now and be first to reclaim your life at studio.com/drkerrySupport the showDisclaimer: 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.

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• Why Don't Narcissists Feel Regret? And 4 Other Questions You Need Answered, Featuring Dr. Les Carter

  Dr. Les Carter has spent decades studying narcissists, and in this retrospective, he reveals what most people miss until it's too late.Narcissists seem so perfect at first—charming, attentive, interested in everything about you. But something felt off, didn't it? We revisit five groundbreaking conversations about what's really happening behind the mask: why they can't feel regret, how they gather information like they're building a case file on you, and the warning signs that someone is presenting 'as if' they're safe when they're anything but.Get a glimpse into the weekly Substack newsletter with this week’s complimentary copy. Sign up today using this link: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse Dr. Carter may have produced his last video, but his wisdom continues on his YouTube channel, Surviving Narcissism: https://www.youtube.com/@SurvivingNarcissismThank you, Dr. Les Carter, for all your wonderful work. You have made the world a more lovely, enlightened place.DR. LES CARTER is a retired clinical psychotherapist, best-selling author, and expert on narcissistic abuse who hosts the popular YouTube channel "Surviving Narcissism". With over 40 years of experience in private practice, he is a specialist in anger management and narcissistic personality disorder, helping people understand and heal from narcissistic abuse. Stay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the BreSubmit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Support the showDisclaimer: 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.

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• Does the Dark Triad Personality Type Really Exist & Is This Person Dangerous?

  “Is the Dark Triad a real disorder—or just a dangerous type?”This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a listener in Germany who writes after a recent video:“You called ‘dark triad’ a personality disorder, but it isn’t in the DSM-5. Isn’t it a subclinical descriptor?”In this episode, Dr. Kerry clarifies what is the Dark Triad and why we need to get better at spotting this type of personality. Submit Your QuestionIf you’d like your question addressed on air, send it here: 👉 https://kerrymcavoyphd.fillout.com/fan-mailStay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.Submit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Support the showDisclaimer: 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.

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• When You Feel Less & Less Safe: How Coercive Control Steals Your Freedom & Choice

  Ever feel like you’re slowly running out of air in a “nice” relationship?This week, Eleni Sagredos joins Dr. Kerry to unpack how coercive control hides behind charm and “preferences,” and why it’s so hard to spot until your autonomy has been chipped away. We trace the subtle dynamics that slowly worsen an abusive power imbalance. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENTFind the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here.MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW 🔹 From subtle control to danger: how escalation works—and why “just leave” can be a privilege, yet safety planning matters now.Eleni and Dr. Kerry map the climb from small criticisms to coercion to high-risk moments, and where to get immediate support (DV hotlines, advocates, transitional housing). 👉 Get immediate access to this extended interview: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuseMORE ABOUT ELENI SAGREDOSTiktok InstagramBook: But They're So Nice: Unmasking Covert Abuse & Narcissistic PeopleELENI SAGREDOS is an abuse educator and a certified Domestic Violence Advocate with a passion for raising awareness about covert abuse and domestic violence. She is the author of the book But They're So Nice: Unmasking Covert Abuse & Narcissistic People, which sheds light on the insidious nature of emotional and psychological abuse often overlooked or minimized. Eleni is most active on TikTok, where she shares her insights, experiences, and resources to help others recognize the dynamics and tactics in abusive relationships.Stay in Touch With Dr. Kerry!YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. KerryKerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.Submit your question to be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!Support the showDisclaimer: 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.

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