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Many adult children survivors of toxic family systems, grow up believing that healing will come when a parent changes, a partner rescues them, a therapist has the perfect answer, or someone finally validates their pain. In this episode, I address one of the most challenging—but ultimately liberating—truths in recovery: the person who will transform your life is not coming. It has always been you. Let’s unpack it: 💚Why We Look Outside Ourselves for Rescue: 💚The Myth of the Savior 💚Recognizing Your Own Power 💚Reframing Self-Responsibility 💚Practical Ways to Step Into Your Own Power 💚Red Flags of Outsourcing Your Power 💚Signs You’re Still Waiting for Someone Else to Save You 💚Practical Tools for Self-Advocacy 💚Key Takeaways and Reflections ***** NEW BOOK! You Are Home: Heal from Family Trauma, Establish Boundaries, and Find a Place of Peace and Safety Available For Pre-Order: https://amzn.to/4npkCPX ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5 CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic Family Sherapy Course designed to help people master toxic family members and turn their life around to one of freedom, peace, and empowerment. Click here https://bit.ly/SherapyMasterclass Get early access to news, insights, and tips straight from your inbox. Subscribe to Dr. Sherrie’s email list, go to https://drsherriecampbell.com/

Many adult children of toxic families are taught to believe closure will come through acknowledgment, accountability, or apology. But when family members are emotionally unsafe and unwilling to take responsibility, that moment never arrives—only prolonged hope and continued harm. In this episode, I dismantle the myth of closure and offer a hard but freeing truth: when someone refuses accountability, that refusal is the closure. Let’s get into it. 💚 Understanding the Illusion of Closure 💚 Why Climate Is an Illusion with Toxic Family 💚 Accepting Their Refusal to Be Accountable 💚 Red Flags of the “Illusion of Closure” 💚 How To’s to Create Your Own Closure 💚 Closing Thoughts and Empowerment ***** NEW BOOK! You Are Home: Heal from Family Trauma, Establish Boundaries, and Find a Place of Peace and Safety Available For Pre-Order: https://amzn.to/4npkCPX ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5 CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic Family Sherapy Course designed to help people master toxic family members and turn their life around to one of freedom, peace, and empowerment. Click here https://bit.ly/SherapyMasterclass Get early access to news, insights, and tips straight from your inbox. Subscribe to Dr. Sherrie’s email list, go to https://drsherriecampbell.com/

Survivors of narcissistic abuse often carry clarity, grief, and strength at the same time. Adriana has built a powerful platform by telling the truth plainly, no sugarcoating, no appeasing. In this conversation, we talk about boundaries, energy, enablers, and what healing actually looks like when you stop performing for people who never showed up. ✨ In this episode, we cover: 1️⃣ What moment made Adriana realize this work was her calling, and why survivors often know long before they’re ready to name it 🧠💔 2️⃣ What it really means to stop feeding the narcissist your energy and how reclaiming your nervous system is the first step back to yourself 🔋✨ 3️⃣ The role of enablers in narcissistic family systems, and why survivors are still expected to empathize with the very people who harmed them 🪞🚫 4️⃣ How Adriana chooses bold, unapologetic messaging, and what happens when clarity makes people uncomfortable 🎯🔥 5️⃣ The truth about no contact that outsiders often miss, and why it’s not about punishment, but protection 🛑🕊️ 6️⃣ How increased visibility, including appearing on Dr. Phil, has shaped (and challenged) her mission 📺🌱 7️⃣ One simple boundary you can set today if you’re feeling stuck in a cycle with a narcissistic parent or partner 🧱💗 🎧 This episode is for anyone who’s done over-explaining, over-giving, and shrinking to survive. Healing starts when the performance ends. Adriana Bucci is the founder of Let’s Get Your Shift Together, a coaching practice inspired by her own powerful healing journey. After nearly three decades of enduring narcissistic abuse and four years of severe chronic pain, Adriana made the choice to embark on deep inner work that transformed her life. Through this process, she not only overcame physical pain but also healed from the emotional wounds of toxic relationships and workplaces. Her experience led her to become a certified coach dedicated to helping others reclaim their lives. Adriana holds certifications as a Professional Life Coach, Mind Body Fitness Coach, Stress Management Coach, and SafeSpace Trauma-Informed Facilitator. Today, she empowers survivors of narcissistic abuse to heal, set boundaries, and live life on their own terms. ***** Episode Sponsor: Betterhelp Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/drsherrie BetterHelp, founded in 2013, is the world’s largest online therapy platform, offering accessible, affordable, and personalized mental health care. ***** MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 📌 [Book] You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay - https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Heal-Your-Life/dp/0937611018 📌 [Book] Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by John E. Sarno MD - https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Back-Pain-Mind-Body-Connection/dp/0446557684 📌 [Book] Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover - https://www.amazon.com/Educated-Memoir-Tara-Westover-ebook/dp/B072BLVM83 [Book] A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer - https://www.amazon.com/Child-Called-Childs-Courage-Survive/dp/1558743669 CONNECT WITH ADRIANA: 📌 Website: https://www.letsgetyourshifttogether.com/ 📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetyourshifttogether 📌 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/letsgetyourshifttogether 📌 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@letsgetyourshifttogether ***** NEW BOOK! You Are Home: Heal from Family Trauma, Establish Boundaries, and Find a Place of Peace and Safety Available For Pre-Order: https://amzn.to/4npkCPX ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR....

In this episode, let’s explore one of the most exhausting and misunderstood realities of trauma recovery: why the body continues preparing for danger long after the danger has passed. Trauma survivors often wonder why healing doesn’t bring immediate peace, and the answer lies not in weakness, but in a nervous system that learned survival early and learned it well. The following insights unpack why your body reacts before your logic has a chance to intervene. 💚 Why Trauma Keeps the Body in Survival Mode 💚 How This Shows Up in Everyday Life 💚 Red Flags Your Body Is Stuck in Trauma Mode 💚 How to Begin Calming the Body After Trauma 💚 Practical Tips for Reassuring Your Body 💚 Closing Thoughts ***** NEW BOOK! You Are Home: Heal from Family Trauma, Establish Boundaries, and Find a Place of Peace and Safety Available For Pre-Order: https://amzn.to/4npkCPX ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5 CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic Family Sherapy Course designed to help people master toxic family members and turn their life around to one of freedom, peace, and empowerment. Click here https://bit.ly/SherapyMasterclass Get early access to news, insights, and tips straight from your inbox. Subscribe to Dr. Sherrie’s email list, go to https://drsherriecampbell.com/

When you separate from an abuser, the abuse doesn’t always end, it often shifts to the courtroom. In this powerful episode, Dr. Sherrie sits down with Courtney Gilmartin, a Family Court Strategist and certified Trauma-Informed Coach, to expose how toxic individuals manipulate the legal system to continue their patterns of control, power, and psychological abuse. We dive deep into DARVO: the tactic of Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender, and how it plays out in real-time during custody battles, hearings, and false accusations. This isn’t a legal discussion, it is a psychological and strategic one. If you’re a survivor navigating family court, this conversation is a lifeline. 🔍 What You’ll Learn: 🍏 What DARVO looks like in the courtroom 🍏 How toxic exes use false allegations, court manipulation, and smear campaigns to maintain control 🍏 Why staying calm is a strategic power move, not just emotional regulation 🍏The key to beating lies: emotionless, project-manager style documentation 🍏Practical trauma-informed tools to prepare for court, protect your kids, and preserve your peace 🍏How to reclaim agency and stop reacting to every legal threat thrown your way Courtney Gilmartin is a leading Family Court Strategist, certified Trauma-Informed Coach, and a fierce advocate working to protect domestic abuse survivors and their children through systemic and legislative change. After experiencing a near decade-long custody battle and post-separation abuse, she turned her pain into purpose and founded Monarch Consulting Group. Her unique approach combines over 20 years of operations management in fast-paced tech startups with the critical learnings she identified while navigating the Family Court system. A tireless advocate, she lobbied extensively for New Jersey's coercive control bill, which was codified into law in 2024. After helping countless women, she has become a sought-after expert on how abusers weaponize the family court process and how to combat this abuse. Her proprietary Monarch Method™ was built to fill a critical gap she identified in her own journey: the need for a sustainable system that empowers survivors by turning their lived experiences into compelling, evidence-based proof. This framework provides the foundation required to shift from a reactive to a proactive strategy, and the strategic advantage required to counter an abuser’s tactics and secure safer, more favorable outcomes in Family Court. ***** Episode Sponsor: Betterhelp Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/drsherrie BetterHelp, founded in 2013, is the world’s largest online therapy platform, offering accessible, affordable, and personalized mental health care. ***** MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 📌 [Expert] Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola - https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/ 📌 [Book] The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller - https://www.amazon.com/Drama-Gifted-Child-Search-True/dp/0465012612 📌 [Book] Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life (Interpersonal Violence) by Evan Stark - https://www.amazon.com/Coercive-Control-Personal-Interpersonal-Violence/dp/0195384040 📌 [Expert] Jennifer J. Freyd, PhD - https://www.jjfreyd.com/darvo 📌 [Non-profit] New Jersey Protective Moms (NJPM) - https://www.njprotectivemoms.org/ CONNECT WITH COURTNEY: 📌 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-gilmartin-780058176/ 📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtney.gilmartin/ 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneye.gilmartin/ ***** NEW BOOK! You Are Home: Heal from Family Trauma,...

In this episode, we dive deep into what it really means to stay grounded in your own truth when you are surrounded by a toxic family system. If you have ever questioned your reality, wondered if you are being too sensitive, or found yourself shrinking to keep the peace, this episode is for you. 💚🍎 What We Cover: 🍏 Understanding Why Toxic Families Fear the Truth 🍏 The Cost of Letting Go of Your Truth 🍏 Practical Strategies for Holding Onto Your Truth 🍏 Warning Signs That You’re Losing Your Truth 🍏 Empowering Your Truth 🍏 Closing Reflections and Key Takeaways ***** NEW BOOK! You Are Home: Heal from Family Trauma, Establish Boundaries, and Find a Place of Peace and Safety Available For Pre-Order: https://amzn.to/4npkCPX ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5 CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic Family Sherapy Course designed to help people master toxic family members and turn their life around to one of freedom, peace, and empowerment. Click here https://bit.ly/SherapyMasterclass Get early access to news, insights, and tips straight from your inbox. Subscribe to Dr. Sherrie’s email list, go to https://drsherriecampbell.com/

In this episode, Dr. Sherrie continues the Truth Series by diving into one of the most painful realities survivors face: the moment you speak the truth in a toxic family system, you become the enemy. Let’s take a closer look at why the truth threatens them so profoundly, and how you can stand in your truth without losing yourself in their chaos. 🍏The Narcissistic Ego and Its Fragility 🍏Common Reactions to the Truth 🍏Why They Can’t Self-Reflect 🍏Practical Tips for Handling the Truth-Rejection 🍏Red Flags and Empowering Truth-Telling 🍏How to Stay Empowered When Naming the Truth 🍏Key Takeaways 🍏 Call to action ***** NEW BOOK! You Are Home: Heal from Family Trauma, Establish Boundaries, and Find a Place of Peace and Safety Available For Pre-Order: https://amzn.to/4npkCPX ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5 CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic Family Sherapy Course designed to help people master toxic family members and turn their life around to one of freedom, peace, and empowerment. Click here https://bit.ly/SherapyMasterclass Get early access to news, insights, and tips straight from your inbox. Subscribe to Dr. Sherrie’s email list, go to https://drsherriecampbell.com/

In this episode, singer-songwriter Nick Hames joins us to share the story behind one of his most vulnerable songs—a track that dives deep into betrayal, longing, and the painful realization that some people will never be who we hope they are. We talk about the inspiration behind the lyrics, the power of repetition in “that’s just not who you are,” and how music becomes both a mirror and a release when writing about heartbreak. Nick opens up about balancing poetry and melody, the lessons he’s learned about love and trust, and how this song fits into the larger arc of his music career. If you’ve ever waited for love that didn’t come, or trusted someone who didn’t deserve it, Nick’s story will resonate with you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🍎 The personal story that inspired Nick’s lyrics of betrayal and disappointment 🍎 Why the phrase “that’s just not who you are” became the emotional anchor of the song 🍎 How songwriting can be both cathartic and challenging when revisiting heartbreak 🍎 The role of imagery and poetry in Nick’s music 🍎 What Nick hopes listeners take away when they hear his songs 🍎 How his perspective on love and trust has shifted over time 🍎 Where this track fits into the bigger picture of his music Growing up in Boston, MA Nick Hames was exposed to live rock and blues music at an early age – watching his uncle perform in the local club and bar scene around Boston. Since becoming a social media guitar star and performing all around New England, he has relocated to Los Angeles, CA to begin his new alt/pop/rock project “HAMES” combining pop, rock, and blues into a sound of his own. ***** Episode Sponsors: Betterhelp Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/drsherrie BetterHelp, founded in 2013, is the world’s largest online therapy platform, offering accessible, affordable, and personalized mental health care. — Hiya Hiya is revolutionizing children's health with a pediatrician-approved, sugar-free multivitamin designed to nourish growing kids with the essential nutrients they need—without the junk. Made with 15 key vitamins and minerals, Hiya’s chewable formula is free from artificial sweeteners, dyes, and gummy additives, offering a cleaner, healthier approach to kids’ nutrition. Trusted by parents and loved by kids, Hiya is on a mission to build lifelong wellness habits from the very first bite. Use my link 👉 https://hiyahealth.pxf.io/c/5964558/1730519/20098 to get 50% off of your first order with HIYA and free delivery! ***** MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 📌 [Song] Ghost of You (Live Performance) - https://youtu.be/gm4sXrj_58A CONNECT WITH NICK: 📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickHames 📌 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2mjG6ymZFW0n7VNjedCLG2 📌 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nick-hames/1458244991 📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickhames 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickhamesmusic/ 📌 X: https://x.com/nickhamesmusic ***** NEW BOOK! You Are Home: Heal from Family Trauma, Establish Boundaries, and Find a Place of Peace and Safety Available For Pre-Order: https://amzn.to/4npkCPX ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal...

In this episode, Dr. Sherrie explores one of the most emotionally charged realities for survivors of toxic families: the moment you speak your truth—and they react as if you’ve declared war. She explains why the truth feels so threatening to dysfunctional family members, how defensiveness and rage reveal more about their fear than your words, and what it means to hold onto your truth even when it’s met with denial, projection, and manipulation. Let’s go deeper: 🍎 Why the Truth Doesn’t Fear Questions 🍎 Why Toxic Family Members React So egregiously to Being Called Out 🍎 Recognizing and Responding to Common Manipulation Tactics 🍎 How to Stand Firm in Your Truth 🍎 Red Flags and Protective Strategies 🍎 Summary of Key Points ***** MY LATEST BOOK! Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE CAMPBELL: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5 CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic Family Sherapy Course designed to help people master toxic family members and turn their life around to one of freedom, peace, and empowerment. Click here https://bit.ly/SherapyMasterclass Get early access to news, insights, and tips straight from your inbox. Subscribe to Dr. Sherrie’s email list, go to https://drsherriecampbell.com/

Menopause is often framed as a breakdown, but what if it’s actually a breakthrough? In this episode, we dive deep into how the hormonal shifts of midlife don’t create problems; they reveal them.  We explore how menopause strips away the “people-pleasing filter,” resurfaces childhood survival roles like caretaker or peacemaker, and forces women to confront toxic family dynamics they may have tolerated for years. Our guest, That Menopause Guy, shares his personal story of growing up with an abusive father and how his healing journey gave him insight into the survival patterns many midlife women carry: fawning, freezing, and chronic over-functioning. We also talk about the painful parallels between medical dismissal and narcissistic abuse, and how invalidation from doctors can retraumatize women who’ve already lived through toxic family systems. By the end of this episode, you will see why menopause is less about losing yourself and more about finally recognizing yourself clearly. You will learn why old patterns rise up in midlife, how to stop repeating them, and what steps you can take to start setting boundaries and creating emotional freedom. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🍏 Why menopause isn’t a breakdown—it’s a clarifying awakening.  🍏How childhood trauma roles resurface in midlife and what to do about them.  🍏The ways menopause acts as a mirror, making it impossible to ignore red flags.  🍏How growing up in toxicity shapes communication, boundaries, and self-worth.  🍏The deep parallel between medical dismissal and narcissistic invalidation.  🍏Why women feel like they’re “seeing themselves clearly” for the first time.  🍏Practical first steps to break free from old survival patterns. Ali Farhat | Women’s Weight Loss & Hormone Specialist Certified Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner | Certified Women's Holistic Hormone Practitioner | B.S. in Kinesiology Ali Farhat is a certified women's hormone practitioner and weight loss coach with nearly a decade of experience helping women transform their bodies and reclaim their health. But his mission took a powerful turn four years ago, when his own mother began experiencing menopause symptoms and was quickly dismissed by her doctor, misdiagnosed with depression and anxiety, and left without real solutions. Seeing how the system failed her opened Ali’s eyes to a silent epidemic: women in menopause being ignored, misinformed, and told to “just deal with it.” That moment lit a fire in him, to become the kind of practitioner women actually need. Now, Ali specializes in helping women in perimenopause and menopause lose stubborn weight, eliminate symptoms, and finally get the answers they’ve been searching for. He combines functional lab testing, individualized hormone support, nutrition, and fitness to create true, lasting transformations. But more than that, Ali is leading a movement: to show that there are good men out there who genuinely want to help women thrive. In a space where male voices can be met with skepticism, Ali is breaking the mold, not by telling women what to do, but by listening, empowering, and offering real solutions with deep respect. Known online as That Menopause Guy, Ali is changing the game by making midlife health feel empowering, not defeating. Whether it’s through his popular online programs, viral social media content, or in-person events, Ali’s bold yet deeply compassionate coaching style resonates with women who are tired of being dismissed by mainstream medicine and are ready for a real solution.  ***** Episode Sponsors: Betterhelp Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started:  a...

In this episode, Dr. Sherrie explores a lesser-discussed but profoundly transformative phase of healing: the disgust stage. This stage emerges when your mind and body finally align, when clarity replaces the tolerance that once kept you tied to dysfunction. It’s not bitterness or cruelty; it’s your system saying, “That wasn’t love. That wasn’t safe.” Dr. Sherrie explains how disgust marks the end of denial and the beginning of truth. It’s not regression. It’s revelation. When understood with compassion, this stage becomes a powerful threshold into emotional freedom. Let’s unpack the key insights from this powerful discussion: 🌱Naming a Hidden Stage of Healing 🌱Why Disgust Shows Up Later in Healing 🌱Common Triggers That Bring on the Disgust Stage 🌱Practical Tools for Processing Disgust 🌱Red Flags You Now Refuse to Normalize 🌱Moving From Disgust to Liberation ***** MY LATEST BOOK! Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE CAMPBELL: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5 CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic Family Sherapy Course designed to help people master toxic family members and turn their life around to one of freedom, peace, and empowerment. Click here https://bit.ly/SherapyMasterclass Get early access to news, insights, and tips straight from your inbox. Subscribe to Dr. Sherrie’s email list, go to https://drsherriecampbell.com/

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Sherrie sits down with Bridgette to explore what it means to transform toxic family patterns and step into the role of a sacred ancestor. Drawing from Bowen’s Family Systems theory, genograms, attachment work, and experiential psychotherapy, Bridgette offers a path toward breaking cycles, healing shame, and creating freedom for future generations. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🍏 What it means to become a sacred ancestor and why mapping family systems can uncover hidden generational traumas and roles 🍏 How to separate the “survival self” you had to be in your family from the authentic self you’re becoming 🍏 Why the gilded cage metaphor explains how family systems can look good on the outside while keeping you trapped inside 🍏 Practical ways to begin reparenting your inner child and healing deep attachment wounds 🍏 How reparenting creates safety and reduces shame for survivors of toxic families 🍏 Why grieving childhood and parental relationships is essential for healing, and how corrective emotional experiences make space for authentic living 🍏 The first step you can take today to set yourself free and begin breaking generational cycles Brigitte Marquette is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor. In her private practice, Gilded Cage Counselling, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Brigitte supports her clients to gain insights into the family system they grew up in, heal attachment wounding, and show up in the world in a way that is authentic and meaningful to them. When exploring unhealthy family systems through a family systems and transpersonal psychological lens, we can discover embracing being a sacred ancestor as opposed to a dutiful descendant. ***** Episode Sponsors: Betterhelp Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/drsherrie BetterHelp, founded in 2013, is the world’s largest online therapy platform, offering accessible, affordable, and personalized mental health care. — Hiya Hiya is revolutionizing children's health with a pediatrician-approved, sugar-free multivitamin designed to nourish growing kids with the essential nutrients they need—without the junk. Made with 15 key vitamins and minerals, Hiya’s chewable formula is free from artificial sweeteners, dyes, and gummy additives, offering a cleaner, healthier approach to kids’ nutrition. Trusted by parents and loved by kids, Hiya is on a mission to build lifelong wellness habits from the very first bite. Use my link 👉 https://hiyahealth.pxf.io/c/5964558/1730519/20098 to get 50% off of your first order with HIYA and free delivery! ***** MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 📌 [Book] I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - https://www.amazon.com/Know-Why-Caged-Bird-Sings/dp/0345514408 CONNECT WITH BRIGITTE: 📌 Website: https://gildedcagecounselling.com/ 📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gildedcagecounselling/ ***** MY LATEST BOOK!!! Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for

So many survivors of toxic family systems carry the quiet belief that they are broken beyond repair. It’s not just a mindset; it’s a learned response from years of being blamed, gaslighted, and emotionally neglected. But healing isn’t a project to complete, it’s a relationship to cultivate. It’s about learning to be with yourself instead of by yourself. It's not fixing what’s broken in you, it’s nurturing what has long been unseen, unheard, and unloved. Let’s go deeper: 🌱Decoding The Myth of “Brokenness” 🌱Shifting the Focus to Nurturing 🌱Practical Ways to Nurture Yourself 🌱Red Flags of a “Fixing” Mentality 🌱The Long-Term Impact of Nurturing 🌱Closing Reflections and Empowerment ***** MY LATEST BOOK! Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE CAMPBELL: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5 CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic Family Sherapy Course designed to help people master toxic family members and turn their life around to one of freedom, peace, and empowerment. Click here https://bit.ly/SherapyMasterclass Get early access to news, insights, and tips straight from your inbox. Subscribe to Dr. Sherrie’s email list, go to https://drsherriecampbell.com/

In this deeply resonant episode of Sherapy Sessions, Dr. Sherrie Campbell welcomes Tamarin Michel, a clinical psychologist turned holistic healer, to explore the profound impact of toxic family dynamics, navigating complex in-law situations, and the transformative potential of somatic healing and inner child work. Topics include: 🍏 the power of somatic healing 🍏 how we hold trauma in our bodies 🍏 family dynamics are the common denominator in the creation of trauma 🍏 why reparenting ourselves is important 🍏 why setting boundaries is the path to your personal freedom 🍏 the profound value of developing the self-control to not engage in emotional games 🍏 the challenges in dealing with invasive in-laws 🍏 strategies to maintain emotional distance Tamarin Michel is the founder of EmpowHER Healing, where she integrates clinical psychology with spirituality to offer a holistic approach to healing. Holding a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, she has a background in private practice in Los Angeles before relocating to Sydney, Australia. Tamarin’s unique journey spans from working in Beverly Hills clinics to facilitating retreats in Bali, blending clinical expertise with intuitive energy work. She is dedicated to guiding individuals toward reclaiming their personal power, healing generational trauma, and embodying lasting peace and purpose. ***** Episode Sponsors: Betterhelp Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/drsherrie BetterHelp, founded in 2013, is the world’s largest online therapy platform, offering accessible, affordable, and personalized mental health care. — Hiya Hiya is revolutionizing children's health with a pediatrician-approved, sugar-free multivitamin designed to nourish growing kids with the essential nutrients they need—without the junk. Made with 15 key vitamins and minerals, Hiya’s chewable formula is free from artificial sweeteners, dyes, and gummy additives, offering a cleaner, healthier approach to kids’ nutrition. Trusted by parents and loved by kids, Hiya is on a mission to build lifelong wellness habits from the very first bite. Use my link 👉 https://hiyahealth.pxf.io/c/5964558/1730519/20098 to get 50% off of your first order with HIYA and free delivery! ***** MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 📌 [Book] The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship by Don Miguel Ruiz - https://www.amazon.com/Mastery-Love-Practical-Relationship-Toltec/dp/1878424424 CONNECT WITH TAMARIN: 📌 Website: https://www.empowherhealing.com/ 📌 Email: [email protected] 📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowherhealing/ ***** MY LATEST BOOK!!! Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5...

For those of us who grew up in unpredictable homes marked by neglect, manipulation, or abuse, survival wasn’t optional—it was a daily necessity. We became experts at reading facial expressions, predicting moods, and shrinking ourselves to avoid conflict. While these adaptations kept us alive, they also left deep scars, impacting our health, identity, relationships, and sense of safety in the world. Let’s unpack this idea: 🌱 What is survival mode? 🌱 The family environment that forces us into survival 🌱 The Long-Term Effects on Mind & Body 🌱 The Long-Term Effects on Mind & Body 🌱 The Emotional Toll & Self-Identity Challenges 🌱 Why People Who’ve Known This Pain Deserve Profound Understanding 🌱 How To’s and pathways forward 🌱 Closing thoughts ***** MY LATEST BOOK! Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI ***** MY TEDx TALK: 📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE CAMPBELL: ⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA ⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn ⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself - https://amzn.to/3JBql1R ⚉ Success Equations: A Path to Living an Emotionally Wealthy Life - https://amzn.to/3uobd1u ⚉ Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person - https://amzn.to/36mlXp5 CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE: ⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic Family Sherapy Course designed to help people master toxic family members and turn their life around to one of freedom, peace, and empowerment. Click here https://bit.ly/SherapyMasterclass Get early access to news, insights, and tips straight from your inbox. Subscribe to Dr. Sherrie’s email list, go to https://drsherriecampbell.com/