Beyond Survival - The Therapy Podcast with Katie McKenna

• When a Mother Can’t Let Go

  This week, we read a powerful letter from a listener whoasks myself and Dr. Ruth Callaghan the question: "How do I decide whether or not to go no contact? I can't seem to spend time with them that doesn't involve drama?"The listener describes growing up with a mum who seemed caring on the surface — "never shouting, just nagging, crying and hounding me, until she gets her own way" — and a dad who told her to “keep the peace.” Now, as a mother herself, every attempt to set a healthy boundary is met with guilt, tears, and emotional pressure.In this episode, we explore what it’s like when love comes with strings attached, how emotional manipulation can hide behind the illusion of softness, and the painful process of deciding whether connection is still possible — or whether protecting yourself means finally walking away.Follow Dr. Ruth Callaghan on TikTokFollow Dr. Ruth Callaghan on InstagramFollow Dr. Ruth Callaghan on YouTubewww.callaghancounselling.ieBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

  --------  

  50:23

  --------

  50:23
• Learning to Trust Love (S2 Ep6)

  Trigger Warning: Sexual AbuseQ "What I’m currently struggling with is this pattern I have where if there is a pause in our physical intimacy due to life stress or other circumstances I feel incredibly afraid and triggered into feeling worthless and think our relationship is doomed."In this deeply moving episode, we explore the lasting impact of childhood trauma on even the healthiest adult relationships. A listener grew up with a covertly narcissistic mother, being placed in the “gilded child” role, and enduring emotional enmeshment and covert sexual abuse. After confronting her past and investing in recovery, she finds herself triggered by fears of abandonment and worthlessness whenever intimacy shifts in her relationship. Together Ruth and I unpack how childhood wounds can resurface in adult partnerships, why healing can feel like a maze, and what tangible, actionable, steps can help move from old patterns of survival into deeper connection and trust.Follow Dr. Ruth Callaghan on InstagramFollow Dr. Ruth Callaghan on TikTokwww.callaghancounselling.ieYouTube Dr. Ruth CallaghanBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

  --------  

  46:42

  --------

  46:42
• Can she change? (S2 Ep5)

  These weeks listener asks these 3 questionsIs it unrealistic to expect her to change?How do I get her voice out of my head that I’m in the wrong? Have others found a way to be in a relationship with a mother with narcissistic tendenciesListen as Ruth & Katie unpack these questions and what they really mean for your healing, your boundaries, and your sense of self.Follow Ruth on TikTokFollow Ruth on Instagramwww.callaghancounselling.ieBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

  --------  

  52:02

  --------

  52:02
• Responsibility, Triggers and Fears (S2 E4)

  How do we learn to parent, or even reparent ourselves, if we never had a model of healthy parenting? In this week’s episode, we explore three powerful themes: our responsibility as parents, how to navigate our own triggers, and whether it’s really possible to “overlove” a child and risk raising a narcissist. We also share some of our own fears and struggles, and offer practical, tangible advice on how to navigate these challenges with more confidence and compassion.Follow Ruth on TikTokFollow Ruth on Instagramwww.callaghancounselling.ieBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

  --------  

  51:40

  --------

  51:40
• Is There Hope with My Enabling Parent? (S2 E3)

  This week’s listener has worked hard to build a life where she feels confident, loved, and free to be herself. But when she begins to hold her boundaries, her mother shows her true colours and the cracks in the family dynamic become impossible to ignore. Her enabling father seems to make attempts at connection, but the question remains: How do you confront parents about the pain they’ve caused, without losing yourself in the process?If you would like us to answer your question email [email protected] Follow Dr. Ruth Callaghan on InstagramFollow Dr. Ruth Callaghan on TikTokDr. Ruth Callaghan's WebsiteBEYOND SURVIVAL - The Therapy Podcast

  --------  

  50:37

  --------

  50:37

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About Beyond Survival - The Therapy Podcast with Katie McKenna

Beyond Survival - The Therapy Podcast with Katie McKenna: Podcasts in Family