Beyond Survival - The Therapy Podcast with Katie McKenna

What happens when the parent you've spent years surviving finally dies, but the trauma, fear and family dynamics don't die with them? In this weeks letter, a listener shares her experience of growing up with abusive parents, years of estrangement, relentless harassment and the complicated grief following her mother's death. She reflects on the different paths taken by siblings, the pressure of family loyalty, and the lifelong impact of shame, silence and generational trauma. But perhaps most ...

"Since cutting contact, my father and siblings have taken the position that if I won't have a relationship with my mother, they won't have one with me" This week, we explore the heartbreaking fallout of going no contact, the painful reality of family members who choose sides, and the impossible-feeling decisions around grandparent access, boundaries, and breaking generational cycles. How do you protect your peace and your children without losing the hope of a healthier family? Quiz - "Are You...

What happens when you’re the one who always shows up, reaches out, and holds the family together — but the effort is never returned? This week, we hear from a listener who grew up as the parentified daughter: the reliable one, the helper, the one expected to sacrifice, stay quiet, and keep showing up. She left home to build a life of her own, eventually moving abroad and discovering a freedom she’d never known. But distance came with blame, and despite years of trying, she’s still the...

Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong? If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, your body learned to scan everything. The shift in tone, the sigh, the silence that means you’re in trouble. You got very good at spotting it, because your survival depended on it. This week I’m joined by my friend Kristen Carter, host of the I Have ADHD podcast, and author of the new book You’re Not in Trouble: The ADHD Guide to Building Healthy, Connected Relationships. To me, Kristen’s ...

You're fluent in everyone's emotional language except your own. If you grew up with a narcissistic parent, you probably have a PhD in reading other people. You can spot a shift in their mood, anticipate what they need, and know exactly which version of yourself keeps the peace. But what about your own thesis? What do you feel, want and need? The clench of your jaw when a friend cancels again. The lump you swallow down when a comment lands. The sting of resentment after yet another yes you did...