Emotional Abuse Archives

Creating New Friendships as a Divorced Christian Woman

December 19, 2025

So, you got divorced and your social life went up in flames. Welcome to the club, friend. Pull up a chair.

In this season finale, I sit down with my friend Diana Swillinger (host of The Renew Your Mind Podcast) to talk about something every divorced woman eventually faces: the weird, wonderful, terrifying world of making new friends when you’re a whole new person.

We talk about the great scattering (as Mel Robbins calls it), how to let go of draining friendships without guilt, and why being rejected might not actually kill you. If you’re feeling lonely, wondering where your people went, or ready to rebuild your community from scratch with people who actually see you, this episode is the warm hug and gentle shove you need.

And don’t worry, introverts, we’ve got you too. You can still want deep connection without having to attend a single church potluck ever again. Promise.

Emotional Abuse vs. Healthy Conflict in a Christian Marriage: How to Tell the Difference – Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 3 [Episode 358]

December 16, 2025

In this episode, I walk you through five crucial differences between a healthy Christian marriage and an emotionally abusive one.

Your Relationship with Yourself: Learning to Like (and Love) Who You Are Again

December 12, 2025

What if the most important relationship you’ll ever have isn’t the one with your ex, your pastor, or even your cat, but the one with yourself? (I know, scandalous.)

In this episode, I’m joined by three divorced Christian women, Barb, Diana, and Lisa, to unpack what it really looks like to reconnect with yourself after decades of religious programming and marital trauma.

Whether you’re eight days or eight years post-divorce, this episode is your permission slip to stop apologizing for existing and start building a fierce, compassionate relationship with the one person who will always be there: YOU.

The Art of Saying No: Setting Boundaries When You’ve Been Trained to Say Yes – Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 2 [Episode 357]

December 9, 2025

Have you ever been told that saying “no” makes you selfish? That good Christian women never rock the boat, always serve with a smile, and definitely do not have thoughts of their own?

This episode is Part 2 of our Emotional Abuse 101 series, and today we’re diving into the art of saying no.

If the idea of saying no makes your stomach flip or sends you into a guilt spiral, this episode is your lifeline. I’ll walk you through WHY it’s so hard to say no and HOW to start saying it anyway with confidence and without apology.

Building Healthier Relationships with Adult Children Post-Divorce

December 5, 2025

You’ve survived the marriage from Hades, signed the divorce papers, and maybe even had your ceremonial “burn the wedding dress” moment.

Your kids are grown, they have opinions (lots of them), and some of those opinions are… not in your favor. If you’re wondering how to rebuild, repair, or even just exist in relationship with your adult children post-divorce without losing your mind (or your will to live), this episode is your safe space.

I sit down with my friend and fellow coach, Diana Swillinger, for a conversation about the complex and often heart-wrenching work of parenting adult kids after divorce.

The 10 Most Subtle Signs of Emotional Abuse in a Christian Marriage – Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 1 [Episode 356]

December 2, 2025

Welcome to part one of a brand-new series I’m calling “Emotional Abuse 101: Everything You Need to Know,” because, let’s face it, the church didn’t exactly hand out “How to Spot a Narcissist in Your Youth Group” pamphlets in Sunday school.

In this episode, I’m diving into 10 most subtle signs of emotional abuse, the kind of signs that don’t leave bruises on your body but do leave bruises on your soul. These are the red flags that fly under the radar, the ones that make you ask “Am I too sensitive?” or “Maybe I am the problem?”

Category: Emotional Abuse