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Sherapy Sessions: Cutting Toxic Family Ties

Sherapy Sessions: Cutting Toxic Family Ties

By: Dr. Sherrie Campbell
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 Toxic family is real. Toxic parents are real. Smear campaigns are real. Toxic in-laws are real. You are not alone. On this podcast, you have a voice. On this podcast, Dr. Sherrie Campbell will help you learn more about your family dynamics, unconscious patterns that drive toxic human behavior, and ways to deal with your trauma. And most importantly, you will embark on a journey that will help you know yourself and love yourself more. Dr. Sherrie is a nationally recognized expert clinical psychologist with over 25 years of clinical training and experience. She was featured in major media networks such as CNN, Time, USA Today, and The Huffington Post. She is the best-selling author of But It’s Your Family…Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath and Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself. She is a mom who bravely shared her story to help more people break free of toxic family relationships and thrive in the aftermath. Subscribe now to get your monthly "Sherapy Sessions" (Sherrie Therapy Sessions) straight from your phone.Copyright 2021 Dr. Sherrie Campbell Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • A Son Confronts Family Secrets with Rich Boerner (Bonus Episode 43)

    A Son Confronts Family Secrets with Rich Boerner (Bonus Episode 43)
    Mar 11 2026
    What happens when the truth you uncover about your family changes everything you thought you knew about love, loyalty, and belonging? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Sherrie sits down with Rich Boerner, author of A Son Confronts Family Secrets, to talk about what it means to face generational denial, uncover hidden truths, and reclaim your voice from the silence you were raised to protect. Rich opens up about his journey from compliance to confrontation—how unraveling the lies at the center of his family story forced him to redefine home, healing, and forgiveness on his own terms. If you’ve ever been the “keeper of peace” in a family built on secrets, this episode will remind you: telling the truth isn’t betrayal—it’s liberation.In This Episode:🍎 The emotional cost of keeping family secrets🍎 What happens when you stop protecting the family image🍎 Rebuilding your identity after the truth comes out🍎 How grief, anger, and compassion can coexist🍎 The courage it takes to tell your story publicly🍎 Why silence protects the wrong people🍎 Reclaiming love and loyalty on your own terms✨ Key Quote from Rich:“Sometimes confronting the truth isn’t about destroying your family—it’s about finally saving yourself.”💫 Takeaway from Dr. Sherrie:Family truth-telling isn’t rebellion. It’s repair. You’re not breaking the family—you’re breaking the illusion that kept you small.Rich Boerner is a celebrated audio producer, author, and voice talent whose career has taken him across major media hubs from New York and Los Angeles to San Francisco and Portland. Known for his ability to build and transform audio platforms, Rich played a key role in launching two of the nation’s most successful FM talk stations—Real Radio 104.1 in Orlando and 97.1 FM Talk in Los Angeles.As the industry shifted toward digital, Rich helped pioneer new frontiers in podcasting. He was instrumental in the early development of PodcastOne and later led the Los Angeles operations for Cadence13 (now part of Audacy), shaping studios and teams that produced content with some of the world’s most recognizable voices. His collaborations span icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Adam Carolla, Jemele Hill, and Steve Austin.Beyond producing, Rich’s own voice has been featured in national campaigns and audiobooks. His memoir, The Not‑So Only Child, shares the deeply personal story of a family discovery that reshaped his life. His work has earned recognition from the Webby Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Broadcast Radio Awards, underscoring his impact on both traditional and digital audio storytelling.*****Episode Sponsor:BetterhelpGoing 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] The Not-So Only Child: My True Story by Rich Boerner - https://www.amazon.com/Not-So-Only-Child-True-Story-ebook/dp/B0FMJWVV4H📌 [Documentary] Three Identical Strangers (2018) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Identical_Strangers 📌 [Book] The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz - https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319 *****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 RICH: 📌 Website: https://rbcreative.com/ 📌 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-boerner/ 📌 Email: rich@rbcreative.com 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richboerner 📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richboerner/ CONNECT WITH DR. SHERRIE:⚉ Website: https://drsherriecampbell.com/ ⚉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD Check out the Sherapy Master Class: The Toxic ...
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    54 mins
  • Breaking the Family Trance: Self-Differentiation, Enmeshment, and the Path Back to You with Jerry Wise (Bonus Episode 42)

    Breaking the Family Trance: Self-Differentiation, Enmeshment, and the Path Back to You with Jerry Wise (Bonus Episode 42)
    Feb 25 2026
    Have you ever felt like you're living in someone else’s life script—following invisible rules, walking on emotional eggshells, and carrying pain that doesn’t fully belong to you? Do you wonder why, even after cutting contact, your toxic family still seems to echo in your mind, body, or choices?Survivors of enmeshed, narcissistic, or otherwise toxic family systems often live in what Jerry Wise brilliantly calls “the family trance”—a psychological and emotional programming that conditions our perception, keeps us loyal to dysfunction, and disconnects us from our true selves.In this episode, let’s explore the core dynamics that keep us bound: family trance, self-differentiation, enmeshment, the misunderstood role of the “identified patient,” and the trauma of awakening.🌿The Super Self of the Toxic Family System 🌿 Unpacking what it means to be in the “Family Trance” 🌿 Enmeshment creates a lack of connection, just as distance creates a lack of connection. 🌿What Jerry means by “self differentiation” 🌿 Whether our relationships with our families are in contact or no contact there is always still a connection 🌿 We cannot use an “other-centered focus” to change our family 🌿 Being centered on healing yourself is not selfish 🌿 Enmeshment is not closeness. 🌿 How to start “Self Differentiating”Jerry T. Wise, MA, MS, CLC, is a renowned family-systems expert and self-differentiation coach with over 45 years of experience as a marriage & family therapist, addictions therapist, pastoral counselor, and certified life/relationship coach. He’s helped thousands of clients across 110+ countries, reaching millions online as he guides survivors of narcissistic, dysfunctional, or emotionally immature families to reclaim their authentic selves—cultivating resilience, confidence, and calm. His signature “Road to Self” program, along with hundreds of free videos and trainings, focuses on healing through boundary-setting, emotional detachment, and reducing reactivity, helping individuals break free from lifelong patterns.*****Episode Sponsor: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] People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil by M. Scott Peck - https://www.amazon.com/People-Lie-Hope-Healing-Human/dp/0684848597 📌 [Book] Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel - https://www.amazon.com/Mating-Captivity-Unlocking-Erotic-Intelligence/dp/0060753641 CONNECT WITH JERRY:📌 Website: https://www.jerrywiserelationshipsystems.com/ 📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jerrywise 📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerrytwise/ 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JerryTWise/ 📌 Twitter: https://www.tiktok.com/@jerrytwise 📌 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrytwise/ *****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 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/
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    55 mins
  • Dr. Nicki Monti on Sex, Secrets, and the Psychology of Self-Destruction — and How She Turned It All Into Healing (Bonus Episode 41)

    Dr. Nicki Monti on Sex, Secrets, and the Psychology of Self-Destruction — and How She Turned It All Into Healing (Bonus Episode 41)
    Feb 11 2026
    In this episode, Dr. Nicki Monti joins us for a deeply honest and often jaw-dropping conversation about how a life filled with chaos, addiction, sex, loss, and self-sabotage became the foundation for her transformation as a therapist and healer.From starting a phone sex business to facing addiction, two divorces, and the death of her husband, Dr. Monti has lived through it all, and come out wiser, lighter, and with zero shame about the lessons she earned.We talk about the dark humor and humanity in her story, what it really takes to grow up emotionally, and how to recognize when you’re still chasing your parents’ shadows in love.If you’ve ever felt defined by your mistakes or trapped in old family patterns, this conversation will remind you that the most broken stories can become the most beautiful medicine.🧩 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🍎 How running a phone sex business unexpectedly led Dr. Monti to a career as a therapist🍎 Why being a “functional addict” is really just surviving, not thriving🍎 The truth behind her Friday night “ritual hatefest” and what finally stopped it🍎 What she learned about love and self-worth through two divorces, risky relationships, and radical self-reflection🍎 The emotional complexity of her secret abortion before Roe v. Wade — and her mother’s surprising reaction🍎 How “The Long Goodbye” of her husband’s illness transformed her capacity for compassion🍎 Why time doesn’t heal all wounds — but emotional honesty does🍎 How historical trauma becomes the Gorilla Glue that keeps toxic relationships stuck together🍎 The difference between love that nourishes and love that drains your soul🍎 How to spot when you’re still trying to earn your parents’ love through romantic partners🍎 Why seeing your parents as flawed humans can free you from emotional inheritance🍎 What it means to let go of drama-trauma stories and stop letting pain define you🍎 How to recognize trauma patterns and begin to dissolve defensiveness — the biggest block to intimacyDr. Nicki J. Monti is a private practice psychotherapist and world-renowned teacher, group leader, speaker, television and radio personality, and author of several books, including Stuck In The Story No More: Breaking Down the Defenses that Define You and Bind You, and Our Love Matters: Find it, Fix it or Let It Go. She has long been internationally recognized both privately and on reality TV as therapist to the stars. Dr. Nicki’s main interest is identifying and learning how to dance with the patterns that guide our lives. She's known as a straight-shooting teacher who truly believes that change is a matter of choice, her soon-to-be-released book, The Divine Traumedy of Nicki Joy: A True Grime Tale, is described as a gritty, witty, provocative, dark, sex-drugs-rock-the-boat, cautionary tale about how it's never too late to learn how to love and live. *****Episode Sponsor:BetterhelpGoing 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] The Divine Traumedy of Nicki Joy: A True Grime Tale by Nicki J. Monti PhD - https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Traumedy-Nicki-Joy-Grime/dp/B0FNCD59T8 📌 [Book] Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing by Christiane Northrup - https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Bodies-Wisdom-Creating-Emotional/dp/0553384104 📌 [Book] Pussy: A Reclamation by Regena Thomashauer - https://www.amazon.com/Pussy-Reclamation-Regena-Thomashauer/dp/1401950248 📌 [Book] Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés - https://www.amazon.com/Women-Who-Run-Wolves-Archetype/dp/0345409876 📌 [Book] The Divine Feminine: Exploring The Feminine Face of God Around The World by Andrew Harvey, Anne Baring - https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Feminine-Exploring-Around-World/dp/1573240354 📌 [Book] I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - https://www.amazon.com/Know-Why-Caged-Bird-Sings/dp/0345514408 CONNECT WITH DR. NICKI: 📌 Website: https://stucknomore.com/ 📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnickimonti/ 📌 X: https://x.com/DrNicki 📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnickimonti/ 📌 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickiMonti 📌 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drnickimonti *****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, ...
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    1 hr and 4 mins
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