In this enlightening episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, in honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Robin Stern welcomes clinical psychologist and trauma expert Dr. Robyn Koslowitz for a powerful conversation on breaking free from psychological control, reclaiming identity, and the complex process of healing from gaslighting.

Dr. Koslowitz, founder of The Center for Psychological Growth and host of the Post-Traumatic Parenting Podcast, draws from her extensive clinical experience working with individuals from insular and high-control communities. She shares profound insights on how gaslighting can dismantle a person’s internal world—especially when embedded in religious, cultural, or family systems—and what it takes to rebuild a grounded, authentic sense of self.

Together, Dr. Stern and Dr. Koslowitz explore the emotional traps survivors face, the concept of "post-traumatic growth," and how to parent with emotional resilience after surviving coercive control.

What You’ll Learn:

• How psychological control operates in high-demand environments

• The link between trauma, gaslighting, and parental identity

• Why survivors often doubt their perceptions—and how to reclaim clarity

• Tools for breaking the cycle of generational trauma

• How to parent with intention after abuse

If you’ve experienced gaslighting or struggled to trust yourself after emotional abuse, this conversation will offer validation, insight, and real steps toward healing.

For more information about Mental Health Awareness check out these websites:

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - offers advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

MHA (Mental Health America) - focuses on prevention, early identification, and intervention for metnal health conditions.

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - U.S. government site providing resources on mental health, substance use, and treatment locators.

ADAA (Anxiety & Depression Association of America) - offers resources and support for those dealing with anxiety, depression and related disorders.

To read the full transcript of this episode, head over to robinstern.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.

Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.robinstern/

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a

Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

In this thought-provoking episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, Dr. Robin Stern is joined by two distinguished scholars—Dr. Neta Kligler-Vilenchik, Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Dr. Ioana Literat, Associate Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Associate Director of the Media & Social Change Lab (MASCLab).

Together, they explore how young people are responding to and resisting gaslighting in today’s media and political landscapes.

We dive into the subtle and systemic ways gaslighting operates at the societal level—through disinformation, media manipulation, and the invalidation of young people’s voices. Our guests shed light on how youth are using digital platforms not just for self-expression, but as tools of resistance, reclaiming narrative control and challenging the status quo.

From meme activism to participatory media, we examine how youth are confronting narratives that attempt to silence or distort their realities—and how their creative and civic practices can inform a healthier, more truthful discourse moving forward.

Topics include:

• How gaslighting manifests in media and politics

• The role of education and media literacy in resisting misinformation

• The power of youth-led digital activism and civic engagement

• Why supporting young people’s agency is key to combating cultural gaslighting

Dr. Kligler-Vilenchik and Dr. Literat are also co-authors of the book Not Your Parents' Politics: Young People, Social Media, and Political Engagement, published by Oxford University Press. The book explores how young people are reshaping political life in the digital age, offering crucial insights into the future of civic engagement.

To read the full transcript of this episode, head over to robinstern.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.

Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.robinstern/

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a

Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.

In this compelling episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, host Dr. Robin Stern welcomes Diana Feldman, a trailblazer in the field of drama therapy and the founder of a groundbreaking non-profit organization that served over 200,000 students in New York City schools for 25 years.

Diana shares her journey of developing the ENACT Drama Therapy Method—an evidence-based approach recognized by the American Group Psychotherapy Association as the Best Creative Group Counseling Method. She discusses how drama therapy helps individuals process trauma, reclaim their narratives, and build emotional resilience.

With insights from her upcoming book, Stuck in a Role: Releasing Trauma in Teens (Routledge Press, Spring 2025), Diana delves into the transformative power of role-playing, storytelling, and creative expression in educational and therapeutic settings.

This episode explores how drama therapy helps break the cycle of gaslighting and emotional abuse, the impact of role-playing in healing trauma, especially in teens, and tools for therapists and educators to create lasting change. Diana also emphasizes the importance of reclaiming personal agency through creative expression.

Her contributions to the field have earned her multiple awards, including a five-year research grant from the Ford Foundation and recognition from the NYC Council and State Education organizations. She continues to train therapists and educators, ensuring that drama therapy remains a vital tool for healing.

Join us for this enlightening conversation on how creativity can be a powerful force for emotional recovery.

To read the full transcript of this episode, head over to robinstern.com.

Don't forget to subscribe to The Gaslight Effect Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to leave us a review to let us know what you think. Until next time, remember: healing is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.

Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drrobinstern/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.robinstern/

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/RobinSStern

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-stern-220b403a

Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Gaslight Effect Podcast do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything.