Understanding the manipulative tactic of minimization used by domestic abusers. Learn how abusers downplay their harmful actions and shift the blame onto the victim.

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The overlap can be striking in certain cases.

Coercion & The Family Court System with Guest Dr. Susan Wiggin, PhD, President & Founder of Child-Centered Solutions.  Together with Host Tina Huggins, Divorce & “Narcissist Conflict” Specialist | The Awakening What happens when coercive control follows a family into separation, divorce, and the family court system? Join Tina Huggins on The Awakening as she welcomes Dr. Susan Wiggin, PhD, President and Founder of Child-Centered Solutions, for an important conversation about coercion, high-conflict family dynamics, and keeping the well-being of children at the center. Together, Tina and Dr. Wiggin explore how controlling behaviors, manipulation, intimidation, and ongoing conflict can affect parents and children during divorce and family court proceedings. They also discuss the importance of recognizing unhealthy patterns, understanding their impact on families, and creating more child-centered approaches during difficult family transitions. A timely conversation for parents, professionals, and anyone seeking greater awareness of coercive control and high-conflict divorce. More About Tina: Tina Huggins, CTA Life Coach certified, CDC Divorce Coach, CDC Transitions Coach, CDC Recovery Coach, TKG Restorative Family Mediator Certified, TKG Family Circle Certified. I have coached for over 30 years coming from the background of law enforcement and self-defense instructor.  Connect with Tina: Email: coachtinalynn@gmail.com Website:  https://divorcecoachspecialist More about Dr. Susan Wiggin: She brings more than 20 years of experience in separation and divorce, parental rights, and high conflict family dynamics. Child-Centered Solutions helps parents navigate separation and divorce with clarity, structure, and purpose. Susan’s work centers on improving communication, reducing conflict, and creating realistic, action-based co-parenting plans that support children and strengthen the family as a whole. Susan served as a Guardian ad Litem in family matters for many years and brings extensive experience as a: Separation and Divorce Coach; Co-Parenting Coach and Co-Parenting Educator Connect with Dr Susan Wiggin: susan@child-centeredsolutions.com https://www.child-centeredsolutions.com

Are You Really the Problem, or Were You Trained to Believe It? 🪞💔 Ever caught yourself mentally replaying an argument for the fourth hour in a row, desperately trying to figure out what magical string of words would have kept the peace? If you find yourself constantly walking on eggshells, analyzing your own tone, and asking "Did I cause this?"—stop right there. You've fallen into one of the most sinister psychological traps in modern relationships: the self-blame illusion. In this mind-bending episode, we pull back the curtain on why victims of emotional abuse obsessively police their own behavior instead of holding the real culprit accountable. Spoiler alert: Blaming yourself feels safer because it gives you the seductive, false sense of control. If you are the glitch, you can fix it... right? Wrong. What We Unpack in This Episode: - 🧠 The Neuro-Trap of Self-Blame: Why your brain tricks you into taking the hit just to feel secure. - 🍳 The Fragile Floor: The exhausting mental toll of walking on eggshells and how it silently erodes your identity. - 🎭 Reactive Abuse Decoded: Why having a normal human reaction to mistreatment does NOT make you toxic. - ⛓️ Dismantling Cognitive Dissonance: How to separate your genuine mistakes from a partner's deliberate manipulation. - 🔑 Reclaiming Your Power: Practical, psychology-backed steps to break the trauma loop and stop self-policing. Stop agonizing over their choices. Your emotional sanity is not collateral damage for someone else's dysfunction. ✨ Take back your peace today: Hit Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs an urgent reality check, and leave a review telling us your biggest breakthrough! You are not broken—you're waking up. 🚀  

*** May Be A Sensitive Topic for Some Listeners*** Reproductive coercion is a form of abuse that often goes unrecognized, yet its emotional, physical, financial, and legal consequences can last for years. In this episode Mardi Winder welcomes advocate Lynn Stroud for an important conversation about reproductive coercion and how it can be used as a tool of power and control within unhealthy relationships. Mardi and Lynn discuss what reproductive coercion looks like and why it can be difficult to recognize, particularly when controlling behaviors are dismissed as disagreements about family planning and intimacy. They explore behaviors including birth control sabotage, pregnancy pressure, contraceptive interference, and other actions that take away a person's ability to make independent decisions about their own body. The conversation also examines the broader role of coercive control, warning signs that may be overlooked, and why survivors themselves may not immediately recognize what they have experienced as abuse. Lynn and Mardi discuss the challenges survivors can face when disclosing reproductive coercion, including not being believed and navigating a legal system that may struggle to recognize these behaviors. Finally, they highlight the importance of responding without judgment, increasing public awareness, and beginning conversations about healthy relationships earlier. Abuse can affect anyone regardless of age, education, financial status, or background, and greater understanding can help bring behaviors that often remain hidden into the open. About the Guest Drawing from her extensive lived experience with reproductive coercion, domestic abuse, and sexual assault, Lynn Stroud delves into cultivating a trauma-informed mindset and increased legal remedies for victims. She stresses the significance of listening without judgment, validating survivors' experiences, and recognizing the resilience that often emerges from adversity.  Stroud addresses common misconceptions about trauma and emphasizes the need for ongoing education and awareness. She hopes to serve as a beacon of understanding and compassion, offering a roadmap for survivors, advocates, law enforcement, and beyond to increase their knowledge of reproductive coercion. By sharing her story, she hopes more listeners will recognize the warning signs and dangers of coercion, embrace knowledge, and actively seek out proactive change. Her hope is that one day we can collectively build a world where survivors are not only heard but supported in their paths to healing and empowerment. To connect: IG: https://www.instagram.com/knowledge_exch_abuse_survivors  Speaker: https://app.eventraptor.com/speaker-profiles/lynn-stroud Streamed on www.NEWStreamingNetwork.com Connect with Mardi: Email: Mardi@poscs.com Website: divorcecoach4women.com

Overcoming Cult Abuse with Guest Margaret Bronson, Founder of Deconstruction Doulas together with Host Tina Huggins, Divorce & “Narcissist Conflict” Specialist | The Awakening Breaking free from a controlling environment is only the beginning—healing, rebuilding trust, and rediscovering your identity can be a journey of its own. Join Tina Huggins on The Awakening as she welcomes Margaret Bronson, Founder of Deconstruction Doulas, for an important conversation about overcoming cult abuse and reclaiming your life. Margaret and Tina explore the dynamics of control, manipulation, fear, isolation, and emotional abuse, along with the challenges survivors may face as they question deeply held beliefs and begin rebuilding their sense of self. Discover the importance of recognizing unhealthy patterns, establishing boundaries, finding supportive connections, and moving toward greater personal freedom. This powerful conversation offers awareness, understanding, and hope for those healing from coercive or high-control relationships and environments. More about Tina: Tina Huggins, CTA Life Coach certified, CDC Divorce Coach, CDC Transitions Coach, CDC Recovery Coach, TKG Restorative Family Mediator Certified, TKG Family Circle Certified. I have coached for over 30 years coming from the background of law enforcement and self-defense instructor.  Connect with Tina: Email: coachtinalynn@gmail.com Website:  https://divorcecoachspecialist More about Margaret: Margaret Bronson is the founder of Deconstruction Doulas, which serves those affected by religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and high-control religion. Margaret was born and raised in southeastern Pennsylvania, where her family became part of an evangelical, Christian Reconstructionist cult, until she escaped at 20 years old with the help of her now-husband. Margaret is a writer, activist, and mother to four children. She currently serves as Deconstruction Doulas' program director. Contact: Website: www.deconstructiondoulas.com Patreon: patreon.com/deconstructiondoulas