When Your Family Chooses the Narcissist Over You: What Survivors Must Know
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Episode Description
Ever felt like you're the problem in your family—even when you're the one being hurt?
This week, Ágatha Peters joins Dr. Kerry to explore how cultural expectations and family loyalty create the perfect conditions for narcissistic abuse to thrive undetected. We discuss why narcissism often goes unnamed in non-Western cultures, how the scapegoat role becomes nearly impossible to escape when the entire community reinforces it, and why leaving isn't just about one relationship—it's about losing your entire world.
CHAPTERS
0:00 The Struggles of Leaving a Toxic Relationship with Agatha Peters
3:21 Cultural Perspectives on Narcissism
7:32 Impact of Family and Culture on the Development of Self
10:30 Narcissism as a Global Problem
15:28 Navigating Abuse in a Foreign Country
18:34 When You're Abused in Foreign Country
23:45 Understanding the Role of the Scapegoat
PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT
Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here.
MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW
🔹 Stuck as the family scapegoat? Wondering how to survive when you can't leave?
Ágatha reveals the psychological strategies that help you endure when escape isn't an option, why you can't change your role in a narcissistic family system, and how to build your own community within a community that's failed you.
👉 Get immediate access to this extended interview
MORE ABOUT ÁGATHA PETERS
- Website: beautifulsunshinetherapy.com
- Instagram & TikTok: @beautifulsunshinetherapy
- Book: Trapped in Their Script: Reclaim Your Life from Narcissistic Abuse and Cultural Expectations
ÁGATHA PETERS is a licensed therapist specializing in narcissistic abuse recovery within multicultural contexts. Drawing from both her clinical expertise and personal experience navigating cultural expectations, Ágatha helps clients understand how family loyalty, collectivist values, and cultural identity intersect with narcissistic dynamics—making abuse harder to name, harder to prove, and nearly impossible to escape without losing everything.
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More About Dr. Kerry
Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project.
In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.
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Disclaimer: This podcast/video is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute therapy, counseling, or professional mental health advice. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or your local emergency number.