Have you ever been controlled by another person? Are you a controlling person?

In this episode, we're diving into a complex topic: control. We’ll explore the subtle and overt tactics used by individuals who seek to manipulate and dominate others, whether in personal relationships, workplaces, or broader societal contexts. We will dissect the psychology behind these behaviors and offer practical advice on how to recognize and address them. Joseph and Paula will share insights on setting healthy boundaries and regaining your personal power. If you’ve ever felt overshadowed or controlled, this episode will empower you with strategies to reclaim your autonomy and foster healthier interactions. Tune in to understand how to protect yourself and support others who may be affected by controlling behavior. Don’t miss this essential discussion on navigating and overcoming manipulation.

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Work Used in the Research of this Episode:

Familial manipulation: Common tactics and how to respond (medicalnewstoday.com)

If You Display These 11 Traits, Your Family Was Probably Very Controlling (msn.com)

Signs of emotional abuse: Situations and relationships (medicalnewstoday.com)

What is a controlling person? An overview (decision-making-confidence.com)

Support

You can seek support through any of the following:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call or text the hotline for help, as well as information and advice on different forms of abuse.

• Child Welfare Information Gateway: This group provides a resource list of organizations that can give support to those experiencing family violence and abuse.

• Family Crisis Centers: This offers resources, support, and a 24-hour hotline for families in crisis.
  Domestic Violence Resource Network: This provides a list of resources and organizations to support family violence and abuse.

In this insightful episode of Life Lived Better, your hosts Joseph and Paula dive into the challenging but essential topic of navigating life after a relationship ends. Whether you’re freshly single or still processing the breakup, this episode offers practical advice and emotional support to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.

We explore Processing Your Emotions, Rediscovering Yourself, Building a Support System, Setting New Goals, Navigating Social Media, and Self-Care Essentials.

Join us as we share personal stories, expert insights, and actionable steps to help you turn this difficult chapter into an opportunity for growth and renewal. Whether you're seeking closure, self-improvement, or just some reassuring advice, this episode is here to guide you through the next steps.

Tune in and take your first step towards a brighter future!

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Work Used in the Research of this Episode:

7 Ways to Cope After the End of a Relationship | Psychology Today

Is Social Media Helpful or Hurtful After a Breakup? | Psychology Today

Grieving After a Break-Up? 6 Strategies to Help You Heal (clevelandclinic.org)

Navigating Social Media After A Breakup: Modern Therapy

In today's episode, we're diving into the challenging topic of failing relationships. If you find yourself wondering whether your relationship is beyond repair, we'll explore the signs.

Therapists say that constant criticism, stonewalling, putting forth little effort, and emotional detachment are a few of the signs that your relationship might be over.

We all know relationships can be tough, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, they don't work out. If you’ve truly given it a chance and it's time to let go, be honest with yourself and your partner. Reflect on what you’ve learned, consider personal growth, and avoid rushing into a new relationship.

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Work Used in the Research of this Episode:

3 signs your relationship is failing, according to a therapist (msn.com)

7 Early Warning Signs of A Dying Relationship | Power of Positivity: Positive Thinking & Attitude

20 Signs That a Relationship Is Over | Psychology Today

Psychologist shares five signs your relationship is over | Metro News

Joseph and Paula collectively have over 50 years of experience working in the field of counseling. Their answers to the Questions for Counselors episodes are drawn from their life and work experiences. When information is given that is taken from other resources, they will be highlighted in the show notes.

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession.

We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Resources Referred to in this Episode:

The blog Paula mentioned in this episode is www.paulahellergarland.blogspot.com You can find information about the Counseling Space and other topics that may be of interest.

You can find the book mentioned in this episode on Amazon or at any book seller. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel A. Van der Kolk, M.D.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma: van der Kolk M.D., Bessel: 9780143127741: Amazon.com: Books

Joseph and Paula continue their conversation about the Many Pathways to Recovery In this episode. They both share their personal experience about working with or utilizing some of the pathways they provide as resources. If you are a person who struggles with addiction, a person in recovery, or someone who knows a person with addiction or in recovery, you will not want to miss this second episode discussing the Many Pathways to Recovery.

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Work Used in the Research of this Episode:

Garland, P. (2024). Many Pathways to Recovery [Class handout]. University of North Texas, ADDS 4675

Pathways to Healing and Recovery: Perspectives from Individuals with Histories of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems

Recovery and Recovery Support | SAMHSA

SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

UNT Recovery to Practice Virtual Community on Facebook

Unmasking Emotional Manipulation: Identifying and Overcoming Toxic Tactics

Joseph and Paula explore the unhealthy art of emotional manipulation. From subtle gaslighting to overt guilt-tripping, they uncover tactics manipulators use to control and exploit their victims.

Join us as we define Emotional Manipulation, discuss how to recognize the signs, gain some insights from research on the impact it has on mental health, and talk about practical tips and strategies to protect yourself from manipulators and rebuild your emotional resilience.

Whether you've experienced emotional manipulation firsthand, suspect someone in your life might be manipulating you, or simply want to be more aware, this episode provides invaluable knowledge and tools to empower yourself and take control of your emotional well-being. Tune in and join the conversation as we unmask the manipulators and reclaim our emotional freedom.

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Resources used to develop this episode:

3 Common Tactics of Manipulative Parents | Psychology Today United Kingdom

8 Genius Comebacks for Dealing With a Manipulator, According to Psychologists (msn.com)

15+ Signs of Emotion Manipulation (healthline.com)

Beasts, victims or competent agents: The positioning of children in research literature on manipulation - Hanne Warming, Lotte Rannveig Galløe, Anna Rosa Haumark Carlsen, Sara Romme Rasmussen, 2019 (sagepub.com)

Learning to let go: Parental over-engagement predicts poorer self-regulation in kindergartners. (apa.org)

What Is Emotional Manipulation? I Psych Central

Joseph and Paula continue their discussion about Adaptive Coping Skills by finishing up the list of tips you can use to reduce anxiety and stress.

Stress and anxiety are part of life. But the good news is that we have the ability to take ownership of our responses and make healthy changes that will benefit us long-term. The important thing is to keep trying healthy coping until you find those strategies that work best for you.

We want to hear from you! Interact with the Life Lived Better podcast through their website, social media, and follow and review their podcast on most podcast platforms.

You can find the Life Lived Better Podcast on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Tik Tok⁠, ⁠Twitter/X⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠.

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Resources used to develop this episode:

⁠71 Coping Skills: A List for Adults to Deal with Anxiety & Stress - Happier Human⁠

⁠Coping Skills for Stress and Uncomfortable Emotions (verywellmind.com)⁠

⁠Defense Mechanisms: Definition, Types, Examples, Solutions (verywellmind.com)⁠

⁠Healthy Coping: 24 Mechanisms & Skills For Positive Coping (positivepsychology.com)⁠

Foundation 45 Non-Profit organization with free resources for adults in Texas ⁠Foundation 45⁠