In this final Friday Coaching Corner of 2025, Sybil follows up on a previous episode after hearing from a listener whose story echoes so many others navigating malicious interference in the parent–child relationship. This mom has been enduring post-separation abuse for over two years, including weaponized court orders, ignored therapeutic directives, and a teen who has been heavily influenced by the abusive parent. She asks Sybil to address three painful and important questions: How can...

Speaking out about abuse is never easy. For survivors of coercive control and domestic violence, telling the truth can feel like reclaiming your voice and your dignity, but telling the truth often comes with a significant cost: retaliation. In this episode I do a deep dive (and a bit of a rant) into the reasons why a narcissist feels the need to retaliate and the steps that they take to silence you and anyone who supports you. They use threats, smear campaigns, and then move to reven...

Family court can feel like a battlefield — especially when your ex-partner uses the system as another tool for control. But what if advocacy didn’t have to mean becoming hardened or adversarial? In this episode of The Rising Beyond Podcast, Sybil is joined by Becky Sampson, founder of a subpoena support service and a survivor who turned her own three-and-a-half-year divorce battle into a mission to help others navigate family court with confidence, compassion, and strength. Together, they dis...

Do the double standards that show up in a narcissistic relationship and “co-parenting” relationship drive you crazy? Double standards are a hallmark of narcissistic abuse and are pervasive even (maybe especially) after you have left the relationship. In this episode we explore why someone with narcissism requires these double standards to work in their world and how the larger system allows and supports them to continue. We also discuss ways in which you can lessen their emotional imp...

In this week’s Friday Coaching Corner, I respond to a mom’s heartfelt question that so many survivors share: “How do I support my children’s relationship with their dad—because the court says I have to—while knowing he is emotionally and psychologically abusing them every week?” This episode dives deep into one of the hardest balancing acts for protective parents: offering emotional honesty and safety without crossing into parental alienation. You’ll hear strategies and validation around: How...

How do you communicate with someone who continues to abuse you post separation? I cannot stress how important it is to learn how to communicate with your “high conflict” co-parent in ways that will protect you and your mental health in order to better protect your children. In this episode I talk with Jill Kaufman about how she supports those going through a “high conflict” divorce and post separation abuse find peace in their lives while also having to communicate with their coparent about...

Family court can feel like it’s designed to wear you down. The long waits, the unpredictability, the endless back-and-forth with your ex — it can seem impossible to get through without breaking. But what if you didn’t have to let court define you? In this episode, Sybil shares how survivors can walk through family court with steadiness and strength. Instead of waiting for one big “final win,” you’ll learn how to find momentum in small victories, focus your energy where it counts, and adopt ke...

In this week’s Friday Coaching Corner, I respond to a listener who’s six years post–custody loss and doing her best to stay connected with her teen daughter—while being accused of crossing boundaries and “embarrassing” her. This mom wonders: “Am I doing okay? Or am I being walked over by my child and my ex?” It’s a question many protective parents ask themselves when trying to balance compassion, boundaries, and the constant pressure to appear “perfect” under the court’s microscope. In this e...

Walking into family court is intimidating enough — and then your ex smirks, rolls their eyes, or drops a lie designed to rattle you. On top of that, opposing counsel may throw you questions that feel like traps or come out of nowhere. In this episode, Sybil breaks down how to keep your composure in court when your ex tries to provoke you, and how to handle curveball questions during cross-examination. You’ll learn: Why abusers use provocation in court and how judges often notice your reaction...

Family court is often the last place survivors expect to or actually find safety, yet for so many, it’s where their battle continues. What if we could do something to change that? I’m talking with Jill Montes and Dr. Ramona Probasco from the Healing While Living Free Foundation to talk about the systemic failures of family court, why survivors often lose their voice in the process, and what can actually be done to shift things, starting with training attorneys. Together, we dive into: Why fam...

In this week’s Friday Coaching Corner, I respond to a heartbreaking listener story that highlights just how overwhelming it can feel to keep fighting for your child when the family court system and even your own attorney seem to be standing in the way. This listener’s ex-partner is refusing to comply with the court order requiring their child to participate in family therapy, therapy that could be covered by Medicaid, while continuing to manipulate both the child and the process. The result i...

What happens when you bring a passionate male advocate for survivors of domestic violence into a space that’s usually led by women? That’s what we're doing in this episode! I talk with Michael, a rare but powerful male voice in this movement, to talk about the complexities of abuse, how children really experience it, and what it looks like for men to step into prevention and healing work. Together, we cover: An unexpected start: How a “mess around job” at a domestic violence shelter shifted M...

When it comes to domestic violence and coercive control, the systems we rely on to protect children are often looking at the wrong thing. Instead of assessing for patterns like, long-term, consistent dynamics of fear, control, and power imbalances, many custody decisions are still made based on isolated incidents. And that’s a huge problem. In this solo episode, I’m sharing why we need a major shift in how we assess safety, parenting, attachment, and the best interests of the child, and how a...

Welcome to our very first Friday Coaching Corner! In this session, I answer questions from a listener navigating the challenges of living near her abusive ex, parenting through manipulation, and dealing with silent treatment in co-parenting apps. The listener shares that her ex still lives in an outbuilding on the marital property, creating constant stress and safety concerns. On top of that, her ex is weaponizing the children against her, and she’s experiencing co-parenting sabotage through ...

After years of surviving post-separation abuse and high-conflict co-parenting, you may find yourself disconnected from your older teen or adult child. Maybe they’re distant. Maybe they believe things about you that aren’t true. Or maybe they just don’t seem to want a relationship anymore. It can be heartbreaking. Listen for ideas on how to begin rebuilding a stronger, more grounded connection with teenager or adult child, even when the path feels uncertain. We cover: The emotional and develop...

One of the most horrific and insidious consequences of coercive control and dv is the systematic way in which an abuser strips away their victim’s sense of self and identity. One of the most impactful parts of the healing process is rebuilding that connection with the self and redefining your roles and identities. On this episode, I invited my friend and colleague, Erin Siegel to share how the framework of Human Design has been pivotal as she heals from her abuse and continued post sepa...

For many survivors, the deepest wound from coercive control is the loss of your connection to who you truly are. And for many women, especially protective mothers, your role as a mom becomes so entwined with your identity that life changes. Whether it's from abuse, family court challenges, or shifting seasons of parenting. It can all feel cataclysmic. I’m joined by my friend and colleague, Stephanie Konter- O’Hara, LPC, to have an honest conversation about rebuilding identity after abuse. We ...

You worked SO hard to find a therapist for your child and getting consent from your ex was no easy feat. And now your child isn’t talking. If your child isn’t talking in therapy — or worse, tells you it’s “boring” or “pointless” — you’re not alone. Many parents feel discouraged or even panicked when therapy doesn’t look the way they expected. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the common reasons children (especially those navigating trauma or high-conflict family dynamics) may shut ...

It’s that time of the year when kids go back to school. This is stressful for most families, but if you are coparenting with a narcissist the stress can increase exponentially. In this episode we are talking about how the start of the school year opens up opportunities for your ex to double down on their smear campaign, their continued expectations of you to be their secretary even though you are no longer together, and other ways they cause chaos at the school. But, there are th...

If you’ve ever had to interact with Child Protective Services (CPS), you know the process can feel confusing, overwhelming, and, let’s be honest, downright terrifying. Whether you’ve made a report, had one made against you, or are just trying to protect your child in the midst of a high-conflict situation, understanding the system is key. In this episode, I’m speaking with Christine Garcia, LPC, a seasoned therapist and fierce advocate for families, to demystify what actually happens when CPS...