The Rising Beyond Podcast - Ep 88: The Intersection of Addiction and Domestic Violence with Guest Kevin Petersen, MA, LMFT

Ep 88: The Intersection of Addiction and Domestic Violence with Guest Kevin Petersen, MA, LMFT

02/28/24 • 51 min

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When addiction intersects with domestic violence and narcissistic abuse scary things can happen.
The intensity of abuse typically increases and leaves so many women off balance.
Many victims hold onto the hope that if their partner becomes sober, they will no longer be abusive and this is the explanation many perpetrators of abuse will use to continue abusing their partners.
And while there are significant parallels between families who experience addiction and families who experience domestic violence, one does not cause the other.
My guest today is an expert in the family dynamics of addiction and we discuss the intersection between addiction and abuse as well as the many parallels between the two. We identify what sobriety actually means and how the old method of solely doing individual work with an addict and then bringing them back into the same family dynamic does not work. We identify the parallel processes that can help families experiencing addiction go through to heal as being similar to the processes when there has been violence in the home.
Kevin Petersen, LMFT is the founder of The Chronic Hope Institute. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with offices in Colorado and Florida. He started The Chronic Hope Institute to help families that are sick and tired of being dominated by their loved one's addiction. He helps them solve the problem with a clear and concise action plan through family addiction coaching.
He is also the author of two books, Chronic Hope: Families and Addiction and Chronic Hope: Parenting the Addicted Child.
Book: Chronic Hope : Families & Addiction
Book: Chronic Hope: Parenting the Addicted Child
Kevin's Website
Kevin on Instagram

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Previous Episode

Ep 87: Top 10 Survival Strategies: Balancing Life Amidst Post-Separation Challenges

You finally left your narcissistic partner and find yourself a single parent. (Let’s be real here, you were basically a single parent before) And being a single parent is HARD!
You’re working, maintaining a home, helping with homework, planning meals, driving to the extra curricular activities, and more. And, you likely also have a full time job mitigating everything that comes up during post separation abuse.
So, is there a way to get it all done and save your sanity?
There is a way. In this episode, I am going to share some strategies that you can use to start to find some balance in a life where there is not enough time and plenty of stress.
Here are my top 10 tips to finding some balance and sanity as you manage everything that single parenting and post separation abuse brings.

Be Intentional. You will need to use this intentionality through out the other strategies on this list in order to make your decisions about what is important now and which strategy will give you the biggest bang for your buck.
Compartmentalize so that the tough stuff does not bleed into other areas of your life.
Simplify. What areas in your life can you eliminate or automate things? Another questions you can ask yourself (courtesy of Pat Flynn) is “If this were easy, what would it look like?”
Structure and Routines. Nope this is not sexy, but having routines and structure prevents decision fatigue.
Break the “rules” of parenting occasionally. I know this one causes fear of retribution within the family court system, and there are some things you can do to decrease the amount of things you need to take on on any given day.
Make your free time meaningful and intentional. Make sure to add little pockets of peace or joy into your free time instead of filling it solely with dishes and laundry.
Set Boundaries. It is important that you know what matters to you now,

Next Episode

Ep 89: Reclaiming Health: Addressing Domestic Abuse Trauma with Nutrition Strategies with Stephanie Small, LCSW

Has the constant stress from your narcissistic relationship and continued post separation abuse had a negative impact on your physical health?
It is common that the constant hypervigilance and ongoing trauma will cause problems with sleep, your digestive system, your immune system...basically all of your systems.
Is there anything you can do about it?
In this episode of The Rising Beyond Podcast I talk with Stephanie Small, LCSW on a more holistic approach to regaining your physical and emotional health as you heal from abuse. How can you use nutrition and supplements to accelerate your healing journey?
We address the current Western medical model where the goal is to reduce symptoms rather than find the root of the problem. The goal of this more holistic approach is to identify the root causes before starting to treat the concern.
We start by exploring gut health and how it is the gateway to our overall health and wellness. Our digestive process is not only linked to our physical symptoms, but our mental health as well. Stephanie discusses the importance of blood sugar regulation and managing inflammation as a huge component to using nutrition on your healing path.
Stephanie's Bio:
As a licensed clinical social worker / somatic psychotherapist and functional nutritionist, I help people reconnect to their wild and essential truths. In addition to my private practice, I also consult, supervise, teach, and speak at live and online events. I founded my practice Stephanie Small Health in 2012. Ten years later, I founded Las Lobas del Corazón, a holistic psychotherapy and health clinic that exists in order to make deeper and more effective healing available for everyone, regardless of income level. I am of Ashkenazi descent and use she/her pronouns.
I hold a BA from Yale University and an MSW from Smith College for Social Work, and multiple certifications in various disciplines and m