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

Since today is the fourth of July, Joseph and Paula are sharing one of their most listened to episodes from their library - From Episode 60: Communication Styles.

If someone asks you to go to dinner, what is your response?

• Sure. I will go if I can pick the restaurant.
• Sure. I will go and I will go to the restaurant you pick.
• Sure. I have no opinion on where we go. But I will complain if it isn't what I secretly wanted.
• Sure. We can go to the restaurant you pick this time and my choice next time.

Each of these responses represent a Communication Style. Do you know your Communication Style? Listen as Joseph and Paula address the 4 Styles to determine which you most frequently use.

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.

Resourced information:

⁠4 Types of Communication Styles | Alvernia University⁠

Burr, W. R. (1990). Beyond I-Statements in family communication. Family Relations, 39(3), 266. ⁠https://doi.org/10.2307/584870⁠

⁠Understanding Your Communication Style | Princeton University⁠

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.

Building upon the last episode, Defense Mechanisms, Joseph and Paula discuss Adaptive Coping Skills. The pair share an exhaustive list of tips you can use to reduce anxiety and stress. Most of the tips are things you can do while seated!

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

Have you ever wondered why you react a certain way in stressful situations? Or why sometimes you seem to push uncomfortable thoughts out of your mind? These responses are often the result of defense mechanisms.

Defense mechanisms are subconscious strategies that our mind uses to protect us from anxiety, uncomfortable thoughts, or feelings. They shape the way we interact with the world and can significantly influence our behavior and relationships.

In this episode, we'll talk through some of the most common defense mechanisms, such as denial, repression, projection, and rationalization. We'll explore how these mechanisms manifest in our daily lives, their origins, and the role they play in our psychological well-being.

Whether you're a psychology enthusiast, a student, or someone seeking to understand themselves better, this episode will provide valuable insights into the complex machinery of the human psyche.

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:

CBT Techniques: 25 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Worksheets (positivepsychology.com)

Defense Mechanisms in Psychology Explained (+ Examples) (positivepsychology.com)

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

What Is... Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Coping - Mental Health @ Home (mentalhealthathome.org)

Show Notes for Episode:

How do you compartmentalize? How can I support a person who is grieving? How has technology changed in relation to the counseling profession? These are just a few of the questions asked in this episode of Life Lived Better Questions for Counselors!

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.

Show Notes for Episode:

Despite all of my accomplishments, I feel like I am not doing enough. How can I deal with that? How do I learn to compartmentalize my work from my home life? How do you build trust with a new client? These are just a few of the questions asked in this episode of Life Lived Better Questions for Counselors!

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.

Episode 103 - Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Parting ways can be one of life's most challenging experiences. Join us as we explore the spectrum of emotions that accompany breaking up, from heartache and grief to relief and liberation. We'll share anecdotes, insights, and practical tips for navigating the complexities of breaking up with grace and dignity. From effective communication strategies to self-care, we'll arm you with the tools you need to navigate the end of a chapter with compassion and resilience.

Whether you're contemplating a breakup, in the midst of one, or still healing from the aftermath, this episode offers a roadmap for moving forward with courage and clarity. Tune in as we untangle the knots of separation and embrace the transformative power of letting go.

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:

Depression and Breakups: Symptoms, Treatments, and Support (healthline.com)

How to Cope with a Breakup: A Step-by-Step Guide (healthline.com)

How to Survive and Thrive After a Breakup | Psychology Today