Best Torie Wiksell Podcasts (2025)

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I’ve Been Self-Gaslighting a Lot Lately: Why It’s Happening, What I’m Doing, and Why I’m Not Freaked Out 18:43

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4d ago18:43

18:43

Lately, I’ve caught myself spiraling into self-gaslighting quite a bit—wondering if I’m exaggerating my childhood trauma, if maybe my mom wasn’t really a narcissist, or if I’m just “too sensitive.” If you’ve ever doubted your own reality, you’re definitely not alone. In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, I share: Why self-gaslighting shows up (espec…

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No Contact Isn’t Trendy: The Truth About How Hard Cycle Breakers Fight for Toxic Parent Relationships 15:43

12d ago15:43

15:43

In this episode, therapist and boundaries coach Torie Wiksell (and fellow cycle breaker) exposes the myth of “no contact as a fad” and validates the years—sometimes decades—of exhausting effort cycle breakers pour into maintaining relationships with narcissistic or emotionally immature parents before making the heartbreaking decision to step back. …

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Can Boundaries Work With Narcissistic Parents? The Nuanced Truth 13:08

7d ago13:08

13:08

Can boundaries actually work with a toxic parent? In this week’s episode of You’re Not Crazy, host Torie Wiksell, therapist, boundaries coach, and fellow cycle breaker, unpacks one of the most common (and confusing) questions adult children of narcissistic, borderline, or emotionally immature parents ask: “Is it even possible to set boundaries with…

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You’re Allowed to Change Your Mind: Here's Your Permission to Pivot 9:07

26d ago9:07

9:07

In today’s episode, we’re talking about a powerful and underrated concept that every cycle breaker needs: “for now.” When you're navigating toxic family dynamics, it’s easy to get paralyzed by the pressure to make the “perfect” decision—whether it’s going no contact, setting a new boundary, or reaching out for support. But healing isn’t linear, and…

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Stop Setting Yourself on Fire to Keep Others Warm 13:19

1M ago13:19

13:19

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, boundaries coach and licensed therapist Torie Wiksell unpacks one of the most damaging cycles cycle breakers face: being scapegoated by toxic parents. Here’s how the pattern works: your boundaries are violated again and again until you finally react—crying, yelling, or shutting down. That’s when your family poin…

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Why Perfect Healing Doesn’t Exist (and What to Aim for Instead) 12:44

1M ago12:44

12:44

Feeling like you’re “not healed enough” from your toxic family patterns? You’re not broken—and you’re not alone. In this powerful episode of You’re Not Crazy, therapist and boundaries coach Torie Wiksell dismantles the harmful myth of perfect healing that keeps so many cycle breakers stuck in shame and self-judgment. You’ll learn why healing from n…

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I Went Viral On TikTok: Here's What it Taught Me About Healing 14:46

2M ago14:46

14:46

This week, I’m sharing a personal story I never expected to be telling: what it’s been like to go viral on TikTok as a boundaries coach for adult children of toxic parents. Spoiler alert—if you’ve ever wondered whether your healing work is actually paying off, I promise this episode will help you see your own progress more clearly. I talk about the…

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You Deserve Support: Overcoming Mental Blocks to Healing 14:52

2M ago14:52

14:52

You’re not stuck because you’re lazy—you’re stuck because you were trained to put everyone else first. In this episode, I walk you through the mental blocks that keep cycle breakers paralyzed—especially the guilt that makes boundary-setting feel impossible. Plus, I’m sharing a one-time offer to get everything you need to finally break through—insid…

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The Hidden Codependency Behind Your Need to Over-Explain 16:22

2M ago16:22

16:22

Do you catch yourself writing paragraph-long texts just to say “no”? Do you feel the urge to explain every decision, anticipate every reaction, or soften your truth with a long-winded disclaimer? That’s not overthinking. That’s overexplaining—and it’s a trauma response. In this episode, we’re talking about the exhausting cycle of overexplaining you…

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Are They Really Sorry? The Empty Apology Trap 12:45

2M ago12:45

12:45

Is your toxic parent’s “I’m sorry” leaving you more confused than comforted? In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, we unpack why apologies from narcissistic or otherwise toxic parents rarely feel like closure—and often reopen old wounds. You’ll learn: The signs of a real apology (and what performative regret looks like) How to stop spiraling when th…

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Grieving the Life You Deserved: Healing From a Toxic Parent 16:50

2M ago16:50

16:50

In this episode, I talk about the complicated grief that surfaces once we begin setting boundaries and creating distance from toxic, narcissistic, or emotionally immature parents. I share what it looked like in my own life— the emotional toll of being a parentified child, and why our healing journey often involves mourning the milestones we missed …

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You're Not Doomed: Escaping a Pattern of Dysfunctional Relationships 16:39

3M ago16:39

16:39

Big news! The Confident Boundaries App is officially live—now available for free on iPhone and Android. Inside, you’ll get instant access to a curated starter bundle of some of my favorite episodes and articles to support your healing from family dysfunction. In today’s episode, we’re digging into a question I hear often from adult children of narc…

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The Loneliness of Being the Cycle Breaker 15:46

3M ago15:46

15:46

If you’re breaking toxic cycles in a family marked by emotional immaturity, narcissism, or borderline traits, there’s something we don’t talk about enough: the profound loneliness that can come with healing. You’re not just setting boundaries—you’re stepping out of the role your family expected you to play. Maybe you were the peacekeeper, the fixer…

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Breaking Cycles Without Breaking Yourself 38:35

3M ago38:35

38:35

Healing isn’t linear—especially when you’re the cycle breaker. In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, I’m pulling back the curtain on what real, sustainable healing looks like when you grew up with emotionally immature, narcissistic, or borderline parents. I share how becoming a therapist over a decade ago didn’t free me from my dysfunctional pattern…

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What If Protecting Yourself Is the Honest Thing to Do? 15:14

3M ago15:14

15:14

Cycle breakers are often raised to believe that honesty = full disclosure and transparency… even when the other person has a history of weaponizing that honesty against them. In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, we’re digging into the messy middle between brutal honesty and self-abandonment—especially when it comes to dealing with parents who have …

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Are You Putting Out Fires or Breaking the Cycle? 24:54

4M ago24:54

24:54

Let’s talk about the real work of breaking dysfunctional family cycles. If you're the adult child of a parent with borderline or narcissistic personality disorder, you probably know the drill: chaos explodes, you search frantically for tools to survive it… and then once things settle down, you convince yourself it's “not that bad.” Sound familiar? …

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"But They're Your Parent": Toxic Things People Say to Cycle Breakers 18:39

4M ago18:39

18:39

Surviving (not thriving) Mother's Day weekend is what we're celebrating this week. Breaking cycles isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Your commitment to healing, despite few healthy examples, is powerful. Be gentle with yourself; your journey of growth deserves compassion, not criticism. Next we’re calling out the toxic phrases that gaslig…

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Welcome to You're Not Crazy! 1:36

1y ago1:36

1:36

Welcome to You're Not Crazy: A Podcast for the Adult Children of Parents with Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorders. Hosted by therapist and coach Torie Wiksell, this podcast is dedicated to those who have grown up trying to navigate the complicated and challenging realities of having a parent with borderline or narcissistic personality…