Episode 26: Gaslighting: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide to Heal from Emotional Abuse and Build Healthy Relationships

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In this weeks episode Jessica Fowler interviews Dr. Deborah Vinall, PsyD, LMFT about her book Gaslighting: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide to Heal from Emotional Abuse and Build Healthy Relationships.

In this episode we discuss what gaslighting is and isn't.  Deborah shares how the book is in two parts.  The first part discusses what gaslighting is, techniques someone will use and an overview of emotional abuse and recovery.  The second step walks readers through 7 steps to healing from gaslighting and emotional abuse.  Topics covered include accepting that it is happening, understanding the cycle of gaslighting, grief and loving yourself.

Deborah shares some of the various places in our lives that we can experience gaslighting and explores some of the reasons someone might stay in the relationship.  Deborah also explores some of the safety issues that can exist within the relationship.

Deborah also shares about exploring healthy relationships and green flags.  We discuss some of the exercises in the book which include self assessment quiz, journaling and emotion freedom technique.  

Deborah Vinall, PsyD, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and doctor of psychology, certified in both EMDR and Brainspotting Therapy. She incorporates these approaches  into her work with survivors of trauma and difficult relationships in her private practice.  Deborah has spoken as a subject matter expert on human trafficking and domestic violence at colleges and nonprofits across Southern California.  She was awarded the EMDR Research Foundation's Sandra Wilson Memorial Dissertation Grant Award for her research on the impacts on and treatment response of survivors of mass shootings.  Born and raised in Kelowna, Canada, Deborah presently lives in Southern California with her husband and son.

Deborah has also written a second book called Trauma Recovery Workbook for Teens.

You can connect with Deborah on her website or on instagram.