The Badass Counseling Show

Q&A: Why Don't I Deserve To Be Happy, and More

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhy am I afraid to rely on myself? Why can't my guy commit? How can I possibly move on? My 14-year-old dislikes his narc dad (my ex...

Blood On the Sheets

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven describes April's story as being in a whole new category of heinousness. April's mother began selling her to men when she...

Q&A: I Don't Want to Have Kids, I'm a Narc Magnet, and More

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this Lighting Round, Sven and Rob go deep into a listener's question about not wanting to have kids when his partner does. Other...

F You and Your Kids!

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThat's the message Nicole got from her abusive parents. Nicole's brother sexually assaulted her, beginning at age 4. Her paren...

Q&A: Attachment, Detachment, Narc Divorce, and More

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textListen in as Sven again fields unpredictable questions in real time from his online followers. This time, topics include: Workplace gend...

Anger Management, Sven Style!

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textJay is filled with anger, even rage, from a maddening divorce, childhood sexual abuse, and a mother who made it all about her when Jay n...

Q&A: Relationships, Careers, Closure, and More

07 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this recorded Lightning Round, Sven takes on his followers' unpredictable questions including: How do I find my passion in a car...

It's Always My Fault

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven counsels Trixie, who feels like she's lost and running in circles. Everything that goes wrong in her relationship feels like i...

Q&A: Narc Abuse, Letting Go Of Fear, and More

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis time out, Sven fields online questions on topics including: Teaching children to name their feelings; avoiding getting triggered; h...

Stuck in the Past: A Marriage

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text*Stay tuned after the show for Overtime with both guests! Sven individually counsels Peter and Tammi Sue, whose marriage is in trouble. ...

Q&A: Isolated? Scared? Can't Stop Running?

23 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textJoin us for Sven's 93rd Lightning Round! Questions and topics include: My mom never calls me but demands that I call her; meeting y...

Clean-Up In Aisle Dad!

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textErica is stuck. Her father has entered a nursing home, and she must clear out the contents of his house - but can't get started. Sv...

Q&A: Walking Away, Keeping Grief From the Kids, and More

16 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIt's Lightning Round 92! Sven fields questions in real time from his online followers on topics including: Raging narc partners; yo...

Sister-Hood

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Georgette, whose sister terrorized her (and her mother) from an early age. Now she has trouble making friends, isn't sure how ...

Q&A: Forgiveness, Narcs, Hate, and More

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this Lightning Round, Sven tackles the question of forgiveness in detail. Whether it's a matter of forgiving others or forgiving...

Pt. 3: American Hero Slays Demons!

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this final installment of Sven's "counseling post-mortem" interview with Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy Hardy, the Chief exp...

Q&A: Narc Boyfriend, Disfunctional Relationships, and More

02 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven goes in-depth with his followers' questions in this Lightning Round! Don't have the discipline to change? Need help deali...

Pt. 2: American Hero Slays Demons!

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven continues his interview with Chief Master Sergeant Jeremy Hardy, who opens up about his childhood abuse and the effects of it on hi...

Q&A: In-Laws, Narc Dads, Abusive Parents, and More

26 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOnline followers have questions, Sven has answers! Join us for insight and advice on topics including: In-laws who only visit their othe...

American Hero Slays Demons! (Pt. 1 of 3)

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this first of a series of special episodes, Sven interviews Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy Hardy. As the highest ranking special forces ope...

Q&A: Abused Children, Gaslighting, Finding Authenticity, and More

19 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven's online followers are at it again, lobbing in questions and comments including: I'm stressed about hurting my kids; my m...

"I Wish You Were Never Born"

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this intense, sensitive counseling episode, Sven brings new insight and hope to a despondent TJ, who is great at beating himself up. ...

Q&A: Narcs, Trauma, Boundaries, Fear...

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textJoin Sven and Rob for another recorded online session featuring a wide variety of questions and topics coming in from social media. Afra...

Generational Denial

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAlthough Brenda's story begins with her concern about her son getting into a car driven by her alcoholic co-parenting ex, this coun...

Q&A: Being Alone, Forgiving, Bad Parenting, and More

05 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIt's Lightning Round LXXXVI! Tons of advice on many different topics including: Setting boundaries in your pregnancy that your mom ...

Paternal Betrayal

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textRevelations abound as Sven counsels two women with serious father (and mother) issues. Paulie defines herself by her work and wonders wh...

Q&A: Dating, Therapists, Alcohol, and More

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textListen in as Sven takes unpredictable questions from his online followers. In this episode: I need to divorce but I don't want to c...

Lonely Teardrops

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this counseling episode, Michelle tells Sven she's leaving her partner of 7 years, knows it's the right thing to do, but is...

Q&A: Betrayal, Lost Love, Silent Treatment, and More

21 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAnother chance for Sven to open his social media platforms to his followers for questions on any topic they like. In this episode: What ...

Hard Habit To Break

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf your parents were clearly bad, but as a child you think they're good, what happens? Sven helps Jane-Susan understand why she has...

Q&A: Feeling Guilty, Fearful, Anxious, Hopeful?

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAll these feelings and more are explored in this recorded episode of Sven taking on his followers' questions from several social me...

Extreme Takers (Narcs) vs. People Pleasers

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThe father of Lynn's child is abusive and a cheater who takes no responsibility. But Lynn wants to keep the family together and fee...

Q&A: Betrayal, Trauma, Fear of Success, and More

07 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this online session, Sven takes on his followers' questions on tough topics including: Why can't I stand up for myself? How...

The Struggles of a Gay Trans-Man

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven counsels Elvis, who just wants a dad, a family connection, a relationship with his sister and niece in which his mom doesn't g...

Q&A: Walking Away From A Narc, Anxiety, Flushing the Pain, and More

31 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThere's always new insight and great advice when Sven takes to social media to answer live questions from his many followers. In th...

Evil Messages

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn these counseling sessions, Sven first talks with Reggie, whose father has weaponized religion against him and left him feeling reject...

Q&A: How to Accept Love After a Narc, Red Flags, Getting Out Of Your Shell

24 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textRecorded with questions coming in live from social media, listen as Sven tackles topics including: How can I become a soul counselor lik...

Why Me?

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat more could have happened to Nikki? She says she feels like a train wreck. Growing up, there was no safe space for her at home. Sexu...

Q&A: More Extreme Takers, Fake Flowers, Accountability, and More

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this Lightning Round, Sven gets mellow while describing the meaning of true happiness. Lots of badass answers to his followers questi...

Both Sides Together: I Own You!

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn the stunning conclusion of Both Sides, Wow!,  Marshall and Adina appear together for some seriously badass counseling from Sven, wit...

Q&A: How to Get Happy, Leave a Narc, Deal With Lies, and More

10 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHere come more unpredictable questions for Sven, taken from social media in real time. What happens to a child when a parent breaks thei...

Both Sides, Wow!

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textCan this marriage be saved? In this episode, Sven hosts two individual counseling sessions. First, Marshall admits to being a serial che...

Q&A: Recovering Narcs, Crazy Narcs, Is My Spouse A Narc or is it Me?

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven's online followers continue to pepper him in real time with probing questions, this time including: Can a Narc recover? How do...

Abuser Attraction

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this counseling episode meet Kit and Jason, both with painful stories of unimaginable abuse. Kit suffered through childhood abandonme...

Q&A: Narcs, Evil Spirits, Healing After An Affair, and More

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this Lightning Round, Sven takes on his online followers' unpredictable questions including: Is it safe to dig deep by yourself?...

When The One You Trust Is A Monster

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this emotional counseling episode, Yvette thinks she is coming on the show to discuss her abusive relationship with a man who is now ...

Q&A: Trauma, Healing, Friends, and More

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAnother unpredictable round of questions taken in real time by Sven, and more insightful and inspiring answers! Are you conditioned to d...

Real Men Have Feelings Too

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven counsels Cody, who feels abandoned by partners, friends, and family. He's a Marine veteran but both Sven and K.C. admire his k...

Q&A: Forgiveness, Grief, Cheating, Friendships, and More

11 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textPain from a past relationship is poisoning a new one. A woman's husband yells at their son all the time and treats him like a serva...

Dad Broke My Inner Compass

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMac has just been through a painful breakup, has thoughts of his difficult divorce from years earlier, and fears that his internal compa...

Q&A: Extreme Takers, Breakups, Love Bombing and More

04 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textLiving with a narcissist, or what Sven calls an extreme taker? Lots of questions on that topic in this Lightning Round, along with other...

Neglect and Destroy!

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this impactful counseling episode, Sven finds common threads in the stories of Jamie and Logan, whose childhood experiences have led ...

Q&A: Extreme Overthinking, When Do You Know, and More

28 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven is in top form as he again tackles his followers' questions from several online sites at once. Tons of great relationship advi...

Casting Out the Demons

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn one of our most compelling counseling episodes, Ellie shares her horrifying story of childhood sexual and emotional abuse at the hand...

Q&A: Narcissists, Anxiety, and Trauma

21 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textLightning Round! Sven takes to social media to answer many unpredictable questions from his online followers. Tons of insight and advice...

Looking for Love? Express Yourself!

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDo you have to give and give in order to be loved? Can you express your wants and needs to your partner, especially the small stuff, or ...

Q&A: Divorce, Adoption, Narcs, and More

14 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this recorded Lightning Round session, Sven takes on his online followers (with a little help from Rob and KC) with questions includi...

I Don't Matter. Thanks, Mom.

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIs your worth measured only by how well you serve others? What if it's your mom? What if you believe as a child that unless you tak...

Q&A: Dismissive Avoidance, Bullying, Being Too Nice, and More

07 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn our 69th recorded Lightning Round, listeners again write in their questions in real time, and Sven takes them on, wherever they may t...

Afraid to Make Life Better?

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven counsels Ruby and Kirsten, two women with very difficult situations and long-seated fears. Ruby has found out that her husband has ...

Q&A: Vicarious Trauma, Triggers, Victimhood, and More

31 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textA Lightning Round to cap off the year! Sven takes on the issue of dealing with the pain and suffering of others, both as a therapist and...

Family Ties...And Belts

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Amirah and Cory, two women struggling to escape the toxic effects of their families. Amirah says she was taught to hate herself fro...

Q&A: Recovering From Cheating, Being Your Authentic Self, and Much More

24 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIt's Lightning Round 67! Sven never knows what questions will come, but he's always quick with the answers. Recorded during a ...

I Wish I Knew What I Know Now

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBert has lost the love of his life. He had a cheatin' heart, but is that actually cheating? What is your own definition of cheating...

LR 66: Narcissism vs. Healthy Selfishness, Getting Out the Pain, and More

17 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven again turns his attention to his followers' questions on social media, recorded live right as they come in. Should you stay to...

Can't Face the Hate

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textJeffrey fears losing his wife. His former porn addiction and anger issues have caused a strain on their marriage. Sven probes for the so...

LR 65: Long Distance Relationships, Moving On From Narcs and Exes, and More

10 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMore unpredictable Q&A with Sven! He never knows what questions and comments will come up from his online followers. In this episode...

Mother, I Never Had You

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven counsels two women with intense mother issues. Bobbie has lived a life of fear and terror, with a bipolar, schizophrenic mother who...

LR 64: Coping, Healing, Can You Ever Change Somebody?

03 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHere come the unpredictable questions again, with Sven at the ready to field all of them. His Badass Counseling online followers bring t...

Emotional Rescue

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAs a child, Kia never had any emotional support. And now, her boyfriend of 7 years has broken up with her, saying she had emotionally ex...

LR 63: Narc Manipulation, Self Hatred, Food Addiction, and More

26 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textNothing gets Sven going more than a Lightning Round, and this episode is no exception. Advice for everyone here, on topics including: Ho...

Trapped in the Basement

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textGreg is in a world of gut-wrenching pain. His wife has pushed him away for years, and he feels he must purchase time to spend with his b...

LR 62: Healing a Narc, Healing From Hurt, Finding Love, and More

19 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textQ&A with Sven and his online followers, recorded live and unrehearsed. Topics include advice for studying counseling, shadow work, m...

My Mother, My Kvetch

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textPam is reeling from her mother's sudden biting criticisms. She realizes that she has buried her feelings about never getting approv...

LR 61: After-Narc Dating, Is Love Blind?, The Scapegoat Child, and More

12 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this recorded Lightning Round, Sven goes live on his online sites and provides direct and helpful guidance on issues of relationships...

Beast of Burden

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn childhood, Derek learned to never be a burden. And so at 35 he finds himself on the short end of a 100% power imbalance with his wife...

LR 60: Father Issues, Attachment Issues, Trauma Issues, and More

05 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this recorded Lightning Round, Sven fields questions including: Why do women confuse masculine men with narcissists? How do I put mys...

A Case of Mistaken Identity

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMichael believes he's unwantable, but why? With an unrealistic view of himself and now divorced, he married only because it was &qu...

LR 59: NARCS! Ex-Narcs, In-law Narcs, Narc partners, Life after Narcs, and more!

29 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSven again handles rapid-fire questions from his followers on social media. You never know what might come up, but in this Lightning Rou...

Love in All the Wrong Places

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAt 35, Athena doesn't believe she deserves a meaningful relationship, feels disconnected from herself, and is involved in a 3-year ...

LR 58: Life After Journaling, Finding Your Authentic Self, and More

22 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textQ&A with Sven again, recorded live as he takes unpredictable questions and comments from his followers on social media. In this Ligh...

My Little Kids Don't Trust Me

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textCassidy's small children don't fully trust her, and she knows why. A victim of an abusive childhood herself, she admits to abu...

LR57: Bad Relationships, Good Self-Care, and More

15 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textListen in to Sven tackling tough questions and getting into some back-and-forth with his online followers in this recorded session. Advi...

"I'll Always One-Up You"

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textLydia has filed for divorce from an alcoholic, violent husband, who has blamed her for all their problems. Conditioned to accept the abu...

LR 56: Define a Narc, Check a Cheat, and More

08 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this Lightning Round, Sven gets into a back-and-forth with an online listener whose husband, an admitted cheater who says he wants to...

When Your Heavenly Father Isn't

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMadi is a person of faith, and in pain over family pressure to maintain a relationship with her father, who she describes as a "shi...

LR 55: Advice on Life After Marriage to a Narc, and More

01 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textJoin Sven for unrehearsed responses to incoming online questions! Is there life after a 35-year marriage to a narcissist? Feeling like y...

Hurting Each Other

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn Emily's story, the abuse went both ways. After suffering a miscarriage, her husband severely beat her...after she threw a broken...

LR 54: Advice on Worries, Confidence, Trauma, and More

24 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMore spontaneous Q&A with Sven, recorded as he checks in with his followers on multiple platforms. Need some new strategies to deal ...

My Trauma, My Self

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBritt's sad history includes rape, beatings, and attempted suicide. She understands that she was taught to be unlovable and is maki...

LR 53: Advice on Toxic In-Laws, Extended Families, and Much More

17 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn Lightning Round LIII, Sven again takes to multiple social media platforms to take live, unpredictable questions. Topics include fear ...

Overcoming the Life-Long Trauma of Child Abuse

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Lynn, whose memories of hating herself begin at age 8. Sexually abused as a child by a string of her mother's partners, Lynn s...

LR 52: Advice for Parents and Children Who Don't Connect, and Much More

10 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn Sven's 52nd Lightning Round, he offers great insight about repairing relationships between parents and children, and vice-versa....

How to Not Become Your Parent

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textJennifer's life has been filled with "99% self hate." As a child, she never felt protected and had to protect her mother ...

LR 51: Advice on Life and Sex and Death

03 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn Sven's 51st Lightning Round, he takes on his followers' toughest questions on dealing with grief, handling difficult parent...

How to Face the Rage

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSarah believes her hate and rage are behind her, but she says she has no functional relationships. Sven helps her discover the connectio...

Lightning Round L

27 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWondering if narcissists ever feel guilt? How to stop feeling invisible to your family? How to get through your sibling's wedding? ...

How to Overcome Despicable Parenting

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Lance and Rebecca, whose deep wounds from their lost childhoods haunt their adulthood. As a child, Lance was forced to care for his...

Lightning Round XLIX

20 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textRecorded live and unrehearsed for the 49th time, Sven takes on tough questions from his online followers. Tons of useful insight and adv...

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn two stories of abandonment and guilt, Sven provides some seriously healing counsel. First, Sharon found her estranged fiancé dead in...