Send us a text Lightning Round! Sven takes to social media to answer many unpredictable questions from his online followers. Tons of insight and advice here: Was your parent great to other people, but not you? Do you have anxiety about journaling? Are you the victim of "emotional incest" because your parents dumped their problems on you? Were you the "golden child?" And much more. Please join us for Lightning Round LXXI! Explicit content....
Jan 21, 2024•56 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Send us a text Do 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 are you silent? Sven's counseling guest Jeff faces these questions and much more, following a divorce and two failed relationships. He wonders, "Is it me?" Insightful relationship advice from Sven is right here, so please listen in! Explicit content.
Jan 18, 2024•56 min•Season 7Ep. 1
Send us a text In this recorded Lightning Round session, Sven takes on his online followers (with a little help from Rob and KC) with questions including: How do I handle the physical stress from a relationship with a narcissist? How do I know if it's the right time to divorce? How can I tell my son that he's adopted? How do I have a relationship with an avoidant partner? And more! Please join all of us for Lightning Round LXX. Explicit content....
Jan 14, 2024•40 min•Season 6Ep. 26
Send us a text Is 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 take care of your mother, you're not important? And what if you feel like you can't find peace or relief without getting recognition and love from your mother...which she'll never give you? Can you ever accept love from anyone if your mother never loved you? Sven tackles all these questions head-on as he counsels Erin and Heather, who face intense struggl...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr•Season 6Ep. 25
Send us a text In our 69th recorded Lightning Round, listeners again write in their questions in real time, and Sven takes them on, wherever they may take him. This time: Why do I keep lighting myself on fire to keep others warm? My boss has power over me and I can't fight it. My 11-year-old has been bullied for years, what can I do? What if the man I'm dating says I'm too nice and he can't take it all the time? How can I become comfortable in social situations? And much more. Some great insight...
Jan 07, 2024•58 min•Season 6Ep. 24
Send us a text Sven counsels Ruby and Kirsten, two women with very difficult situations and long-seated fears. Ruby has found out that her husband has been cheating...for 18 years. And the fallout from that marriage is getting in the way of a new, potentially great relationship. Kirsten is trapped by an abusive ex-husband--- still under the same roof--- who won't leave. Sven helps the women find the roots of their fears, which also hold the key to breaking free. Explicit content....
Jan 04, 2024•1 hr•Season 6Ep. 23
Send us a text A 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 in general for all. Other topics include when to tell your kids about your new partner, helping a suicidal son, welcoming deep dark thoughts as a path to healing, and much more. Tons of great advice here, so come on in to Lightning Round LXVII, with Sven recorded taking live questions from social media. Explicit content....
Dec 31, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 6Ep. 22
Send us a text Meet Amirah and Cory, two women struggling to escape the toxic effects of their families. Amirah says she was taught to hate herself from the moment she was born. She feels her family defines her only by her mistakes, and when she misbehaved, she got the belt...unlike her brother. Cory believed the world would be better off without her, having been abandoned and abused by every member of her family. Moving out of the country has not brought relief, and like Amirah, feels she was m...
Dec 28, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 6Ep. 21
Send us a text It's Lightning Round 67! Sven never knows what questions will come, but he's always quick with the answers. Recorded during a live online session on multiple platforms, Sven tackles tons of tough issues including: How do I let go of toxic people like my ex-narc? How can I make the right career choice? Why do people discard you after they sabotage you? And much more. Please join us for more Q&A with Sven in Lightning Round LXVII! Explicit content....
Dec 24, 2023•46 min•Season 6Ep. 20
Send us a text Bert has lost the love of his life. He had a cheatin' heart, but is that actually cheating? What is your own definition of cheating? Sven delves into these questions in his counseling session with Bert, whose girlfriend discovered his intimate, but not physical contact with another woman. He now realizes he invalidated his partner's feelings and so, destroyed the relationship. With Sven's guidance, Bert comes to a new realization about the source and effect of his actions...and wh...
Dec 21, 2023•36 min•Season 6Ep. 19
Send us a text Sven again turns his attention to his followers' questions on social media, recorded live right as they come in. Should you stay together for the kids? What questions should you ask before agreeing to marriage? What if my partner is cheating with escorts? And much more. Come on in and join us for the free-for-all that is Lightning Round LXVI! Explicit content.
Dec 17, 2023•57 min•Season 6Ep. 18
Send us a text Jeffrey fears losing his wife. His former porn addiction and anger issues have caused a strain on their marriage. Sven probes for the source of Jeffrey's troubles and uncovers the effects of his father's bullying and abuse. Jeffrey is trying to not feel the hate but Sven counsels that although his rage is justified, only by facing the hate and letting it out will allow him to escape his fear, anger, and pain...and maybe save his marriage. Explicit content....
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 17
Send us a text More unpredictable Q&A with Sven! He never knows what questions and comments will come up from his online followers. In this episode: How do I control my anger toward my narc Ex in front of the kids? Should I use hypnosis to unlock blocked childhood memories? When does the pain from an extreme taker go away? And... I want to be with a man who beats me because I don't feel lovable. Join us for Lightning Round LXV! Explicit content....
Dec 10, 2023•1 hr•Season 6Ep. 16
Send us a text Sven counsels two women with intense mother issues. Bobbie has lived a life of fear and terror, with a bipolar, schizophrenic mother who always says she ruined her life. Her mother doesn't recognize her own illness, and Bobbie desperately needs to learn to validate the need to take care of herself more than she takes care of others. Vida's oppressive mother has crippled her well-being all her life. She feels she was treated like an "emotional dumpster" and even considered suicide ...
Dec 07, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 6Ep. 15
Send us a text Here come the unpredictable questions again, with Sven at the ready to field all of them. His Badass Counseling online followers bring topics including: healing from a fiancé's cheating, eating disorders, finding your own voice, manipulation to marry a narc, and much more. Sven also tackles one of the toughest topics: how to cope and heal from the death of a child. Join us for Lightning Round LXIV! Explicit content....
Dec 03, 2023•52 min•Season 6Ep. 14
Send us a text As a child, Kia never had any emotional support. And now, her boyfriend of 7 years has broken up with her, saying she had emotionally exhausted him. Struggling to understand her pain, it's Sven to the rescue. What does it say about your upbringing when you can't easily recall a time when things were going well? Kia's best memories of her childhood were when her parents weren't there. Sven helps Kia understand the importance of assessing the truth of her childhood, as difficult as ...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 13
Send us a text Nothing gets Sven going more than a Lightning Round, and this episode is no exception. Advice for everyone here, on topics including: How to know when it's time to leave, how to focus better, couples retreats, cutting mom out of your life, and so much more. Sven never knows what questions will come up, and he never fails to effectively apply the Badass Counseling approach. In this show, Sven talks about how he got into counseling, too. Join us for Lightning Round LXIII! Explicit c...
Nov 26, 2023•53 min•Season 6Ep. 12
Send us a text Greg 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 beloved daughter, who holds most of the power in the family and is about to leave home to attend an expensive college. He hides away in the basement of his home in order to have any interaction with his daughter. A very compassionate Sven helps Greg find the roots of his misery, and helps him appreciate the power of "No." Is it possible that an aut...
Nov 23, 2023•55 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Send us a text Q&A with Sven and his online followers, recorded live and unrehearsed. Topics include advice for studying counseling, shadow work, men who prioritize pleasing their mother, what to do when love and affection terrify you, is it possible to heal a narcissist, and much more. Join us for Lightning Round LXII! Explicit content.
Nov 19, 2023•54 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Send us a text Pam is reeling from her mother's sudden biting criticisms. She realizes that she has buried her feelings about never getting approval, saying it has now set off a land mine. Looking back a string of bad choices and problems with intimacy, she begins to see the reasons for her issues. Sven helps her define her land mine, and take steps to defuse it. Explicit content.
Nov 16, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Send us a text In this recorded Lightning Round, Sven goes live on his online sites and provides direct and helpful guidance on issues of relationships, controlling parents, misguided anger, and much more. He never knows what questions will come up, so join us for the surprises and the badass wisdom! Explicit content.
Nov 12, 2023•39 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Send us a text In 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, and now in the middle of a divorce. She wanted to be polyamorous (read: cheat in the open) and he reluctantly agreed. Ultimately feeling betrayed and concerned that his soon-to-be ex is poisoning their teenage children against him, he turns to Sven for help in moving past the anger. Sven then guides Derek to the most productive ways to ensure he...
Nov 09, 2023•56 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Send us a text In this recorded Lightning Round, Sven fields questions including: Why do women confuse masculine men with narcissists? How do I put myself first? How do I find my authentic self when I'm always told I'm wrong? My wife left me, how do I get her back? And - How do I deal with the grief due to the death of a child? For insight, direct advice, compassion, and even a few laughs, come on in and join us for Lightning Round LX. Explicit content....
Nov 05, 2023•59 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Send us a text Michael believes he's unwantable, but why? With an unrealistic view of himself and now divorced, he married only because it was "the right thing to do" and wonders how to feel love. As a child, his parents would have him make gift lists for his birthday and Christmas, but they never read them. His father was a source of constant disapproval. So he gave up hope. "I'll go through the motions but my heart's not in it" turns out to apply both to his childhood desires and his adult rel...
Nov 02, 2023•59 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Send us a text Sven again handles rapid-fire questions from his followers on social media. You never know what might come up, but in this Lightning Round, tons of questions about narcissists. Sven even details the genesis of the term from Greek mythology and what it really means. Other topics include the value of rituals, side quests, and trauma bonds. Keen insight and helpful advice here in Lightning Round LIX! Explicit content....
Oct 29, 2023•1 hr•Season 6Ep. 4
Send us a text At 35, Athena doesn't believe she deserves a meaningful relationship, feels disconnected from herself, and is involved in a 3-year affair. Brian suffers with fears his ex will spread toxic stories about him in a tightly-knit community, and has become withdrawn. Sven goes to work, finding common threads in their challenges, and helps both to resolve to do the soul work and aim for genuine, healthy relationships. Explicit content....
Oct 26, 2023•49 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Send us a text Q&A with Sven again, recorded live as he takes unpredictable questions and comments from his followers on social media. In this Lightning Round: Tons of relationship advice; how to deal with abusive and narcissistic parents, partners, and co-workers; finding the right kind of therapy; breaking trauma bonds, and much much more. Please listen in to Lightning Round LVIII! Explicit content.
Oct 22, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Send us a text Cassidy's small children don't fully trust her, and she knows why. A victim of an abusive childhood herself, she admits to abusing her 5 children (and there's one more on the way), feeling suicidal, and having large gaps in her memory. She's overwhelmed with parenting, therapy hasn't helped, and so Cassidy turns to Sven for finding a path to healing. She knows she needs to do the work for herself and her children. But right now, it's often hard for her to just get out of bed. List...
Oct 19, 2023•54 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Send us a text Listen in to Sven tackling tough questions and getting into some back-and-forth with his online followers in this recorded session. Advice on dating, dealing with narcs in bad marriages, navigating heavy relationship issues, recognizing red flags, in-depth tips on journaling, and much more - right here for you in Lightning Round LVII. Come on in! Explicit content.
Oct 15, 2023•42 min•Season 5Ep. 26
Send us a text Lydia has filed for divorce from an alcoholic, violent husband, who has blamed her for all their problems. Conditioned to accept the abuse, Lydia attempted to be peacemaker, but was told she'd always be one-upped. So she left with her daughter, and feels pain about leaving the marriage. What's wrong? And what's right? Sven helps Lydia unpack this difficult situation and accept that the love she always wanted can be hers. Explicit content....
Oct 12, 2023•58 min•Season 5Ep. 25
