Why do smart, self-aware women keep going back to relationships that hurt them?

In this episode of the Speak Honest Podcast, Jenn Noble sits down with Jessica Anne Pressler, a Columbia-trained psychotherapist, licensed clinical social worker, and grief counselor with over four decades of experience helping people heal from trauma and destructive relationship patterns. Jessica introduces her concept of the traitor within, the part of us formed in childhood to keep us safe that later shows up as self-sabotage in adult relationships. Jenn and Jessica dig into why intelligent, capable women stay in relationships with narcissists, how childhood coping mechanisms like people pleasing or staying invisible get carried into adulthood, why couples counseling can actually backfire with a narcissistic partner, and what real boundaries look like versus a plea for connection disguised as one. Jessica also shares about her upcoming novel Traitor Within, which follows a protagonist through a cycle of toxic relationships shaped by the same childhood wounds.

You might want to listen if:

• You keep asking yourself why you stay in relationships that aren't good for you
• You suspect your partner might be a narcissist and don't know what to do next
• You want to understand how childhood coping mechanisms show up in adult relationships
• You're setting boundaries but they keep getting ignored or turned against you
• You're curious about self-sabotage and where it actually comes from

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DISCLAIMER: Speak Honest podcast content is informational, not professional or medical advice. Jenn is an ICF relationship coach, not a licensed therapist. Consult health professionals for specific concerns. Client opinions do not reflect Speak Honest’s stance. We aim for accuracy but are not liable for errors or outcomes from this information.