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Trauma Bonding

Trauma Bonding

A Conversation with Dr. Nadine Macaluso

Dr. Nadine Macaluso

What happens when the fairytale turns into a survival story?

When the charming, confident man you thought you were building a life with slowly reveals himself to be someone entirely different?

At just 22 years old, Nadine Macaluso thought she’d found her happily ever after when she married Jordan Belfort... yes, the Wolf of Wall Street.

Their life together looked like a dream... romantic dinners, luxury yachts, and a whirlwind of excitement. But behind closed doors, that glamour quickly gave way to infidelity, narcissistic abuse, and the chaos of addiction.

Eventually, Nadine packed up her kids — and her curtains — and left. That decision marked the start of a long, transformative chapter. She committed to intensive therapy and deep self-work — confronting her pain, taking accountability, and rediscovering the parts of herself that had been buried in years of abuse. Through that process, she realized she wanted to help others do the same. At 39, she went back to school for her Master’s in Counseling, and by 45, she’d earned a PhD in Counseling and Somatic Psychology.

Today, Dr. Nae, as her clients call her, is a highly trained and deeply compassionate psychotherapist specializing in trauma bonds, narcissistic abuse, and complex PTSD. Her work helps people understand why we stay in destructive relationships... and how to finally break free and build something healthier.

Her new book, Run Like Hell: A Therapist’s Guide to Recognizing, Escaping, and Healing from Trauma Bonds, is a powerful, research-backed guide to understanding trauma and reclaiming your life.

In this episode, we’ll talk about how trauma lives in the body, what real healing looks like, and how to rebuild trust... in others and in yourself.

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Fawning - The 4th Survival Response

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