I have just finished recording the last audio of the Self Leadership for Codependents program. It has been well received and my hope is that it will stand the test of time. Some comments from subscribers so far:

It is a very good series and I listen to each one several times, taking notes in hopes that I can retain the content. It is not always easy to retain. Is it because I have been so outwardly focused on others for so long that it is easy to go back to pushing my needs and feelings down?

Subscriber USA

These exercises have been incredibly eye-opening for me, and I appreciate the opportunity to engage with them. 

Subscriber, Germany

I have found your program so insightful and reassuring. In my darkest moments last month, following my most destructive controlling incident, I began to wonder if my cause was hopeless, and this terror-driven compulsion to control was a terminal illness. I now believe it’s not.

Subscriber, USA

What is the programme?

I am proud to introduce “Self-Leadership for Codependents” – a carefully curated podcast series of 13 episodes for Members Only, each one a step forward in understanding and overcoming the challenges of codependency and dedicated to addressing codependency issues and recovery. Topics covered include codependency awareness, codependency and relationships, debunking narcissism, the drama triangle, effective self-help for codependents through parts work, self-care and boundaries, personal autonomy,  my own personal journey, and maintaining your new-found self.

Click here to subscribe and for more details.

Here are the main details of the content:

Understanding Codependency

1. Defining Codependency: You will gain a thorough understanding of what codependency is, including its characteristics, such as excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically one who requires support due to an illness or addiction.
2. Types of Codependency: Insight into various forms of codependency, such as:

• Enabling Codependency: Supporting someone’s unhealthy behavior.
• Rescuing Codependency: Constantly trying to save others at your own expense.
• People-Pleasing Codependency: Prioritizing others’ needs and approval over your own well-being.
• Avoidant Codependency: Avoiding intimacy and vulnerability to protect oneself from getting hurt, leading to emotional distancing and difficulty in forming close relationships.

Self-Awareness

3. Enhanced Self-Awareness: A deeper understanding of your own needs, desires, and boundaries. Recognizing patterns of codependent behavior and understanding their underlying causes, such as past trauma, family dynamics, or low self-esteem.

Personal Autonomy

4. Developing Personal Autonomy: Strategies to cultivate a sense of independence and self-reliance. This includes:

• Decision-Making Skills: Making choices based on your own values and interests rather than others’ expectations.
• Self-Sufficiency: Building confidence in your ability to handle life’s challenges on your own.

The Drama Triangle

5. Understanding the Drama Triangle: Knowledge of the drama triangle, a social model that describes the destructive interaction patterns involving three roles:

• The Victim: Feels oppressed, helpless, and powerless.
• The Rescuer: Seeks to help others in a way that prevents them from solving their own problems.
• The Persecutor: Blames and criticizes others.

5. Escaping the Drama Triangle: Learning how to avoid these roles and engage in healthier, more constructive interactions. This includes recognizing when you or others are falling into these roles and shifting to more empowering behaviors.

Boundary Setting

7. Establishing Healthy Boundaries: The ability to set and maintain boundaries in relationships, understanding where your responsibilities end and another person’s begin. This involves:

• Saying No: Feeling comfortable declining requests that compromise your well-being.
• Communicating Boundaries: Clearly and assertively expressing your limits.

Self-Care

8. Prioritizing Self-Care: Techniques for ensuring your own physical, emotional, and mental health needs are met. This might include:

• Routine Self-Care Practices: Regular activities that nourish your body and mind.
• Stress Management: Strategies to manage and reduce stress.

Emotional Regulation

9. Managing Emotions: Tools for effectively handling your emotions, especially in challenging or triggering situations. This might include mindfulness, meditation, or other emotional regulation techniques.

Assertiveness

10. Improving Assertiveness: Skills to express your needs and desires clearly and confidently without feeling guilty or overly responsible for others’ feelings. This includes:
    • Effective Communication: Speaking up for yourself in a respectful and direct manner.
    • Conflict Resolution: Handling disagreements in a way that respects both your needs and the needs of others.

Healthy Relationships

11. Building Healthy Relationships: Understanding what constitutes a healthy relationship and how to foster mutual respect, support, and interdependence rather than codependence. This includes recognizing the signs of unhealthy relationships and knowing when to seek change or leave.

Self-Leadership Skills

12. Enhancing Self-Leadership Skills: Developing the ability to motivate yourself, set personal goals, and hold yourself accountable. This includes:
    • Goal Setting: Creating and pursuing personal and professional goals that align with your values.
    • Self-Discipline: Cultivating habits that support your long-term well-being and success.

Recovery and Growth

13. Ongoing Recovery and Personal Growth: Techniques for continuous improvement and recovery from codependency. This includes:
    • Support Networks: Building a community of supportive friends, family, or groups.
    • Continuous Learning: Engaging in activities that promote ongoing self-discovery and development.
    • Parts Work: Using therapeutic approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) to understand and integrate the different parts of yourself. This involves recognizing and healing the wounded parts that contribute to codependent behaviors, fostering a more harmonious and balanced inner self.

By mastering these skills, you should be well-equipped to lead a more autonomous, fulfilling life, free from the constraints of codependent behavior, and capable of fostering healthier, more balanced relationships.