Waking Up to Narcissism

Waking Up to Narcissism


Tell Me About Your Mother": Untangling Childhood's Hidden Traps with "The Good Daughter Syndrome" Author Katherine Fabrizio

May 17, 2025

Are you constantly trying to please your mother but never feeling good enough? Do you take responsibility for her emotional well-being? If you've ever found yourself stuck in these patterns, this episode is essential listening — and men, don't skip this one! Host Tony Overbay discovered he might have a little "Good Daughter Syndrome" himself.

In this illuminating conversation, psychotherapist Katherine Fabrizio https://daughtersrising.info/ shares her 35 years of experience working with daughters of difficult mothers, including her own journey breaking away from practicing therapy alongside her controlling mother. With refreshing candor and hard-earned wisdom, Katherine reveals:


  • The four psychological traps that keep "good daughters" stuck: the never good enough trap, the guilt trap, the self-doubt trap, and the mixed message trap
  • Why setting even small boundaries can provide crucial data about your relationship
  • How to break free without it being a "zero-sum game" where someone must lose
  • Why your mother's narcissistic defenses will protect her, even when you start setting boundaries
  • The paralyzing internal conflict of feeling selfish when you differentiate from mom

With multiple awards, including Gold Medalist for Parenting & Relationships from The Global Book Awards, Katherine's book "The Good Daughter Syndrome" offers hope to those caught in these destructive dynamics.


Whether you identify as a "good daughter" or simply want to understand the complex mother-daughter relationship, this conversation provides actionable insights for reclaiming your sovereignty and building a life that truly belongs to you.


"When you wake up and realize you've been ceding your sovereignty to somebody else... it's incredibly empowering." - Katherine Fabrizio


00:00 Introduction and Announcements

01:35 Emotional Immaturity Epidemic

03:32 The Good Daughter Syndrome

08:12 Interview with Catherine Fabrizio

11:03 Catherine's Personal Journey

17:37 Understanding Narcissistic Dynamics

26:40 Setting Boundaries with Narcissistic Mothers

27:35 The Never Good Enough Trap

28:40 The Guilt Trap

29:11 Navigating Divorce and Co-Parenting

33:54 The Self-Doubt Trap

38:59 The Mixed Message Trap

46:23 Empowerment and Differentiation

48:53 Conclusion and Resources