Being Human Podcast - Episode 98: Are You Gaslighting Yourself?

Welcome to Episode 98 of the Being Human Podcast: Are You Gaslighting Yourself?

You may be familiar with the term “gaslighting,” which is usually used in referencing what happens in an emotionally abusive relationship. But did you know it’s possible to gaslight yourself? On this week’s episode, Dr. Greg dives into the danger of invalidating our own internal experiences, and offers a way to grow in healthy self-compassion instead.

Discussed in this episode:

• What is gaslighting? (And where did that term come from?)
• Internal Family Systems theory as a way to understand how we can gaslight ourselves; 
• How discrediting the value of our emotions and perspective begins in childhood;
• The importance of reverencing the beauty of each person’s interior life; 
• The difference between an emotional response and sinful behavior; 
• True self-compassion: why it is essential to develop if we are to have true compassion for others;  
• The way our senses in the present are impacted by experiences in our past; 
• How different sub-personalities we possess exist for a good reason; 
• The only way to correct sinful behavior. 

Resources mentioned or relevant:

• Being Human Episodes on Internal Family Systems and Parts Work: 
  • Episode #34: A New Theory! w/a Catholic Lens;  
  • Episode #35: Why Do I Feel Like I Have Conflicting Thoughts? w/ Dr. Peter Malinoski

  • Episode #36: A Guided Exercise w/ Dr. Peter Malinoski

  • Episode #47: How to Turn Your Inner Worst Enemies into Your Inner Best Friends
  • Episode #49: Internal Family Systems & External Family Tension 

• Being Human Episodes on Narcissism:  
  • Episode #68: I’m Not Narcissistic, You’re Narcissistic
  • Episode #21: A Look at Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Mental Health Awareness Series, Part Two) 
• More about the Alfred Hitchcock movie Gaslight; 
• Learn about IDDM (Mentorship), our new model of accompaniment;
• Need help? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with our staff to discuss how we can support you! 
• Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on the exciting developments at CatholicPsych;

• Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more; 
• Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created;
• Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available. 

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at [email protected] - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!

About Dr. Greg and the CatholicPsych Institute

Dr. Bottaro is a clinical psychologist and founder of the CatholicPsych Institute. He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences, a graduate school that integrates Catholic philosophy and theology with sound, empirically validated psychology.

Before his degree, Dr. Bottaro discerned a religious vocation with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs). He lived four years in the Bronx, serving the poor in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi. Under the mentorship of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, this experience helped him form a spirituality based on Abandonment to Divine Providence which he now applies to psychological principles in his practice. He learned from Fr. Benedict how to discern God's voice and live a life in service to others.

Six years after leaving NYC as a friar, he returned as a psychologist. The CatholicPsych Institute began there in 2012 and has since grown to 5 offices with 12 therapists serving clients around the globe.

Dr. Bottaro now lives in Connecticut with his wife Barbra and their seven children. He actively avoids watching the news and spends his free time thinking up crazy new ideas on how to make the world a better place.