Peace Over Pieces Domestic Abuse Survivor Podcast

Catherine Anne Castillo is an author, nurse, relational trauma clinician, women's health specialist, startup consultant, and multi-sport athlete whose journey is a testament to resilience and rediscovery. After surviving a narcissistic abusive relationship, she found the courage to rebuild her life and career across three countries before eventually returning home to the Philippines. In this episode, Catherine shares her journey of healing after emotional abuse, the challenges of rebuilding her identity, and the lessons she wishes she had known sooner. She opens up about how writing became an outlet for processing her experiences, eventually transforming her pain into poetry that would become her debut collection, In the Darkness of Shards: Poems from a Broken Place, a #4 bestseller and Amazon Top New Release in the United States. Through her experiences and professional background in relational trauma and women's health, Catherine offers a perspective on recovery, self-discovery, and finding purpose beyond abuse. Her story is a reminder that life doesn't end after trauma—and that healing can open the door to new beginnings, unexpected opportunities, and a future filled with possibility.

Zahra Abou-Ghaida is a Sydney-based Registered Psychologist and Principal Psychologist at Azura Psychology, dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic and narcissistic abuse. Through her trauma-informed approach, she helps individuals better understand the psychological effects of abusive relationships while raising awareness about the often-misunderstood dynamics of manipulation, coercive control, and emotional trauma. In this episode, Zahra shares her professional insights into the complexities of domestic and narcissistic abuse, exploring how harmful relationship dynamics can affect a person's confidence, identity, and emotional well-being. She sheds light on common misconceptions surrounding abuse, the challenges survivors face in recognizing unhealthy patterns, and the importance of understanding the psychological impact of these experiences. Through her work, Zahra emphasizes the power of education, awareness, and compassionate support in helping survivors make sense of their experiences. Her perspective serves as a reminder that abuse is not always visible, its effects can extend far beyond the relationship, and understanding is an important step toward healing and reclaiming one's sense of self.

Dr. Summer Rippe is a Licensed Professional Counselor, researcher, and counselor educator dedicated to understanding the lasting impact of domestic violence, complex trauma, and moral injury. Alongside her clinical practice in Colorado, where she supports survivors of trauma and abuse, she teaches master's-level counseling students and conducts research exploring how coercive control, betrayal, and difficult choices can affect a survivor's identity, values, and sense of self. In this episode, Dr. Rippe shares her professional insights into moral injury and the often-overlooked emotional struggles survivors face after abuse. She explores how manipulation and coercive control can shape a person's sense of responsibility, self-worth, and agency, and why healing involves more than simply escaping an abusive relationship. Through her research and clinical experience, Dr. Rippe sheds light on the importance of reclaiming personal agency, rebuilding trust in oneself, and finding meaning after trauma. Her work reminds us that survivors deserve compassion, understanding, and the freedom to rediscover who they are beyond their experiences of abuse.

Adama is a survivor of sexual violence, advocate, and founder of WHAN, an organization supporting African women affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence, and wider health inequalities. Alongside her work within the NHS, she has dedicated herself to helping women navigate not only survival, but the often complicated journey of rebuilding life after abuse. In this episode, Adama brings together lived experience and professional insight to explore what recovery really looks like. She discusses why healing doesn’t simply begin and end with leaving an abusive situation, and the work involved in rebuilding confidence, identity, purpose, and a sense of safety. Adama also sheds light on some of the barriers African women may face when seeking support, as well as the connection between trauma and women’s health. Through her work and her own journey, she offers a practical and hopeful perspective on life after survival—reminding us that recovery can take many forms, and that rebuilding is possible.

LaDonna Renee Crusby is a survivor advocate, speaker, author, educator, and founder of the LaDonna Renee VST Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors find their voice and connect with resources. A survivor of kidnapping and sexual assault at age 14, LaDonna has transformed her lived experience into a mission of advocacy, education, and support for others. In this episode, LaDonna explores the many layers of her healing journey, from the relationship patterns she witnessed as a child and the ways trauma shaped her responses to fear, to its lasting impact on self-worth, relationships, and the patterns we can unknowingly carry into adulthood. She shares what she has learned about moving forward despite fear, the importance of having a supportive village, and the power of recognizing harmful cycles before they continue into the next generation. Through her story and advocacy, LaDonna reminds survivors that finding your voice can be part of reclaiming your power, and that no one should have to navigate healing alone.