In this episode of In Heels with Keni Silva, Dr. Nadine Macaluso explains trauma bonds, toxic relationship patterns, why leaving can feel so difficult, how to recognize early warning signs, and how to rebuild self-trust after an unhealthy relationship.
In this episode of In Heels with Keni Silva, Keni sits down with therapist, trauma expert, bestselling author, and former model Dr. Nadine Macaluso—known as Dr. Nae—for a candid conversation about trauma bonds, toxic relationships, shame, and what it actually takes to leave and heal.
Known to many as the real-life inspiration behind Naomi Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street, Dr. Macaluso transformed her own experience in a destructive relationship into a career helping others understand the psychological patterns that can make unhealthy relationships so difficult to escape.
Keni and Dr. Macaluso unpack what a trauma bond actually is, how it develops, and why someone can recognize that a relationship is hurting them and still struggle to walk away. They explore manipulation, shame, complex PTSD, the loss of self-trust, and the emotional and physiological patterns that can keep people attached long after they know something is wrong.
Dr. Macaluso also shares what healing can look like after leaving: recognizing patterns, rebuilding trust in yourself, reconnecting with your identity, and learning to create healthier relationships moving forward.
Drawing from both her personal experience and her work as a therapist, she shares insights from her book, Run Like Hell: A Therapist’s Guide to Recognizing, Escaping, and Healing From Trauma Bonds.
This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered why it can be so difficult to leave an unhealthy relationship—and how to begin finding yourself again once you do.