The Badass Counseling Show

In this first of a series of special episodes, Sven interviews Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy Hardy. As the highest ranking special forces operator in the US Air Force at the peak of his career, Jeremy is the very essence of a man's man. He's got many stories to tell about leading an elite unit of Pararescue Jumpers (PJs). But now retired, he's also Sven's client, and has much to overcome, both physically and emotiona...

In this intense, sensitive counseling episode, Sven brings new insight and hope to a despondent TJ, who is great at beating himself up. The woman he loves, who he said he would always stand by despite her illness, forces him to leave and then blames him for abandoning her. Sven gets to the root of TJ's misery: a father who made him feel unimportant, and a mother who told him, "I wish you were never born." A big man c...

Although Brenda's story begins with her concern about her son getting into a car driven by her alcoholic co-parenting ex, this counseling session soon becomes all about the profound effects of bad parenting on their children and their children's children. Brenda believes she's a good parent and has trouble admitting her real feelings about her not-so-good parents, but Sven guides her to some unpleasant, yet supremely...

Revelations abound as Sven counsels two women with serious father (and mother) issues. Paulie defines herself by her work and wonders why. Perhaps because she felt she always had to perform to prove her worth? Add in a father who molested her two step-sisters and you begin to understand why she hated herself as early as age 3. Next, Heather wants to cut ties with her abusive mother, but comes to understand the truth about a father ...

In this counseling episode, Michelle tells Sven she's leaving her partner of 7 years, knows it's the right thing to do, but is terrified of being alone. She's scared of the quiet. Her unsupportive mother was never her champion, and her hate for her stepfather is real. Still, she thinks her mother's approval is the key to her peace and happiness. Sven compassionately guides Michelle, through her tears, to the tru...

Another chance for Sven to open his social media platforms to his followers for questions on any topic they like. In this episode: What if you're competing with your mother-in-law for your husband's attention? What if your twin betrays you? How to know when to let go of lost love? How to be supportive and not suspicious of a partner who travels for work? And much more! Please join us for Lightning Round LXXXIV! Explicit c...

If your parents were clearly bad, but as a child you think they're good, what happens? Sven helps Jane-Susan understand why she has trouble standing up for herself, and why she always thinks there is something wrong with her... Hard habits to break. With Sven's guidance, Jane-Susan has a stunning revelation and begins to feel relief. Maybe it's even a key to getting her own grown daughters to like her a lot more. Lis...

All these feelings and more are explored in this recorded episode of Sven taking on his followers' questions from several social media sites in real time. What if you're anxious and your parter is avoidant? What if you're afraid of passing on your bad characteristics to your children? What if it wasn't safe to be happy or successful when you were a kid? It's hard to talk about the hard stuff...We're he...

The father of Lynn's child is abusive and a cheater who takes no responsibility. But Lynn wants to keep the family together and feels sympathetic toward him because of his ugly, troubled past. She stands by him even though he doesn't reciprocate and wonders why she still wants him. Sven's second guest, Melissa, left her cheating, alcoholic husband after 15 years. With limited contact he treats their 9-year-old daught...

Sven counsels Elvis, who just wants a dad, a family connection, a relationship with his sister and niece in which his mom doesn't get in the way but... Assigned female at birth, Elvis hated himself as early as age 6. Growing up, he endured sexual abuse, both verbal and physical, and even ridicule of his thoughts of suicide as a teenager. Now in his 20s, with his increasing authenticity of his sexual identity and a loving husba...

In these counseling sessions, Sven first talks with Reggie, whose father has weaponized religion against him and left him feeling rejected. He realizes that his parents can't possibly make him fall in love with their religion if it's -- and they --are telling him he's evil. In the second half of the episode, Sven counsels Allison, who has discovered that her entire reality was a lie. The birth of her son makes her de...