Healing with Psychology

Understanding the Mind Behind Dysfunctional Leadership

Work is supposed to help us grow—but what happens when it slowly breaks us instead?

In this deeply personal and powerful book, Roberta Verschoor takes readers on a journey through the unseen wounds of toxic workplaces, where poor leadership, lack of HR support, and emotional neglect can leave lasting damage. Drawing from her own experience in the corporate world, Roberta shines a light on the silent battles employees face every day—the anxiety before walking into work, the loss of confidence, and the emotional exhaustion that comes from being dismissed, micromanaged, or unheard.

But this is not just a story of pain. It’s a journey toward healing.

Through the lens of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Roberta explores the why behind dysfunctional leadership—what drives controlling behavior, why empathy is often absent in positions of power, and how psychological safety is critical for employee well-being. With honesty, vulnerability, and clarity, she offers hope to anyone who has ever felt broken by their job.

This book is for every person who sat in silence, doubted their worth, or carried stress home night after night. It’s a call to understand the systems that harm us—and to start building better ones.