I recently watched the Netflix documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish and I must say it was very disturbing. The story is about Lauryn Licari, her boyfriend Owen, and the painful experience they went through after receiving months of threatening and abusive anonymous text messages. In the end, it turned out that the person behind the harassment was not a stranger online but Lauryn’s own mother, Kendra Licari.

As a therapist, I found this case very troubling. A parent is supposed to be a source of love, guidance, and safety for a child. When that same parent becomes the one causing harm, it breaks the foundation of trust and security that every child needs. This is more than bullying; it is a form of emotional abuse and betrayal.

Lauryn was not the only one who suffered. Her boyfriend, Owen, also received the messages and lived with the fear and confusion of the situation. In truth, cases like this often affect not only the direct victim but also friends, family members, and even the wider community. Kendra was later arrested and sentenced, but many people wonder why her punishment was so short. From a therapeutic point of view, I agree that the sentence feels small compared to the deep emotional harm caused. Emotional abuse may not leave physical scars, but its impact can last a lifetime. Survivors may struggle with anxiety, depression, broken trust, and difficulty in relationships for many years.

There are also lessons to learn here. Technology can make abuse harder to detect, since it allows people to hide behind fake numbers or apps. Families, schools, and communities need to pay closer attention to what young people are going through, both online and offline. We also need to take emotional abuse as seriously as physical abuse.

For Lauryn and Owen, the real journey now is healing. Therapy, open support, and safe spaces will be important in helping them rebuild confidence, trust, and a sense of security. The legal system can punish wrongdoing, but emotional recovery takes time, compassion, and consistent care.

As I watched this story, what struck me most was how easily society can overlook emotional abuse. We must remember that abuse is not only physical. Words, threats, and manipulation can damage a person just as much, sometimes even more. As professionals and as a community, we need to keep speaking up, offering support, and creating awareness so that cases like this are not repeated.