Safety begins not with advice, but with deep, attuned presence Some of the most powerful work we do begins with what we don’t say. Dear Colleague, Survivors often enter therapy already bracing for judgment. They’ve been blamed, doubted, and silenced. Sometimes this comes from the very systems meant to help them. When we meet their […]
Some wounds don’t show up on the skin, but they still need time and tenderness to heal. Dear Survivor, Healing after narcissistic abuse takes more than time. It takes truth, community, and a deep reconnection with your inner voice. This kind of abuse doesn’t just hurt. It confuses, isolates, and erodes your sense of self.
Healing After Narcissistic Abuse: Steps Every Survivor Should Know Read More »
How Can AI Support Survivors of Abuse? Dear Survivor, Some tools were built to help, and some were built without you in mind. If you’ve lived through emotional, physical, or psychological abuse, you already know that healing is layered. It’s quiet. It’s personal. And sometimes, it needs to happen in private. That’s where AI can
AI for Abuse Survivors: What Helps and What Hurts Read More »
Can AI Help with Narcissistic Abuse Recovery? Dear Survivor, After narcissistic abuse, even the smallest decisions can feel overwhelming. You may second guess yourself, over explain, or feel paralyzed when trying to move forward. Recovery doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in tiny steps, and sometimes, support comes from unexpected places. AI and narcissistic
A trauma-informed lens on gaslighting, manipulation, and power Some clients have no idea they are describing abuse. Dear Colleague, A client shares that their partner constantly “corrects” them, questions their memory, shifts blame and alternates between lavish praise and emotional withdrawal. They might blame themselves, wondering why they’re so sensitive or confused. This isn’t just
Recognizing Narcissistic Abuse in the Therapy Room Read More »
Control doesn’t always come with raised voices or bruises. Dear Survivor, Coercive control is one of the most overlooked forms of abuse. It is a slow unraveling of your autonomy, your confidence, and your voice. It shows up as monitoring, isolation, subtle put-downs, or rules that shift without warning. The goal is not just power.
What Is Coercive Control? A Survivor’s Guide to Emotional Abuse Read More »
Control doesn’t always come with bruises. Sometimes, it comes with silence, fear, and shrinking your truth to survive. Dear Survivor, You may not have called it control at the time. Maybe it looked like jealousy. Or concern. Or the kind of love that just wanted you “safe.” But if you ever felt like you had
How Narcissists Use Coercive Control in Relationships Read More »
Love doesn’t just disappear when someone causes harm, and that can be the hardest part. Dear Survivor, If you’ve ever found yourself missing someone who hurt you, or wondering why you still love your abusive ex, know this: you are not alone, and you are not broken. This is one of the most common and
Many of us never expected that our deepest challenge would be emotional depletion. Dear Colleague, We entered this work to make a difference. And we are. But sometimes, making space for trauma day after day takes more from us than we realize. I’ve spoken with countless providers who describe feeling detached, irritable, or numb after
Compassion Fatigue and the Cost of Caring for Survivors Read More »
Some of the hardest chains to break are the ones we can’t see. Dear Survivor, Trauma bonds don’t feel like abuse at first. They feel like hope: a promise that the love will come back, that the bad days are just a phase, that things will get better if you just try harder. These bonds
Why Survivors Struggle to Leave: The Truth About Trauma Bonds Read More »