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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 »
You don’t have to be sure of everything to take your next step. You just have to trust yourself enough to try. Dear Survivor, One of the most painful effects of narcissistic abuse is how it breaks your trust in your own perception. You begin to question your memory, your instincts, even your feelings. You’re
From Confusion to Clarity: Rebuilding Trust in Yourself After Narcissistic Abuse Read More »
Sometimes healing feels lonelier than being hurt. Dear Survivor, There’s a quiet grief that doesn’t get talked about enough: the loneliness that shows up after you finally see the truth. At first, awakening to realizing it is abuse can feel like relief. The fog lifts. The confusion starts to clear. But then something unexpected happens.
Realizing It Is Abuse: The Loneliness of Waking Up Read More »
Leaving doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re reclaiming your life, even if it takes more than one try. Dear Survivor, If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why can’t I just leave?”—please know you are not alone. This question carries so much pain, shame, and misunderstanding. But the truth is, leaving a narcissist is one of
Narcissistic Abuse Recovery: Why It’s So Hard to Leave a Narcissist Read More »
When power and control doesn’t stop at the door, it often follows you through your screens. Dear Survivor, A client once told me something that still sits heavy: her partner had secretly placed a tracking device on her car before a weekend recreation trip with a friend. She was shocked when she found it on
They’re Still Watching: Protect Yourself Digitally Read More »