EMDR Therapy for Narcissistic Abuse

It Was Abuse. It Was Real. And You Deserve to Heal.

Survivors of narcissistic and emotionally abusive relationships often know something was wrong but still question themselves. EMDR therapy helps you stop second-guessing and start recovering.

Book a 15-min Free Consultation

WHAT I OFTEN HEAR

'Was It Really Abuse?'

It’s normal to question whether your experience was “bad enough” to count as abuse. Sometimes the signs aren’t as easy to recognize, but that doesn’t make them any less valid. 

 

Abuse can take many forms, and it often doesn’t start with physical violence. It might involve manipulative tactics like gaslighting, where you’re made to feel unsure of your reality or experiences. You may have been subjected to narcissistic abuse, where your emotions were invalidated, or you were constantly blamed and criticized.

 

That’s exactly where EMDR helps. Not by convincing you of anything, but by helping your nervous system release the grip of what it went through — so you can think clearly again and reconnect with your own sense of truth.

WHAT BRINGS SURVIVORS HERE

Emotional Abuse Leaves Real Wounds

GASLIGHTING

Doubting Your Own Reality

Being told your memory is wrong, your feelings are irrational, or that things didn't happen the way you remember. Over time, you stop trusting yourself.

TRAUMA BONDING

Still Missing Them

Feeling attached to someone who hurt you or cycling between wanting them back and knowing you shouldn't.

COERCIVE CONTROL

Isolation & Monitoring

Being cut off from friends and family, having your movements controlled, or feeling like you had to ask permission to exist in your own life.

EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION

Always Being the Problem

No matter what happened, it was somehow your fault. Constant blame, criticism, and emotional invalidation that wore down your confidence over time.

CONFUSION AFTER LEAVING

Still Feeling Stuck

Even after the relationship ends, the anxiety, hypervigilance, and intrusive thoughts don't just stop. Your nervous system is still on high alert.

IDENTITY LOSS

Not Knowing Who You Are

After years in a relationship that defined your value through someone else's approval, reconnecting with your own thoughts, preferences, and needs takes time.

HOW WE WORK TOGETHER

Healing At Your Own Pace

I work from a trauma-informed framework, which means I never assume, push, or pathologize. If desired, I can incorporate a faith-based perspective. I welcome clients of all backgrounds and belief systems.

Sessions are virtual via secure telehealth, available in Texas, Arizona, Virginia, Florida, and South Carolina.

01
Stabilization First

Before processing any trauma, we build grounding skills and coping tools so you feel steady between sessions, especially important if you are still in contact with the person.

02
Processing with EMDR

We target specific memories and the beliefs they created, such as “I’m the problem,” “I deserved it,” “I can’t trust myself,” and help the brain reprocess them so they lose their charge.

03
Rebuilding Self-Trust

As trauma memories become less overwhelming, we work on reconnecting with your own sense of judgment, identity, and capacity to trust, both yourself and others.

04
Moving Forward

We do not just focus on the past. We build clarity about who you are now and what you want your life to look like going forward, on your terms.

QUESTIONS

Things People Often Ask

Have a specific question? Bring it to the free 15-min call,

Book Free Call

EMDR therapy helps survivors of narcissistic abuse process trauma, rebuild confidence, and reduce triggers by using eye movements or tapping to safely reprocess painful experiences.

Catrina Drinning-Davis, LPC-S, provides online EMDR therapy for survivors in:

  • Texas: Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and throughout the state
  • Arizona: Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, and anywhere in Arizona
  • Virginia: Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and across Virginia
  • Florida: Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, and all of Florida
  • South Carolina: Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and statewide in South Carolina

Yes, though we begin with stabilization and safety planning first. You will learn coping strategies and grounding tools before processing trauma memories. EMDR can help you strengthen boundaries, improve emotional regulation, and respond with clarity rather than fear.

That’s completely okay. Many survivors of narcissistic abuse question their experiences because gaslighting and emotional manipulation create confusion. Therapy is a safe space to explore what happened and begin to understand it without judgment. You can also download the free Types of Abuse Worksheet for additional insight.

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