Narcissistic Abuse & Relational Trauma

I support people who have experienced controlling, manipulative, or harmful relationships by helping them rebuild confidence, boundaries, and self-trust. Together, we work on healing emotional wounds and finding safety and clarity in their lives. 

Relational trauma is psychological harm caused by a relationship that doesn't offer the safety, stability, love, respect, validation, attention, support, and/or caregiving that someone needs and includes but is not limited to narcissistic abuse.  Trauma within relationships can be violating on a number of levels including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, financial, and spiritual.

Relational trauma may be overt or covert and include withholding, minimizing, gaslighting,  betrayal, accusations, criticism, denial, judgement, manipulation, control, and twisting the truth. This erodes confidence, self-esteem, leaving you confused, doubting yourself, questioning reality, and feeling extremely overwhelmed.  

Relational trauma is harm caused by distressing experiences within close relationships, often involving abuse, neglect, or abandonment, impacting a person's sense of self, capacity for trust, and ability to form healthy relationships.  This may include gaslighting, coercive control, abuse, manipulation, deception, projection, confusion, blame shifting, false accusations.   

Psychological trauma is the unique individual experience of an event, a series of events,  or a set of enduring conditions where a person's  ability to integrate his or her emotional experience is overwhelmed and/or the person perceives a threat to life, bodily integrity, or sanity.” (Saakvitne et al, 2000)
 

If you’ve felt like you’re never enough, constantly blamed, or questioned your own reality, you may feel like you’ve lost your sense of self. Perhaps you’ve been told you’re overreacting or that the problems are your fault, leaving you feeling unseen, unheard, or invalidated.

Have you been blamed, shamed, or punished simply for being yourself or speaking up?

You’re not alone. Relational trauma can occur in any type of relationship—families, friendships, romantic partnerships, or the workplace—and support is available to help you reclaim your sense of self and well-being.

For many, the biggest need is to have a safe space to make sense of the complex nature of what has happened or is still happening followed by support with how to heal and move forward.