by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
The cycle of abuse by a narcissist is frustrating. It begins with an upsetting event. The narcissist, feeling threatened, then reacts abusively. Tired of the assault, the abused defensively fights back. The narcissist justifies the abused behavior as further evidence that the narcissist is being abused. Once the abused have given in or up, the… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Has sex become something your clients just do rather than enjoy? Do they feel pressured into having sex? Is it possible to be sexually abused in a marital relationship? Sexual abuse can happen to both men and women in and out of a marital relationship. In a relationship with a narcissist, however, that abuse becomes magnified…. (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Narcissistic verbal abuse is powerful. A talented narcissist can wear down your client and then spin them around so fast before they realize what has happened. Somehow, the narcissist has convinced them that what is up is really down and the verbal assaults are actually your client’s fault. For this reason, verbal abuse is a… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
At first glance, a sociopath may be difficult to identify at work. They generally don’t draw attention because they have no internal need to socialize or interact with co-workers unless there is something to be gained from the experience. When they choose to intermingle, they present as charming, intelligent, balanced, sexy, and yet seemingly harmless…. (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Mental abuse is difficult to assess. Unlike physical abuse where there are visible marks, mental abuse leaves no marks but its effect is just as damaging. One of the tactics of mental abuse is a term coined gaslighting. Understanding this scheme better can help prevent more victims and heal those who have already been victimized…. (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Divorce is hard. No healthy person enters into a marriage for the sole purpose of getting a divorce. Marriage is designed to be a long-term loving commitment between two people. But each person brings baggage into the marriage which can cause one or both spouses to act out inappropriately. Prolonged, unrepentant damage often leads to… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Some of the most stimulating therapy sessions are from clients who have Anti-Social Personality Disorder. There is never a dull moment. Their stories are fascinating and fabricated, their perception is unnerving and improbable, and their behavior is eccentric and luring. But with them comes the unpredictability of the next session and the likelihood that not… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
A bruise is not a requirement for proof of abusive behavior. There are many other ways a person can be abused. Abuse can be manipulation, exploitation, maltreatment, neglect, violence, cruelty, harm, hurt, ill-treatment, and exploitive. The seven ways it is manifested are physical, mental, verbal, emotional, financial, sexual, and spiritual. The following list is not… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
It is apparent that something is out of sorts. At first, the person who was extremely charming, almost too good to be real has now become intimidating, demanding, and even threatening. The pathological lying over trivial matters, even when caught, can no longer be ignored. They are unreliable, unrelenting, irresponsible, disruptive, outrageous, traumatizing, insincere, unrepentant,… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
One of the many consequences of abusive behavior is a change in the victim’s thinking patterns. After years of badgering, the victim finally adopts the abuser’s distorted reasoning. In many cases, the victim does not become an abuser. Rather, as they attempt to minimize further abuse, their survivor instincts take over in anticipation of the… (more…)