by Christine Hammond on October 31, 2017
Beneath all of that bravado and charm lies a hidden secret the narcissist doesn’t want you to find. They will do anything to protect their secret from you. They might lie about it. Or they might divert your attention with an innovative story. Or they might project their secret onto you. Come close to figuring… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Have your clients experienced a time when their narcissistic spouse lost control and became scary angry? Did they cause physical pain? Do your clients feel that somehow they provoked it? Narcissistic spouses will blame others for their abusive behavior. “You made me upset,” “If you won’t say this (or act that way), then I won’t… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Sometimes the charm of a narcissist inhibits your client from seeing the narcissism. When your client first met their spouse, there was something about them that was enticing. It seemed like an irresistible pull to someone who so perfectly matched their needs and wants. However, the fairy tale engagement and marriage came to an abrupt… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
The cycle of abuse Lenore Walker (1979) coined tension building, acting-out, reconciliation/honeymoon, and calm is useful in most abusive relationships. However, when a narcissist is an abuser, the cycle looks different. Narcissism changes the back end of the cycle because the narcissist is constantly self-centered and unwilling to admit fault. Their need to be superior,… (more…)
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
Too often, narcissism is portrayed as an overly aggressive male disorder. It is not. Females can be narcissistic as well although it might look a bit different from males. Meryl Streep in her role as Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada” did an excellent job portraying a narcissistic female boss. Michelle Pfieffer did as… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Perhaps the best portrayal of a narcissistic boss is Meryl Streep in her film role as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada (2006). The fear and intimidation she exudes in her employees is a classic example of narcissism. While watching it on the screen may be entertaining, it is not that way when you work for one…. (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…)