Therapy for Narcissistic Abuse
Specialist support to help you heal from emotional abuse, rebuild your confidence and move forward with your life
Are you wondering whether you've experienced narcissistic abuse?
Do you constantly question your own thoughts, feelings or memories?
Have you been told you're too sensitive, overreacting or imagining things so often that you've started to believe it?
Do you feel anxious, confused or as though you've lost confidence in yourself?
Are you struggling to understand whether what you experienced was narcissistic abuse?
Whether the abuse came from a narcissistic parent, partner, family member, friend or another important relationship, narcissistic abuse can leave you feeling confused, emotionally exhausted and disconnected from yourself. You may spend months or even years trying to understand what happened, replaying conversations in your mind, wondering whether you really were the problem, or feeling as though nothing you did was ever enough.
Gaslighting, manipulation, emotional abuse and coercive control can gradually undermine your confidence, making it difficult to trust your own judgement. Over time, you may begin to doubt your instincts, lose sight of your own needs, and feel as though you've lost your sense of who you are.
Why is narcissistic abuse so confusing?
One of the most confusing aspects of narcissistic abuse is that it often happens out of sight of other people. The person responsible may appear charming, caring or successful to those around them, making it difficult for others to understand your experiences. You may even find yourself questioning whether it really was abuse, particularly if there was no physical violence or obvious signs of control. This confusion is one of the reasons so many people blame themselves rather than recognising the abuse for what it was.
The effects can last long after the abuse ends
The impact of narcissistic abuse doesn't disappear overnight. You may continue to experience anxiety, low self-esteem, hypervigilance, people-pleasing, difficulty trusting yourself or others, or find yourself repeating familiar relationship patterns. These reactions are common after prolonged emotional abuse and can affect every area of your life.
The good news is that recovery is possible. Therapy for narcissistic abuse can help you make sense of what happened, understand why it affected you so deeply, rebuild trust in yourself, and move forward with greater confidence, clarity and self-belief.
You're not alone.
Your reactions make sense.
If you've experienced narcissistic abuse, you may feel like nobody else could possibly understand what you've been through. Many people tell themselves they should have recognised the warning signs sooner, spoken up, set better boundaries, walked away, or been stronger. You may wonder why you keep thinking about what happened, continue questioning yourself, or find it difficult to trust your own judgement.
You're not alone. According to the Office for National Statistics, around one in four people in England and Wales have experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16.¹ Emotional abuse, gaslighting and coercive control are far more common than many people realise, yet they often go unrecognised because they don't leave visible injuries.
Reference
¹ Office for National Statistics. Domestic abuse prevalence and trends, England and Wales: year ending March 2025.
Why didn't I see it sooner?
Narcissistic abuse rarely begins with obvious cruelty or control. It often develops gradually, making it difficult to recognise while you're living through it. Whether the abuse came from a parent, partner, family member or another significant relationship, manipulation and gaslighting can slowly erode your confidence and make you question your own thoughts, feelings and memories.
Many people don't recognise narcissistic abuse until much later. You may have hoped things would improve, believed the other person's behaviour was your fault, or gradually adapted to avoid conflict and keep the peace. Others find it difficult to set boundaries or distance themselves from the person, particularly when family relationships, children, finances or work are involved. These are common responses to a complex and controlling situation, not signs of weakness.
Recovery is possible
Recovering from narcissistic abuse takes time, but it is possible. As you begin to understand what happened and why it affected you so deeply, things often start to make more sense. In therapy, I'll help you understand the impact of narcissistic abuse, rebuild trust in yourself, strengthen your confidence, and support you in moving forward with greater clarity, healthier relationships and a stronger sense of who you are.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy for Narcissistic Abuse
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Many people come to therapy wondering whether what they experienced was "bad enough" to be called abuse. You don't need to have all the answers before reaching out. Together, we'll explore your experiences without judgement or assumptions. My focus isn't on applying labels; it's on understanding what happened, how it affected you, and helping you make sense of your experiences.
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That's completely okay. Therapy isn't about telling you what you should do or pressuring you to make decisions before you're ready. Whether you're still in the relationship, maintaining contact with a narcissistic parent or family member, or trying to work out what's best for you, I'll support you in understanding your situation, exploring your options, and making decisions that feel right for you. My role is to help you feel more informed, more confident and more in control, not to tell you how to live your life.
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Co-parenting with someone who has narcissistic traits can be emotionally exhausting. You may feel as though you're constantly managing conflict, dealing with manipulation, or worrying about the impact on your children. While therapy can't change the other person's behaviour, it can help you develop practical strategies for managing communication, maintaining healthy boundaries, reducing conflict where possible, and protecting your own emotional wellbeing.
I've supported many clients who are co-parenting with someone who has narcissistic traits, and I understand the unique challenges this can bring. Together, we'll explore practical ways to help you feel more confident, more in control, and better equipped to navigate the relationship while keeping your focus on what's best for you and your children.
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Many people worry that talking about painful experiences will leave them feeling overwhelmed or make things worse. That's why, as a trauma-informed psychotherapist, I won't ask you to revisit traumatic experiences before you feel ready. We'll begin by helping you feel safer, more emotionally stable and better able to manage difficult emotions using practical techniques such as grounding, breathing exercises, relaxation and mindfulness. Once you feel ready, we'll gradually begin making sense of your experiences together, at a pace that feels right for you.
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Yes. Therapy for narcissistic abuse can help you understand the impact of emotional abuse, gaslighting and coercive control, while supporting you to rebuild trust in yourself and develop healthier relationship patterns. Recovery isn't about forgetting what happened; it's about understanding it, reducing its impact on your life, and helping you move forward with greater confidence and self-belief.
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Recovery is different for everyone. It depends on many factors, including how long the abuse continued, the impact it had on you, and whether you're still in contact with the person. Therapy isn't about rushing your recovery. We'll work at a pace that feels safe for you, helping you build emotional stability, understand your experiences and develop lasting confidence in yourself.
Rebuild your confidence, trust yourself again, and move forward
Recovering from narcissistic abuse is about much more than understanding what happened. Whether the abuse came from a parent, partner, family member or another important relationship, its effects can continue long afterwards, leaving you questioning your judgement, doubting your instincts and struggling to trust yourself.
Therapy for narcissistic abuse offers much more than a place to talk. Together, we'll make sense of what happened, understand why it affected you so deeply, and identify the patterns that may still be influencing your life today. As things begin to make sense, many people find they become less self-critical, feel more confident in their decisions, and begin trusting themselves again.
Building safety and emotional stability
One of the first goals of therapy for narcissistic abuse is helping you feel safe, emotionally stable and more in control. You may feel constantly anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, or find yourself reacting in ways you don't fully understand. Before we begin exploring painful experiences, my priority is helping you feel safe, emotionally stable and more in control.
As a trauma-informed psychotherapist, I won't ask you to revisit traumatic experiences before you're ready. Instead, I'll teach you practical techniques such as grounding, breathing exercises, relaxation and mindfulness, adapting them to fit into your everyday life. These aren't simply coping strategies - they're designed to help regulate your nervous system so you feel calmer, think more clearly, and respond rather than react, particularly outside of our sessions.
Understanding why it happened
Many survivors of narcissistic abuse tell me they feel as though they're going crazy after what they've experienced. One of the most powerful parts of therapy is understanding that your reactions make sense. I'll help you understand how gaslighting, coercive control, emotional abuse and trauma responses can affect your thoughts, emotions and relationships. For many people, understanding the psychology behind the abuse is the moment self-blame begins to lift.
We'll also explore the relationship patterns that may have made you vulnerable to manipulation - not because you caused the abuse, but because understanding these patterns helps you recognise unhealthy relationships earlier, strengthen boundaries, and make different choices in the future. My aim isn't simply to help you recover from narcissistic abuse; it's to help reduce the chances of history repeating itself.
Working together to create lasting change
I'm warm, approachable and easy to talk to, but I'm also direct, honest and collaborative. I won't simply sit and nod. I'll ask thoughtful questions, notice patterns you may not have seen, share my observations, and gently challenge you when I think it will help. I see therapy as a collaborative process where we work together as equals, helping you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and create meaningful, lasting change.
Drawing on attachment theory and trauma-informed approaches, I'll tailor therapy to your individual needs rather than expecting you to fit a particular model. Whether the abuse happened recently or many years ago, I'll work alongside you to help you rebuild trust in yourself, develop healthier relationships, and create a life that is no longer defined by what happened to you.
How I Work
Much of my practice is dedicated to supporting people recovering from narcissistic abuse, emotional abuse and coercive control. This depth of experience means I understand the confusion, self-doubt and lasting impact these experiences can have, and how to support people in rebuilding their confidence and sense of self.
I'm trauma-informed, which means we'll work at a pace that feels safe for you. We'll focus on building emotional stability before exploring painful experiences, helping you feel more in control throughout the therapeutic process.
I combine psychological understanding with practical strategies. Alongside exploring your experiences, I'll teach grounding, breathing, relaxation and mindfulness techniques to help you manage overwhelming emotions and feel more in control between sessions.
I don't believe therapy should be one-size-fits-all. I draw on attachment theory and other trauma-informed approaches, tailoring therapy to your individual needs and goals.
I'm warm, approachable and collaborative, but I'm also direct and honest. I'll ask thoughtful questions, notice patterns you may not have seen, share my observations and gently challenge you when it feels helpful. We'll work together as equals to create meaningful, lasting change.
I'm a UKCP-registered Psychotherapist, offering online therapy across the UK.
Ready to begin your recovery from narcissistic abuse?
If you're looking for therapy for narcissistic abuse, taking the first step can feel daunting. Whether you're still trying to make sense of your experiences or you feel ready to begin therapy, I'm here to help.
If you'd like to find out more about how I work, or you're wondering whether we'd be a good fit, please get in touch. I'm happy to answer your questions before you decide whether to book an initial appointment.
Contact Me
