TARGETED, DEPTH-ORIENTED THERAPY

Help for People Pleasers and Adult Children of Narcissists

It’s daunting to ask for help when you’re the one everyone turns to for support. You work so hard, caring for others’ needs.  It's your turn to rest, and I am here to help.

Boundary experts say “No,” is a complete sentence.  Intellectually, you get this, but time and again you find yourself saying yes. It’s a frustrating pattern, but saying yes to others feels like the right thing to do, even if you’re running on empty. 

If this is your story, please know that you are not alone. It is possible to set limits to protect yourself while also nurturing healthy relationships. Therapy can help you find your voice.

Complex relational trauma casts a long shadow

Chronic, daily exposure to traumatic and hurtful experiences makes it difficult to trust yourself and others. The unpredictability and confusion can leave you feeling unsafe and unable to access your feelings. This experience is often accompanied by profound loneliness and complicated grief.  As a licensed psychologist specializing in healing trauma, I respect the impact these experiences can have. 

In therapy, we’ll work together to unpack and process your experiences, including the intricacies of grieving the family connections you longed for but rarely had.  With empathy, compassion, and (yes) humor, we will acknowledge your pain, anger, sadness, guilt, and confusion while also uncovering your resilience, strength, and courage.  We are not defined by our past.  I’m here to be your guide as you move towards healing and self-discovery.

From this work, you’ll develop compassion for your own needs, learn to trust yourself, become a cycle-breaker of intergenerational trauma, and have the relationships you’ve always wanted.

THE PROCESS OF THERAPY

How We’ll Work Together

Schedule a Consultation

To ensure goodness of fit, schedule a free 15-minute video or phone consultation. During this call, we’ll discuss what you’d like to explore in therapy and how I can support you in this journey, including the results you’re hoping to see and logistics.

Initial Appointment

During our first session, we’ll spend 60-70 minutes talking about what has led you to therapy. This session often feels like a thorough but informal interview. I’ll listen deeply to discern your needs and preferences.

Ongoing Sessions

For the first month of therapy, weekly sessions are the norm. We’ll collaborate on goals and plans to achieve results based on what matters most to you. We’ll identify potential barriers and implement strategies to conquer them. Most importantly, I’ll hold space for you to rest, heal, and grow.

If you are a people pleaser or grew up with a narcissistic parent, you may often feel:

  • Torn and unsure of yourself

  • Afraid to trust yourself or anyone else

  • Frustrated by your inability to move past toxic or abusive relationships

  • Hesitant to rely on anyone or receive help

  • Desperate for authentic, real connection

  • Annoyed by your inability to set healthy limits

  • Exhausted by overanalysis and worrying about the best decision

  • Tired of being a perpetual caregiver

  • Overwhelmed and confused

  • Sad that you never feel good enough

BREAKING LIFELONG PATTERNS IS HARD WORK

BUT I AM HERE TO HELP YOU CREATE THE LIFE YOU YEARN FOR. THERAPY CAN HELP YOU…

  • Say no without feeling guilty or second guessing yourself

  • Recognize and effectively respond to unacceptable behavior

  • Turn down the volume of your inner critic

  • Feel more confident making decisions

  • Stop people pleasing and abandoning yourself

  • Lean into healthy relationships and habits

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Narcissistic abuse or narcissistic fallout is a form of abuse stemming from exposure to narcissistic behaviors. The abuse can range from mild to severe and falls into a number of categories: emotional, mental, spiritual, social, financial, physical, or sexual.

    Narcissists use a variety of coping mechanisms to protect themselves from pain, many of which are harmful to others. Listed below are common narcissistic behaviors:

    DIMMER Patterns of Behavior

    • Dismissiveness

    • Invalidation

    • Minimization

    • Manipulation

    • Entitlement

    • Rage and Reactivity

    Common behaviors and tactics in narcissistic families:

    • Favoritism (e.g., one child receives preferential treatment)

    • Gaslighting

    • Moving the goalpost (“You earned an A, but why not an A+?”)

    • Sweeping things under the rug

    • Flying monkeys

    • Withdrawing/withholding affection

    • Threats

    • Bait and switch

    • Love bombing

    • Guilt trips

    • Smear campaigns

    • Infantilizing adult children

  • I hold a doctorate in clinical psychology and have been in practice for over 20 years. I enjoy providing therapy to a variety of adults including entrepreneurs, high-achieving and successful professionals (e.g., executives, lawyers, physicians, software engineers, thought leaders, and more), parents who want to be better parents than their predecessors, and creative types. I specialize in working with adults who experienced relational wounds in childhood and adult children of narcissists.

    I’ve worked with Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a leading expert on narcissism, as well as Dr. Lindsay Gibson for specialized training with this population. I am currently in a mentorship program with Amy Marlow-McCoy, M.Ed., LPC, co-author of The Clinician’s Guide to Treating Adult Children of Narcissists: Pulling Back the Curtain on Manipulation, Gaslighting, and Emotional Abuse in Narcissistic Families. I have extensive training in childhood emotional neglect, trauma and PTSD, and Brainspotting to better serve my clients.

    To learn more about my qualifications and specialized training, please visit my About Page.

  • To ensure that I am a good fit for you, click the button below to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.