Elizabeth Trautwein, LPC LMHC 
Q. I’m not sure if my parent was narcissistic and I don’t feel comfortable giving them that label, but I have many of the characteristics listed for an adult child of a narcissist. What does this mean? Narcissism is a heavy label to give someone, especially if it’s your parent. People can have narcissistic traits … Read more
Q-I’ve realized my parent (or partner) may be narcissistic and my world feels shattered. Now what? Coming to the realization that you have been in or are in a relationship with someone who is narcissistic can dismantle your sense of the world. Whether it’s your parent or partner, you probably feel unsettled after this discovery; … Read more
Mother’s Day is right around the corner. While most families take this time to shower the mothers in their lives with love and gratitude, what do you do when you have a narcissistic mother? If you grew up with a self-centered or toxic mother, you may be feeling guilt about not wanting to celebrate her … Read more
Narcissism seems to be a bit of a buzzword these days. The name gets thrown around to label family members, bosses, and political figures. Some are deserving and some maybe not. How do you know? And what about narcissistic abuse? Can someone who is not a narcissist still be narcissistically abusive? You may have been … Read more
If you are considering going ‘no-contact’ with a narcissistic step-parent you are not alone. Many people just like you are wrestling with this same question. When we think of a narcissistic step-parent, Cinderella is the first story that comes to mind. We often picture Cinderella at the end of her story. The magical pumpkin that … Read more
Someone asked me recently why I love to work with those impacted by narcissistic abuse. The truth is, it’s a deeply personal reason. My journey through life includes having to heal from narcissistic abuse myself. I know what it is like to tell someone about the experience and have them look at you blankly. They … Read more
Recognizing you are in (or have been in) a narcissistic abusive relationship is a lonely and isolating experience. Most people have never even heard the term narcissistic abuse, let alone understand how damaging it is. So you may find yourself looking for healing from narcissistic abuse, but when you look around, no one seems to … Read more