Gaslighting: Help Clients Escape and Rebuild from a Narcissist's Emotional Abuse

CPD

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Stephanie Sarkis, PhD, NCC, DCMHS, LMHC Related seminars and products

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Dr. Stephanie Sarkis is a renowned therapist and leading expert on gaslighting. With over two decades of experience as a clinician, author, and speaker, Dr. Sarkis has become a trusted voice in the fight against gaslighting and related forms of psychological manipulation. Her groundbreaking book, Gaslighting: Recognize Manipulative and Emotionally Abusive People – and Break Free, has become a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the devastating impact of gaslighting and how to heal from its effects. She was named a diplomate and clinical mental health specialist in child and adolescent counseling by the American Mental Health Counselors Association, one of only 20 professionals in the United States with this dual designation. Dr. Sarkis is also a national certified counselor, licensed mental health counselor, and a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family and Circuit Mediator. She has been in private practice for over 20 years. Dr. Sarkis is a senior contributor for Forbes online and is also a contributor to Psychology Today. Her Psychology Today posts have been viewed over 70 million times. Her Psychology Today article “11 Red Flags of Gaslighting in a Relationship” went viral, with over 15 million views. She has taught the graduate-level classes Diagnosis and Assessment of Mental Health Disorders in addition to Law and Ethics of Counseling at the University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Sarkis earned a PhD, EdS, and MEd in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida, named by US News and World Report as the top counselor education program in the country. Dr. Sarkis has appeared on CNN, 10% Happier with Dan Harris, Sirius XM Doctor Radio, ABC (U.S.), ABC (Australia), in USA Today, The Washington Post, Newsweek, and many more media outlets. Her research on comorbid ADHD and its impact on pediatric executive function was published in the Journal of Attention Disorders. She hosts the Talking Brains podcast and is based in Tampa, Florida. Her latest book Healing from Toxic Relationships is available now. Visit her website at www.stephaniesarkis.com.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Stephanie Moulton Sarkis maintains a private practice. She serves as a contributor to Forbes, The Huffington Post, and Psychology Today and is an advisory panel member for Evergreen Certifications. Dr. Sarkis is a facilitator for Collaborative Divorce. She receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Stephanie Moulton Sarkis is a professional expert for Understood.org, part of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. She is a member of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder, and the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Objectives

1. Utilize solution focused, cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to address victims of emotional abuse.
2. Differentiate between abusive behaviours defined as “gaslighting”, poor communication, and other forms of emotional abuse.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based practices to address emotional abuse
4. Determine whether a client is experiencing complicated grief as a result of leaving their abuser using techniques from attachment and complicated grief therapy.
5. Utilize clinical strategies from a trauma-informed perspective to identify vulnerabilities and trauma that abusers prey upon.
6. Educate clients to identify potential abusive behaviour in future relationships.

Outline

A More Dangerous Form of Emotional Abuse

• Potential for domestic homicide is higher
• Lifetime attachment issues for children witnessing the abuse
• Parental alienation
• Chronic loss of self-esteem; higher suicide rates
• Gaslighting probability higher in men

Warning Signs of Gaslighting

• Intermittent positive reinforcement (breadcrumbing)
• Slow spiral into instability
• Compulsive lying with malicious intent
• Jekyll and Hyde personality

Unpacking Profile of Perpetrator

• Narcissist, sociopath, or learned behaviour? Nature/nurture
• Demands absolute loyalty, never gives it in return
• Chronic pattern of infidelity
• May be very charismatic
• They’ll only attend couples therapy, never individual
• Gaslighting the therapist
• Case study: 38-year-old male, gaslighting his partner

Recognizing Gaslighting Abuse in Clients

• Disconnected and isolated from family and friends
• Blames self for abuse
• Difficulty recognizing gradual build of abuse
• Ruminates on how to “fix” relationship
• Abuse in family of origin
• Increase in anxious attachment style traits
• Given up independence, including job and solo activities
• Enters therapy because they view themselves as the “problem”

Healing from Family-of-Origin and Complicated Grief

• Insecure attachment
• Permission to detach, reduce, or cease communication
• Sticking to healthy boundaries
• Reverse relationship patterns
• Case study: Cassie, 60-year-old female, family of-origin engages in gaslighting

Help Clients Rebuild Their Lives

• Effective strategies for co-parenting with gaslighter
• Legal protections for clients and their children
• Formation of healthy boundaries
• Case study: Jamie, 45-years-old, co-parenting with a narcissist
• Case study: 35-years-old, co-parenting with gaslighting ex-partner

Potential Pitfalls for Therapists

• Triangulation of therapist
• Being swayed by gaslighter’s charisma
• Frustration over client returning to relationship
• Pushing own agenda of client independence
• Vicarious traumatization and burnout

Target Audience

• Counselors
• Social workers
• Psychologists
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Mental health professionals who specialize in women’s issues, work in domestic violence shelters, work with LGBTQIA+ clients
• Therapists that work in private practice, group settings, inpatient, and at schools

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