Nixing the Narcissist

Chatted recently with two persons separated from partners they identified as narcissists.

These were both follow-up meetings.

The change in their disposition was truly amazing.

From scared and intimated to confident and empowered.

Both had been significantly traumatized by the experiences with their ex.

Both had also recently started medication for anxiety.

The changes they experienced were the result of the combination of treatment.

Mine wasn’t counseling or therapy, but rather, coaching.

Counseling or therapy typically focuses on one’s past or feelings and this isn’t as helpful in these situations. Dealing and managing with a narcissist requires a new skill set that counseling and therapy typically does not provide. Coaching is more about teaching and facilitating the development of new skills as a well as a better understanding of the person at issue.

The skills taught are tuned to the needs of the individual and their particular situation. This requires a specific skill set, experience and training on behalf of the service provider.

The value of the medication is to help reduce those feelings of fear and dread to better enable the new learning from the coaching. Both readily accepted and made appropriate use of the medication prescribed by their respective physician.

These persons really embraced the guidance, did the homework and applied the new strategies.

They will still be dealing with a difficult former partner, however, now they are far better equipped and feeling so.

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I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW

gary@yoursocialworker.com
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Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.