The Clinician's Guide to Treating Adult Children of Narcissists - by Amy Marlow-Macoy & Amy Kempe (Paperback)

About the Book

There is nothing in the world quite like the feeling that someone, somewhere, finally gets it. Adult children of narcissists have been conditioned to downplay, dismiss, and ignore their experiences. This survival skill of staying below the radar can cause even very skilled clinicians to miss subtle opportunities to connect. As a clinician, it is paramount that you understand the scope of what these clients have endured so you can avoid inadvertently repeating the cycle of invalidation. Drawing from decades of specialized clinical practice and illustrated with rich client stories, this essential guide provides a thorough walk-through of the assessment and treatment of narcissistic abuse so you can: - Differentiate narcissistic abuse from other forms of family conflict - Work through ethical considerations when assessing narcissism - Treat complex trauma, grief, and attachment wounds - Navigate transference, countertransference, and the person of the therapist

Book Synopsis

"As more therapists are working with clients who are excavating the fallout of having narcissistic parents, this book provides actionable guidance." --Ramani Durvasula, PhD, author of Should I Stay or Should I Go? and Don't You Know Who I Am?

There is nothing in the world quite like the feeling that someone, somewhere, finally gets it.

Adult children of narcissists have been conditioned to downplay, dismiss, and ignore their experiences. This survival skill of staying below the radar can cause even very skilled clinicians to miss subtle opportunities to connect. It is paramount that clinicians understand the scope of these clients' experiences in order to support their healing--and to avoid the common clinical mistakes and pitfalls that often lead to inadvertently repeating harmful cycles.

Drawing from decades of specialized clinical practice and illustrated with rich client stories, this essential guide provides a thorough walk-through of the assessment and treatment of narcissistic abuse so you can:

• Differentiate narcissistic abuse from other forms of family conflict
• Work through ethical considerations when assessing narcissism
• Treat complex trauma, grief, and attachment wounds
• Navigate transference, countertransference, and the person of the therapist

Review Quotes

"This book is a must-have for clinicians, whether a client's parent has narcissistic tendencies or narcissistic personality disorder. Marlow-MaCoy and Kempe approach the issue of narcissistic abuse globally, looking at the damage caused not only by the narcissistic parent but also by those who enabled them." --Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, PhD, NCC, LMHC, author of Gaslighting: Recognize Manipulative and Emotionally Abusive People--and Break Free

"As more therapists are working with clients who are excavating the fallout of having narcissistic parents, this book provides actionable guidance." --Ramani Durvasula, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist, author of Should I Stay or Should I Go? and "Don't You Know Who I Am?", and founder and CEO of LUNA Education, Training and Consulting

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"This is the most comprehensive and useful clinical training book on this population I have ever read. Remarkably readable, The Clinician's Guide to Treating Adult Children of Narcissists presents a vast amount of material in such an organized, relatable way that you know you can use it right away to do a better job. Using perfect teaching metaphors, the authors offer a rare combination of practical aids and deep insight into unconscious factors. Their sensitivity to cultural issues also provides a long overdue boost in awareness for any therapist. The client handouts, charts, and questionnaires alone are worth the purchase, but read it all to get every drop of these master clinicians' wisdom." --Lindsay Gibson, PsyD, best-selling author of Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents

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About the Author

Amy Marlow-MaCoy, MEd, LPC, focuses her practice on treating complex and developmental trauma in adults raised in narcissistic, emotionally immature, and toxic families of origin. She also provides supervision and consultation for clinicians wishing to deepen and grow their strengths in working with survivors of narcissistic abuse. She is the author of the Amazon best-selling book The Gaslighting Recovery Workbook: Healing from Emotional Abuse (Callisto Media, 2020). Amy has advanced training in multiple trauma treatment models, including IFS, EMDR, and brainspotting. She earned her master's degree from Temple University.

Amy Kempe, MS, LPC, NCC, CSAT, is a co-owner and founder of a healthcare practice focused on trauma-informed, complete medical health, mental health, nutrition, and fitness. Previously, she ran a successful private practice specializing in narcissistic abuse recovery and complex PTSD. Amy is also a certified sex addiction therapist and is trained in IFS, brainspotting, and EMDR. She earned her master's degree from Villanova University. Through her years of practice, personal exposure, and education, Amy has gained a wealth of experience supporting adult children of narcissists in healing and recovering from abusive relationships.