Navigating No Contact: Applying the Theory of Change Model
Explore how the Theory of Change Model applies to overcoming narcissistic abuse and scapegoating in dysfunctional families. Learn strategies for denial, action, and maintenance phases to achieve lasting healing and authenticity.
Navigating No Contact with Narcissistic Family
Discover the process of going no contact with narcissistic family members, including abuse cycles, shadow integration, and radical acceptance. Learn recovery strategies like the gray rock method and reframing limiting beliefs for scapegoats healing from emotional trauma.
Gray Rock Method: An Effective Strategy
Blake dives into the 10th strategy from his 20-part series—the Gray Rock Method. Learn how this approach helps you stay neutral and uninterested when dealing with narcissists, potentially reducing your role as a target for their narcissistic supply. Although not a perfect solution, the Gray Rock Method is a valuable tool for protecting yourself and reclaiming your peace.
Unmasking the Communal Narcissistic Mother
Explore the hidden dynamics of communal narcissistic mothers who project a perfect image while being emotionally unavailable at home. Learn about malignant normalcy, forced harmony, gaslighting, and scapegoat challenges. Discover recovery tools like differentiation, boundary setting, and protective auras for healing from narcissistic abuse in family systems.
Understanding Bowen Family Therapy and Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
This video focuses on key principles such as differentiation of self, triangulation, emotional cutoffs, and multi-generational transmission process. Blake explains how these concepts are vital for understanding and managing dysfunctional family dynamics, particularly in the context of narcissistic abuse and emotionally immature parents.
Understanding Scapegoat Recovery: An In-Depth Module on Narcissistic Family Dynamics
This episode will highlight one module of his free online course, focusing on the 'upper right' quadrant of Ken Wilber's integral theory. Learn about the physical manifestations of trauma, setting boundaries, and emotional regulation, and explore how trauma localizes in the body. Gain insights from renowned authors and practical guidance on overcoming childhood trauma and emotional immaturity in narcissistic family systems.
Why Siblings Gang Up on the Scapegoat in Narcissistic Families
Discover the scapegoat role in narcissistic family dynamics, why siblings often align against you, the impact of disenfranchised grief, and practical strategies for healing like boundary-setting and self-compassion. Gain insights from experts like Bowen and Vaknin.
Therapy and Journaling for Scapegoat Recovery from Narcissistic or Emotionally Immature Parents
Discover strategy #17 for narcissistic abuse recovery: find therapists specializing in family dynamics and emotionally immature parents, plus journaling tips (bullet journals, dictation) to objectify trauma and build self-value. Advanced IFS prompts included.
Study Narcissism and Emotional Maturity: Strategy #13
Explore Strategy #13 in Blake Anderson's 20-tip series on narcissistic abuse recovery. Gain knowledge on emotional maturity vs narcissism through expert books, practical observation, journaling, and four-quadrant perspectives to combat scapegoating and gaslighting. Toronto therapist with 13+ years experience.
Setting Boundaries with Narcissistic Family: Scapegoat Recovery Tip #1 – Strategies & Differentiation
Master boundaries in narcissistic abuse recovery with Tip #1 from Blake Anderson, RSW. Learn differentiation, challenges with narcissists, practical enforcement, and resources like Boundaries book & Dr. Ramani.
Healing from Family Scapegoating: Strategies for Going No Contact
Blake Anderson discusses the challenging role of being a scapegoat within a family dynamic and the impact of going no contact. He explores concepts from the book 'The Origins of You' which identifies wounds such as worthiness, belonging, prioritization, trust, and safety.
Understanding Narcissism: Jungian vs. Freudian Perspectives
I contrast Carl Jung's depth psychology and archetypal theories with Sam Vaknin's Freudian and object relations school perspectives. Learn about the shadow self, narcissistic personality disorder, and the dark triad as I cover insights into understanding narcissistic behaviors and their impact on relationships.
Somatic Practices for Scapegoat Recovery
Discover somatic practices for effective scapegoat recovery from narcissistic abuse. Registered therapist Blake Anderson shares body-based healing strategies, including resources like 'The Body Keeps the Score' and EMDR, to address complex trauma stored in the body. Empower your journey toward emotional freedom today.
Navigating Therapeutic Challenges in Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Insights and Interventions for NPD
Explore expert insights on NPD treatment challenges, including therapeutic interventions like schema therapy and transference-focused psychotherapy. Learn how to recover from narcissistic abuse and dysfunctional family dynamics with practical advice from therapist Blake Anderson. Discover why therapy often fails for narcissists and how victims can heal through self-reflection and boundary-setting.
Understanding Narcissists in Therapy: Challenges, Interventions, and Prospects for Change
Explore the complexities of treating narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), including communication challenges, therapeutic alliances, and prospects for change, with insights from a Toronto-based therapist with over 18 years of experience in social work and therapy.
Exploring the Dual Mothership Model: Key Insights into Narcissistic Abuse
Discover the Dual Mothership Model by Sam Vaknin, explaining co-idolization, shared fantasy, and the narcissistic abuse cycle. Gain expert insights from Richard Grannon on grieving and individuation to support healing from narcissistic relationships. Ideal for survivors seeking psychological understanding and recovery tools.
Sam Vaknin Interview: Childhood Roots of Narcissism
In this blog + video recap, I unpack my in-depth interview with leading narcissism scholar Sam Vaknin—covering how pathological narcissism forms in childhood, why emotionally absent or over-protective parenting derails a child’s sense of self, and what happens when an adult can’t tell fantasy from reality. You’ll learn the difference between simple emotional immaturity and full-blown narcissistic personality disorder, the hidden dynamics that make victims feel gas-lit, and why “no contact” is often the safest boundary. We also address the dangers of arm-chair diagnosis and offer practical guidance for anyone coping with narcissistic family members or partners.
Healing Narcissistic Families with Dr. Keith Witt
This blog post distills two expert interviews—family-systems therapist Dr. Keith Witt—into a practical roadmap for anyone grappling with narcissistic or emotionally immature relatives. Inside, you’ll learn how the four-quadrant model explains stalled emotional growth, why cluster-B traits distort entire family hierarchies, and how historic thinkers like Bowen and Mnuchin turned that insight into today’s boundary-based therapy.
5 Tips to Protect Yourself from Toxic Family Dynamics
In this post and companion video, therapist-educator Blake Anderson distills key insights from Dr. Keith Witt and narcissism expert Dr. Sam Vaknin into five actionable strategies you can start using today: mapping the whole family system with a genogram, crafting simple “kind-but-firm” boundary scripts, choosing the safest rung on the contact ladder, tracking how interactions feel instead of chasing clinical labels, and prioritizing daily self-regulation practices that rebuild confidence and calm. Whether you’re dealing with a chronically critical parent, a manipulative sibling, or the lingering echoes of a scapegoat role, you’ll walk away with clear tools to protect your mental health, depersonalize the drama, and move toward healthier, more balanced relationships.
Insights in Navigating Dysfunctional Family Dynamics
In this post and video I unpack the three frameworks I rely on most—Bowen Family Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Internal Family Systems—to show how differentiation, core emotions, and “inner parts” shape every family interaction. You’ll learn why couples get stuck in gridlock (think Gottman’s Four Horsemen), how to view narcissistic traits as an explanation rather than a label, and the role of radical acceptance and firm boundaries in protecting your peace. If you’re ready to deepen the work, an online course link is included for step-by-step tools and exercises.