Narcissism is a term often tossed around casually, but when it comes to Malignant Narcissism, we're delving into a much darker and more complex territory.

In the realm of Malignant Narcissists, there are two primary types: Overt and Covert.

Each type presents its own unique challenges and requires different strategies for coping and understanding.

In the field of Marriage and Family Therapy, few conditions are as complex and destructive as Malignant Narcissism.

As a couples therapist, I've witnessed the profound impact this personality disorder can have on relationships, families, and individuals.

Understanding the dynamics of a Malignant Narcissist is essential for anyone trying to navigate the tumultuous waters of such a relationship.

Let’s briefly overview the characteristics, behaviors, and impacts of Malignant Narcissism, all while reflecting on broader questions about the direction of the human experiment.

The degree of skill you have in handling major relationship transitions will impact the outcome of those decisions and either enhance or degrade your capacity for a deep and lasting intimate connection…

A Conflict Avoidant couple affair, like all affairs, has a straying spouse (we'll call them the involved partner or IP), and a hurt partner, who we'll call the HP).

Conflict-Avoidant couples can have either partner in the role of the Involved Partner.

The essential characteristic of Conflict Avoidant couples is a smothering blanket of civility and regulated courtesy…

sound familiar? read on…

In this post, I’ll describe both the 5 traits of a covert narcissist as well as subtypes and how these traits show up in marriage.

We’ll talk about why the covert narcissist is so hard to recognize because their wives complain that they appear so “nice” and “humble” and even anxious to please.

They seem to care about what other people think of them and they appear so helpful, and yet the Covert Narcissist is just a less happy and more complicated version of the NPD.

When one thinks of Roman Catholicism, images of grand cathedrals, incense-filled rituals, and Latin hymns might come to mind.

But what about Roman Catholic eroticism? Yes, you read that right.

As a couples therapist, I recently had the privilege of working with a couple set exploring the paradigm of Roman Catholic eroticism. Although I was a bit taken aback, I found fascinating insights into the interplay between faith, love, and intimacy.

It is a rich tapestry of cultural, religious, and historical influences that celebrate the sanctity of the body and the sacredness of desire.

Jewish eroticism has deep historical and religious foundations. It is a celebration of the sensual and the sacred.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected various aspects of life, including intimate relationships.

Recent observations suggest that patterns of infidelity in America have experienced notable shifts in the post-COVID era.

This post explores these trends, providing insights from couples therapy thought leaders to enhance our understanding.

Welcome, gentle readers, to a guide that might just save your sanity (and your marriage)!

As a couples therapist, I've seen my fair share of narcissistic behavior, especially the sneaky kind.

Covert Narcissists can be charming on the surface but manipulative underneath, making them tricky to spot.

But fear not, I'm here to help you navigate these murky waters with 26 telltale signs that your spouse might be a Covert Narcissist.

Narcissism is the bedrock of scapegoating in toxic families. It can play out in intriguing and sometimes destructive ways.

Narcissism can deeply influence family dynamics, characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a need for excessive admiration, and a lack of empathy.

In a narcissistic family system, scapegoating is a handy method to unfairly blame one family member to maintain a fragile balance or to deflect attention from deeper issues and avoid narcissistic injuries.

Scapegoating, a term popularized by family therapy pioneer Murray Bowen, is a phenomenon where one family member is unfairly blamed for various issues within the family.

When the scapegoat leaves, whether by choice or circumstance, it can lead to profound changes within the family system.

Family relationships are often complex, and one of the most challenging dynamics is the role of the family scapegoat and the resulting sibling estrangement.

Let’s explore how and why these patterns develop and cite leading researchers and thought leaders on the subject.