Betrayal and Why It Matters for Work with Clients Experiencing Narcissistic Relationships
- Betrayal trauma theory
- Apply theory to clients experiencing narcissistic abuse/antagonistic relational stress (NA/ARS)
- Betrayal, attachment, social connections, and status quo
- Range of behaviors and relational issues that can be framed as betrayal
Why Narcissistic Relationships Are So “Betrayal-Heavy”
- Narcissism, narcissistic behaviors and relational dynamics, and betrayal
- Subjective experience of clients in these relationships
- “Habituation” to betrayal that happens over time in these relationships
“Betrayal Blindness”, “Trauma Bonding”, and Other Dynamics Keeping Clients “Stuck”
- Define betrayal blindness and trauma bonding
- Who gets stuck in these relationships
- Strategies to validate clients and help “unstick” them from schemas that result in self-blame


