​Finding a therapist after experiencing domestic abuse can be daunting, but the right support is crucial for healing. In this guide from DomesticShelters.org, Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS, offers practical tips to help survivors identify therapists who truly understand the complexities of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse. It covers questions to ask, such as evaluating a therapist’s experience, their therapeutic approaches, and whether they fit your emotional and financial needs. It also highlights resources to locate specialized professionals. With thoughtful advice, this article empowers survivors to take a confident step toward recovery.

Read the full article here or click the button below.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

Understanding the Consequences and How to Support Your Children
 
In families with a narcissistic parent, children often face unique challenges that can have lasting effects on their sense of self, relationships, and overall well-being. If you share children with your narcissistic ex-partner, it is likely that you have seen your children treated differently.

​One of the most prominent dynamics in these families is the designation of the “golden child” and the “scapegoat.”
 
Understanding the function of these roles for the narcissist and their consequences is crucial for protective parents who want to support their children and mitigate the harm caused by the narcissistic parent.

By Fierce Combustion

How many times do you hear women say, “I did it for my children"?
 
It’s nearly a universal answer. We sought an education or a new job to give them a better life. If they need extra care, we find a way to spend less time at work and more time with our children. We move to a better school district. We travel to find the right specialist. We throw them a birthday party when what we really need is a new bra and underwear or maybe a medical procedure with a decent copay and some recovery time.
 
This is the world that we live in. I know that I built my entire mid-twenties to mid-thirties around mothering. It’s what culture tells us is an acceptable use of our time and resources. We are praised for it. It feels good.
 
Until you do something for yourself, which may also be for your children, but the primary goal is your wellness. Then people start to talk, and those around you who benefit from your martyrdom become angry. Now, they are having to spend some of their time and resources parenting. It is appalling to society and to a partner who feels fully entitled to use all of their resources for their benefit and think that women should be the only one to sacrifice time and resources for child rearing.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

I love a good personality quiz. 
 
It always brings back memories of getting my monthly Seventeen magazine and taking the different quizzes to learn all about myself. 
 
What kind of friend am I?
 
Which new hot celeb should be dating?
 
What does my style tell others about me?
 
I loved every single one of them. And still do!
 
Now that I'm older though, there really needs to be a little bit more depth before I am going to spend the time learning more about myself through a quiz (unless I'm waiting at the dentist office).
 
How does this relate to survivors of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse?
 
Well, one of the most horrific consequences of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse is that your identity and sense of self are under attack and often completely stripped away. It can be exhausting and scary to try to figure out who you are again, what makes you tick, and then to accept and love yourself for all of those things?!?!
 
One tool you might want to add to your tool belt as you find your sense of self and learn to love and embrace who you are is the Enneagram. I recently had a conversation with my good friend and colleague, Talya Dash, LCSW, on how the enneagram can be used to find empowerment and sense of self as you heal from your abusive relationship.  Below are a few of the key takeaways from this conversation.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

Navigating post separation abuse can leave us with barely a moment to catch our breath, let alone address the profound effects of how the abuse has completely derailed our mental and physical health. Imagine discovering an approach that encourages us to pause, evaluate, and strategically alter our paths towards a more aligned sense of wellbeing.
 
That's precisely what we learned during a recent discussion with Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Stephanie Small on The Rising Beyond Podcast. Stephanie shares her deep understanding of the interplay between nutrition, mental health, and systemic societal issues.
 
Now, between the hustle and bustle of single mom life, you might be thinking, “I need this information but when do I actually have a moment to listen?”
 
I’ve got you! I’ve grabbed the top three lessons that can help recalibrate your approach to health and happiness from the episode. And if this resonates and you want a deeper dive, I hope you can make the time for yourself to listen to the full episode. You deserve it.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

How often do you find yourself saying “Yes” to something you know you do not have the time or bandwidth to take on just to avoid conflict?
 
I think this is an extremely common occurrence, especially for women. But, if you are healing from domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, or an abusive family of origin, these patterns of saying “Yes” may be more than just trying to avoid hurting someone’s feelings…these patterns likely allowed you to survive.
 
I’ve just wrapped up a conversation with my new friend Anita Sandoval on The Rising Beyond Podcast, and I feel like this episode can be used as a guide to move you from constantly fawning and people-pleasing to feeling more empowered to make decisions based on your needs and wants. Anita shared some personal experiences that were tough and led to her constantly foregoing her own needs in order to take care of an abusive partner and stay in the good graces of her family. She would likely say that challenging these patterns was not a walk in the park but was well worth it. So, pull up a chair, and let's unpack some of the lessons that can be learned from this conversation.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

Maintaining a meaningful connection with your child when stuck in a “high-conflict” co-parenting situation can be a daunting task, especially if they spend more time with your ex-partner. Strategies will be different depending on the age of your child, so in this article we’re going to share strategies specifically for older kids that can help bridge the emotional gap and foster a sense of connection despite the circumstances. If you believe that there is a strong likelihood that your child is being indoctrinated to believe lies about you, these strategies can help but likely will not be enough to completely challenge that level of conditioning. Stay tuned for future articles where we will go into more detail on these cases.
​
​Understanding the Dynamics

Navigating the complexities of maintaining a connection with your child when they spend more time with your ex-partner means taking a look at various factors. The age and development of the child, your pre-existing relationship, and their feelings toward the living situation all play a crucial role. The strategies in this article are tailored for older kids, with the understanding that these can be adapted for younger children.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

​In the high-stakes arena of family court, where the well-being of children should be in the forefront of everyone’s minds, survivors of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse are often ignored or even punished for trying to protect their children.

Navigating legal proceedings with an abusive ex can feel like an endless battle.  In Episode 60 of The Rising Beyond Podcast, Beyond Legislation: Reshaping Family Court with Lundy Bancroft, our expert guest shines a spotlight on the systemic challenges and the potential pathways to a reformed family court that truly protects the vulnerable.
 
​There are so many lessons that we can take away from this episode that features Lundy Bancroft, a leading authority on interventions for abusive men and passionate advocate for women survivors. I wanted to give you all the “Cliffs Notes” version of the top three takeaways that promise to reshape your understanding of family law, advocacy, and healing.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

Do y’all remember that ridiculous spectacle of Charlie Sheen where he basically coined the term “Winning!”  It shined a spotlight on his mental health state and was also annoying in my opinion.
​
And it feels remarkably similar to how a narcissistic ex acts after the relationship has ended and they have found ways to manipulate the family court system.

So, what does it mean in your ex’s world to win?

• ​Maintain power and control 
• Humiliate you
• Drain your finances
• Harm your relationship with family and friends
• Harm your relationship with your children
• Destroy you and “win” at all costs

The difficult part about this entire situation is that the way that our family court system is set up allows and actually seems to encourage these behaviors.  ​

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

Having a hard time falling asleep worrying about your kids?

How are they doing in school?  Are they making healthy friends?

 Am I preparing them for all that life throws at them?

Does worry about how your child is coping with the new parenting plan or worry about their safety at the other home keep you up all night and hypervigilant all day?

You are not alone. Parents worry a ton in general, however if you have experienced domestic violence or narcissistic abuse or are dealing with family court with your abuser, this is likely not an every-now-and-then issue.  You are probably chronically losing sleep.
​
Is there anything we can do about it?