Category Archives: Therapy

Toxic Relationship Recovery

Toxic relationship recovery is always challenging and often complicated. And the aftermath of a toxic relationship can be just as challenging as the relationship itself.

Understanding Metanarcissistic Characters

Some disturbed characters exhibit a pathology that goes well beyond their narcissism. The folks I call the “aggressive personalities” fit this category.

It Takes a Village – But What Kind?

For a child – or even an adult – to grow positively in character, it indeed takes a village. But the kind of village matters. A community or culture that promotes attitudes of entitlement, excessive self-focus, instant gratification, poor self-regulation, etc. will only help produce individuals impaired in their capacity to relate to others in wholesome, productive ways. That’s what character disturbance is all about. 

Why You’re Probably Not Codependent

Many folks who think they’re codependent, or have been labeled so, actually aren’t! Are you one of them? Maybe you’re one of those folks who got manipulated into a situation of forced dependency, making it extra hard for you to break free. Labeling you codependent can be just one more form of abuse.

Revisiting the Character Disturbance Spectrum

The character disturbance spectrum is vast, yet poorly understood. But getting it right is essential for true personal empowerment.

The Lying and Deception Spectrum

For some disturbed characters “thinking makes it so.” In other words, reality or truth is what they say it is.

Looking Good Vs. Being Good: Impression Management 101

Personal empowerment is largely about appreciating how different looking good is from being good. It’s also about recognizing and understanding the wide spectrum of character disturbance we experience these days and how to deal with it.