Support During & After
Narcissistic or Antagonistic Relationships
Online Australia-Wide
When a relationship leaves you feeling confused, diminished, constantly on edge or unsure of yourself, it can be difficult to make sense of what you're experiencing.
You may be questioning whether the relationship is emotionally abusive, wondering if your partner's behaviour reflects narcissistic or antagonistic patterns, or trying to recover after leaving a difficult relationship.
Confidential · Secure telehealth · No referral required
You may be experiencing...
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feeling as though you are constantly walking on eggshells
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being repeatedly criticised, dismissed or invalidated
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questioning your own memories, perceptions or reactions
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experiencing gaslighting or manipulation
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finding yourself repeatedly apologising or taking responsibility for problems
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struggling to establish or maintain boundaries
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feeling increasingly isolated or disconnected from yourself
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experiencing cycles of conflict, withdrawal, reconciliation and renewed conflict
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feeling confused about why you stay or why leaving feels so difficult
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experiencing a significant loss of confidence after the relationship
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continuing to deal with a former partner because you share children
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trying to rebuild your life and sense of self after leaving
You don't need to have everything figured out before coming to counselling. You can begin with what you know: something about this relationship has been difficult, and it's affecting you.
What are narcissistic and antagonistic relationship dynamics?
The terms narcissistic abuse and antagonistic relationships are often used to describe relationship patterns involving manipulation, hostility, entitlement, control, chronic criticism, invalidation or a persistent lack of consideration for another person's needs.
These dynamics can occur in intimate relationships, family relationships and other significant relationships.
Not every difficult relationship involves narcissistic or antagonistic patterns, and counselling does not require determining whether another person has a particular diagnosis.
Instead, the focus is on understanding the relationship dynamics you've experienced and their impact on you.
When you're still in the relationship
You might be trying to:
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understand what's happening in the relationship
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make sense of recurring patterns
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strengthen your boundaries
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communicate more clearly
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understand your own responses
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decide what you want from the relationship
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consider whether remaining in the relationship is right for you
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prepare for or navigate separation
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manage ongoing conflict or difficult interactions
Individual counselling may be more appropriate where there are concerns about coercion, intimidation, abuse or safety.
After you've left
Leaving doesn't necessarily mean the relationship is over emotionally.
You might still be:
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questioning what happened
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grieving the relationship you hoped you had
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struggling with guilt or self-doubt
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rebuilding your confidence
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learning to trust your own judgement again
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establishing boundaries with an ex-partner
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navigating co-parenting or ongoing contact
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experiencing strong emotional reactions to reminders of the relationship
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trying to understand why the relationship affected you so deeply
Recovery can involve more than simply putting the relationship behind you. It can involve making sense of your experiences, understanding patterns, rebuilding your sense of self and developing relationships and boundaries that feel healthier going forward.
How narcissistic abuse counselling can help
First, We Stabilise
Create space to understand what you're experiencing and develop strategies for managing emotional overwhelm, conflict and difficult interactions.
Then, We Understand
Explore relationship patterns, boundaries, attachment, communication and the impact the relationship has had on your sense of self.
Finally, We Rebuild
Work toward greater self-trust, clearer boundaries, healthier relationship patterns and a stronger sense of who you are beyond the relationship.
What we might explore together
Your wellbeing & the emotional impact
Exploring how the relationship has affected your emotional wellbeing, confidence, sense of self and day-to-day life, while developing ways to support yourself through what you're experiencing.
Boundaries
Understanding your needs and boundaries, and exploring ways to communicate and maintain them in relationships where boundaries may have been difficult to establish.
Gaslighting & self-doubt
Exploring the impact of having your experiences questioned, dismissed or contradicted, and rebuilding confidence in your own perceptions and judgement.
Relationship patterns
Making sense of recurring patterns of conflict, withdrawal, criticism, reconciliation and disconnection, and considering what you want to do differently moving forward.
Self-trust & confidence
Reconnecting with your values, needs, preferences and decision-making, particularly if you've become accustomed to putting yourself second or questioning your own judgement.
Separation & recovery
Processing the end of a relationship, adjusting to life afterwards and making space for the emotional impact of what you've experienced.
Co-parenting & ongoing contact
Exploring the emotional and relational challenges that can arise when you remain connected through children, including boundaries and communication.
Rebuilding your sense of self
Exploring who you are beyond the relationship and reconnecting with the parts of yourself, your relationships and your life that may have become diminished or lost.
You don't have to diagnose your partner
You don't need to know whether they are a narcissist.
You may have found yourself searching online for answers:
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Is my partner a narcissist?
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Was I being gaslit?
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Was this emotional abuse?
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Why did I keep going back?
These questions can be an important starting point, but counselling doesn't require us to diagnose someone who isn't in the room.
Our work can focus on what you experienced, how those relationship dynamics affected you, and what you want for yourself now.
When counselling may not be appropriate
If you are experiencing violence, threats, coercive control or concerns about your immediate safety, your safety needs to come first.
Individual counselling can form part of a broader support network, but it is not a substitute for specialist domestic and family violence services or emergency support.
If you or any children are in immediate danger, please call emergency services on 000.
Why work with me?
Training in narcissistic abuse and antagonistic relationships
My work with people affected by narcissistic and antagonistic relationship dynamics is informed by training through the Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC) program with Dr Ramani Durvasula.
As a relationship counsellor, I bring this knowledge into a broader counselling approach that focuses not only on understanding difficult relationship dynamics, but also on your wellbeing, your needs and what you want for your life moving forward.
A relationship-focused approach
Relationships can have a profound effect on our emotional wellbeing and sense of self.
My approach is warm, collaborative and grounded in the belief that you don't need to have everything worked out before seeking support.
Whether you're still in the relationship, considering separation, recovering after leaving, or navigating ongoing contact with someone who has had a significant impact on your life, counselling can provide a space to slow things down, make sense of your experiences and consider your next steps.
Who this support is for
This service may be suitable if you are:
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currently in a difficult or confusing relationship
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considering separation
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recovering after a relationship has ended
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dealing with an emotionally difficult former partner
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navigating ongoing contact because you share children
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trying to rebuild confidence and self-trust
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wanting to understand recurring relationship patterns
Individual counselling is available online across Australia.