Narcissistic Abuse

"This book covers everything from the phases of narcissistic abuse to ways to break the trauma bond and heal. Vanessa provides education on how to disallow victim blaming and the differences between shame and guilt. Her approach is evidence based, clinical and integrated with a no-nonsense approach. All survivors need to feel empowered and most importantly heard.”

 —Gretchen Carlson, Journalist, Co-Founder Lift Our Voices, Female Empowerment Advocate and Best-Selling Author

Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide To Identifying, Escaping, and Healing from Toxic and Manipulative People is a validating and compassionate reference which provides clinicians and survivors with the vocabulary for what happens in these relationships, and tools to manage what can feel like a hopeless situation.  Vanessa Reiser clearly points out the parallels between narcissistic relational behaviors, domestic abuse, and cultic systems, and provides all readers with comprehensive and accessible tools to cope, heal, and safely disengage from invalidating and manipulative relationships. 
 —Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Clinical Psychologist, Professor Emerita of Psychology, California State University Los Angeles, and New York Times and International Bestselling Author of It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People

“Most books on narcissistic abuse just talk about the narcissist's behaviors and the red flags, but this one is different. Vanessa M. Reiser (Joan of Narc) looks at the bigger picture of mind control, using real-world cult examples to explain her points. She shares relatable stories about how narcissists manipulate any relationship, whether it’s just two people, a small group, or even hundreds. It’s the same pattern at every scale!” 

“If you feel like you are treading water and cannot seem to find your footing, Vanessa M. Reiser provides hope, knowledge, validation and a true clinical understanding so that you can become free from the vortex of cognitive dissonance and confusion that the narcissist purposefully spins you and entraps you in.  She understands the family court system and ways to protect yourself.  Her insights are authentic, well-studied, documented and corroborated not just because she has experienced it, herself, but because she has made it her life’s work to shine a light on pathological behaviors to help people not only recover but identify behaviors of abusers on a micro and macro scale so that future generations can also be insulated from dangerous people.”—Tina Swithin, author of Divorcing a Narcissist, founder of One Mom's Battle and advocate for family court reform

“Vanessa M. Reiser's book on narcissistic abuse offers a truly unique perspective on the complex and often misunderstood topic of narcissistic mind control. By drawing parallels between narcissistic relationships and cult dynamics, the author provides readers with a fresh and intriguing lens through which to view manipulative behaviors and mind-control tactics. Vanessa’s clinical understanding and ground-breaking insights make this book a must-have for your reading list.” 

“Vanessa M. Reiser is one of the most authentic, compassionate, and skilled clinicians I know in the mental health field. Her insights regarding narcissistic abuse and cult abuse are spot-on, not only because has she experienced it first-hand, but because of the thousands of hours she’s spend working with clients who have also experienced trauma at the hands of a narcissist/cult-leader. She fuses the concepts of narcissistic abuse and cult abuse in a way that helps you deconstruct the concepts of mind-control and manipulation in the most clarifying way.”

“Being in a narcissistic relationship can leave you feeling helpless, confused, isolated, and shameful. It can be extremely difficult to make sense of what is happening to you, making it difficult to leave. Vanessa M. Reiser breaks down these patterns in a comprehensive yet extremely empathetic way, making the reader feel seen without judgement. No matter where you may be in your healing journey, no matter what type of relationship you are in, Vanessa’s book offers survivors compassion, direction, and a sense of empowerment to reclaim their sense of self.”  

“Vanessa M. Reiser’s book is not only vital for anyone seeking to understand the dynamics of abuse endured, but ideally it ought to be required reading for young people--or anyone at all--so that this kind of abuse may be prevented. Vanessa's warmth and wisdom shine through in the way she breaks down this complicated subject in a useful and relatable way.”—Sarma Melngailis, author and businesswoman