Reveal Your Inner Strength
Counselling for Narcissistic Abuse, Antagonistic Relational Stress, Codependency/Love Addiction
Mastering the Maze: Learn How to Navigate Narcissistic & Antagonistic Relationships and Thrive using the
Inner Strength Boundary System: A²LDS
Narcissistic Abuse & Antagonistic Relational Stress
Loving Someone with Substance Use Disorder & Behavioural Addictions
Codependency /
Love Addiction
My Counselling Focus
I’m Christine, a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor, offering individuals an experienced and practical perspective on navigating a range of narcissistic relationships and antagonistic personality styles.
Whether the challenging relationship is with a partner, family member, or adult child, their influence over your time and resources can feel all-consuming. Counselling can help you reclaim your internal sense of safety and find balance in your life.
My approach is different than other Narcissistic Abuse Counsellors.
I recognize narcissism is not the only type of antagonistic personality style and yet the ongoing exposure to volatile and unpredictable behaviour from others can have similar negative effects on us.
What can I expect from counselling?
My focus begins with the effects of the narcissistic abuse and antagonistic relational stress you are currently experiencing with the understanding close relationships are not expendable when you are deeply invested.
Before there is any consideration of ending any relationship, if that is even possible, there is my Inner Strength Boundary System: A²LDS - link to blog here.
This process supports you to begin the inner work of reclaiming the parts of you that have been lost with no agenda to leave or cut-off your relationship, unless you determine otherwise as there is an aspect of your holistic safety at risk.
Or perhaps you are seeking to look at your own relationship patterns that are harming your healthier relationships and would like to explore how to respond better – link to blog here.
Working with me, you will learn how my Inner Strength Boundary System: A²LDS can provide you the framework to develop an internal sense of safety to feel more confident and secure in relationship with yourself and others.
Curious? Find the answers you’re looking for.
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Narcissism and antagonism are related but not the same. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a diagnosable mental health condition.Antagonism refers to a broader pattern of behaviors that involve hostility, manipulation, deceit, or self-centeredness, often leading to conflict in relationships. While a narcissistic personality style can contribute to antagonistic behavior, not all antagonistic individuals are narcissistic. By focusing on antagonistic behavior patterns in toxic relationship dynamics, we move away from labels and instead concentrate on identifying harmful behaviors and finding solutions to reduce their impact on you.
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It refers to the psychological and emotional strain caused by ongoing conflict, hostility, or opposition in relationships. This stress often arises in toxic dynamics, such as with a partner, family member or adult child - link to blog here.
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Antagonism can involve subtle tactics like undermining your confidence, creating tension, or making you feel responsible for their emotions or behaviour. On the other hand, coercive control can involve more overt patterns of power and control, such as isolating you from others, monitoring your activities, or controlling your decisions, often with the use of threats or intimidation leaving you fearful of retaliation. It is possible to experience both in the same relationship - link to blog here.
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No, you don’t have to leave your challenging relationship for counselling to be effective. Therapy can help you gain clarity on abusive patterns, learn how to set safe boundaries, and understand your options for navigating the relationship in a way that prioritizes your well-being and safety. The goal is to empower you with the tools learned in my Inner Strength Boundary System and insights needed to make informed decisions, whether you choose to stay or leave - link to blog here.
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Navigating a challenging relationship within a toxic family system can be particularly difficult when you do not want to walk away from your family. Therapy can provide you with the support and strategies needed to cope with unhealthy family dynamics. This process can help you establish values-based boundaries and develop ways to protect your well-being while maintaining necessary interactions with toxic family members - link to blog here.
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Narcissism and antagonism refers to specific patterns of behavior, and often, they emerge as a result of complex dynamics in the relationship. It’s important to reflect on your actions and motivations, but also to recognize that relationship stress isn’t one-sided. Therapy is a safe space to unpack your experience and your feelings around it, gain insight, and work on improving the dynamic - link to blog here.
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Therapy can provide valuable insight into the dynamics that may have led to the estrangement. Counselling guides you through reconciling the feelings of loss and hurt and prepares you to approach your children in a healthier, more open manner when reconciliation opportunities arise. Rebuilding relationships takes time and requires patience, self-reflection, and respect for boundaries. Regardless of the outcome with your children, therapy can help you to move forward in a more attuned manner to yourself and your needs - link to blog here.
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Yes, it is common, especially if the antagonistic person in your life instills feelings of shame and blame which can make you question your worth or feel like you're overreacting. Narcissistic abuse and antagonistic relational stress can leave you feeling isolated, confused, and unsure of your own experiences, which could be a reason that seeking help can feel complicated. Relational trauma is the result of ongoing psychological and emotional abuse where you deserve support and guidance in processing what you're going through. You can feel safe within yourself again, and perhaps, for the first time ever.
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You can discuss this with me during our 30-minute consultation call. For individuals in crisis, weekly sessions may be necessary until you feel more stabilized. However, most clients typically opt for sessions biweekly to monthly, as this helps maintain consistency in therapy while also keeping it affordable. Insurance coverage is available with most extended health care plans. It is your choice when you believe the time is right to end the therapeutic relationship and your decision will be respected.
Why Blue Onion?
Blue represents trust and serenity, two values I hold close and will bring into every session with you.
The onion represents, you, my client – someone who has created tight layers of protection around yourself due to relational trauma or who is currently entangled in a difficult relationship with someone with narcissistic traits or an antagonistic personality style.
You are looking for a safe and effective therapeutic process to reveal your inner strength and free yourself from the relationship stress you are facing with a partner, family member, or adult child. You value the autonomy to determine your level of participation in your challenging relationship within a judgement-free counselling space. Healing from relational trauma starts within, helping you rediscover your inner strength with every courageous step forward.
