Always Worried About What Others Think? Heal Codependency with True Health Counselling

By Tracey Nguyen, True Health Counselling, Published August 23, 2025

Are You Trapped by Codependency’s Grip?

Do you hold back from speaking your truth, fearing anger, rejection, or dismissal from a narcissistic partner, parent, or boss? Are you constantly people-pleasing to gain approval, only to feel drained, resentful, or stuck in indecision? If you’re living with chronic anxiety, depression, or a sense of instability, you may be struggling with codependency, a pattern often rooted in narcissistic abuse or dysfunctional family dynamics. At True Health Counselling, we specialize in trauma-informed therapy to help you break free from these toxic cycles, reclaim your voice, and heal from complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) or borderline personality disorder (BPD). Our virtual practice, based in Toronto, serves clients worldwide, guiding you toward authentic empowerment and emotional freedom.

Slogan: Heal CPTSD, Mend Narcissistic Somatic Trauma Symptoms

About True Health Counselling: As a holistic nurse psychotherapist, True Health Counselling delivers complex trauma-informed psychotherapy through The Integrative Somatic Trauma Healing Approach—a psychosomatic, mindfulness-based framework with Gestalt therapy and a faith-based lens. Specializing in CPTSD, BPD, narcissistic somatic symptoms, psychosomatic disorders, and immune dysfunction, we guide faith-oriented clients to authentic healing, safe relationships, and coming home to their souls.

Understanding Codependency: A Hidden Source of Stress

Codependency is more common than you might think, deeply embedded in societal norms and often invisible until it takes a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical health. As Bessel van der Kolk explains in The Body Keeps the Score, trauma from controlling or emotionally abusive relationships—such as those with narcissistic parents or partners—can disrupt your sense of safety, leading to chronic stress. This stress may manifest as physical symptoms like bowel syndromes or autoimmune disorders, as Gabor Maté highlights in When the Body Says No. Codependency shows up when you feel powerless, controlled by others’ reactions, finances, or expectations, leaving you anxious, depressed, or trapped in cycles of perfectionism.

You might recognize codependency if you:

• Fear of expressing your needs due to potential conflict or rejection.
• Constantly seek approval or validation from others.
• Struggle with indecision, second-guessing your choices.
• Feel drained by relationships where you prioritize others’ happiness.
• Live with a sense of instability or a need to be “perfect.”

These patterns often stem from childhood environments with unpredictable, controlling, or emotionally abusive parenting, as noted by the Trauma Research Foundation. Such dynamics can stunt emotional maturity, leaving your inner child suppressed and your authentic self underdeveloped. Codependency can also mimic love addiction, where you’re drawn to abusive dynamics as a survival mechanism, as described by Psychology Today.

The Impact of Codependency on Your Life

Living with codependency feels like a constant battle between your heart and mind. You may know what you want to say or do, but fear of others’ reactions—anger, dismissal, or rejection—holds you back. This internal war creates a sense of being “too much” or “not enough,” leading to thoughts like, “I’m going crazy” or “I have no control.” These are classic symptoms of codependency, where your emotional life is at the mercy of others’ approval or expectations. Over time, this can lead to:

• Chronic Stress: Constant people-pleasing and perfectionism elevate stress hormones, impacting your nervous system.
• Physical Health Issues: Stress from codependency can manifest as psychosomatic symptoms, such as irritable bowel syndrome or autoimmune disorders.
• Relationship Struggles: You may tolerate unhealthy dynamics, sacrificing your boundaries to avoid conflict.
• Loss of Identity: Suppressing your voice to survive relationships erodes your sense of self.

Codependency isn’t just a personal issue—it’s cultural. Society often normalizes giving away your power to maintain relationships, jobs, or financial stability. But this comes at a cost, leaving you feeling helpless, addicted to approval, or stuck in cycles of self-doubt.

How Codependency Therapy Can Help

Codependency therapy at True Health Counselling is about reclaiming your power and emotional maturity. Our trauma-informed approach, rooted in somatic and relational healing, helps you break free from toxic patterns and live authentically. We focus on:

• Reclaiming Your Voice: Learn to express your feelings assertively and respectfully, as supported by Mindful.
• Setting Healthy Boundaries: Stop bending your needs to please others, fostering emotional safety and autonomy.
• Releasing Toxic Patterns: Unlearn love addictions or abusive dynamics that keep you stuck.
• Taking Responsibility: Understand both sides of relationship dynamics to stop enabling codependency.
• Building Self-Trust: Move past self-doubt to make decisions aligned with your true self.

We explore key questions to uncover your patterns:

• What parts of yourself did you sacrifice to survive relationships?
• Where do you give away your power or suppress your voice?
• Why do you people-please, and what fears arise when you don’t?
• What consequences did you face when you tried to be yourself?

Unlike traditional talk therapy, which may involve endless venting without progress, our approach targets root issues through somatic mindfulness and relational dynamics. You’re not responsible for others’ emotional reactions—your job is to honour your needs, be kind, and set boundaries that support your growth, as emphasized by Verywell Mind.

Practical Applications of Codependency Therapy

Our therapy is practical, addressing real-life challenges where codependency shows up:

• Roommate Conflicts: If you fear confronting an emotionally reactive roommate due to past trauma from an unpredictable parent, we help you set boundaries and speak authentically. For example, a client learned to calmly express their needs for shared responsibilities, reducing stress and building confidence.
• Social Anxiety: If sharing opinions in a classroom or group setting feels daunting due to fear of judgment, we work on overcoming self-suppression. A student client gained the courage to speak up in class, breaking free from the fear of being “wrong.”
• Romantic Relationships: If you avoid expressing needs to prevent arguments, we guide you to communicate honestly without sacrificing your truth. A client in a toxic relationship learned to say “no” to unreasonable demands, reducing depression and reclaiming autonomy.
• Workplace Stress: If overwork or financial dependency controls you, we help establish boundaries. A client stopped working unpaid overtime, negotiating fair workload expectations and improving their financial security.

These examples show how codependency therapy empowers you to navigate relationships, reduce stress, and make decisions aligned with your values. By addressing these scenarios, you build resilience and create a life of purpose and authenticity.

Why Codependency Therapy is Different at True Health Counselling

As a holistic nurse psychotherapist, I bring over a decade of lived experience healing from narcissistic abuse, codependency, chronic illness, and financial struggles. I’ve climbed out of toxic patterns learned in dysfunctional family dynamics, finding freedom through somatic and faith-based healing. This personal journey informs my practice, allowing me to connect deeply with clients. Unlike basic talk therapy that may validate feelings without direction, our approach:

• Illuminates blind spots, such as unconscious codependent patterns, inspired by Carl Jung’s shadow work.
• Guides you to express your voice and feelings in a safe, relational space.
• Accelerates healing by targeting root issues, saving years of cycling through negative emotions.

My expertise includes helping hundreds of clients heal from CPTSD, BPD, and codependency, reducing symptoms of chronic illnesses like autoimmune disorders. As a Udemy instructor, I’ve guided over 10,000 students through emotional healing for gut health and trauma recovery, and my three self-published books offer holistic protocols for healing the “disease to please.”

Who Benefits from Codependency Therapy?

This therapy is for you if you:

• Struggle with people-pleasing or seeking approval in relationships.
• Feel trapped by anxiety, depression, or emotional instability.
• Experience psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., digestive issues, autoimmune disorders).
• Have a history of narcissistic abuse from parents, partners, or bosses.
• Want to reclaim your identity and live authentically, whether through a faith-based or secular lens.

Our virtual practice serves clients in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area, and worldwide, ensuring accessibility for all.

Why Trust True Health Counselling?

My lived experience—overcoming narcissistic abuse, chronic illness, and financial dependency—brings empathy and authenticity to my work. As a master’s-prepared nurse and licensed mental health counsellor (License #: 12492206, Ontario, practicing since 2015), I blend CBT, DBT, ACT, Narrative Therapy, and holistic practices like Somatic Experiencing and Gestalt therapy. My faith-based or secular approach, rooted in neuroscience, creates a safe space to heal your heart, body, and soul.

Start Your Healing Journey Today

You deserve to live free from codependency’s control, trusting your voice and embracing your authentic self. Contact True Health Counselling at 647-980-8734 or truehealthcounselling@gmail.com to book a free 15-minute consultation. With limited spots available, take the first step toward healing from narcissistic abuse and CPTSD. Visit https://www.truehealthcounselling.com/contact to schedule now.

Citation: Nguyen, T. (2025, August 23). Always Worried About What Others Think? Heal Codependency with True Health Counselling. True Health Counselling. https://www.truehealthcounselling.com/codependency-therapy

Tags: codependency therapy, narcissistic abuse recovery, CPTSD healing, trauma-informed therapy, somatic therapy, BPD recovery, emotional healing, holistic psychotherapy, faith-based therapy, chronic stress relief, Toronto therapy, virtual counselling, Bessel van der Kolk, Gabor Maté, boundary setting, people-pleasing