Heal from Narcissistic Abuse: Reclaim Your Voice and True Self
By Tracey Nguyen, True Health Counselling, Published August 27, 2025
Are You Ready to Break Free from Narcissistic Abuse?
Do you feel silenced, confused, or disconnected from your true self after a relationship with a narcissistic partner, parent, or boss? Are you constantly seeking approval, fearing rejection, or feeling drained by the need to please others? If these experiences resonate, you may be carrying the weight of narcissistic abuse—a form of emotional manipulation that erodes your confidence and sense of reality. I’m Tracey Nguyen, a holistic nurse psychotherapist with over a decade of lived and professional experience healing from narcissistic abuse, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), and chronic illness. At True Health Counselling, I offer a compassionate, trauma-informed space to help you reclaim your voice, release toxic patterns, and rediscover your authentic self.
Our Integrative Somatic Trauma Healing Approach combines somatic mindfulness, Gestalt therapy, shadow work, and a faith-based or secular lens to guide you toward healing. Whether you’re in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area, or seeking virtual therapy worldwide, we’re here to support you. If past therapies haven’t fully addressed your pain, I invite you to book a free 15-minute consultation to start your journey to wholeness.
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.
What Is Narcissistic Abuse?
Narcissistic abuse occurs when someone with narcissistic traits—often a partner, parent, or colleague—uses emotional manipulation to control, invalidate, or dominate you. As the Cleveland Clinic explains, narcissistic personality disorder involves self-centred behaviour, lack of empathy, and a need for control. Unlike healthy relationships built on mutual respect, narcissistic abuse chips away at your self-esteem, leaving you questioning your reality. You might recognize these patterns:
- Dismissal of Feelings: Your emotions are brushed off as “too sensitive” or “overreacting,” silencing your voice.
- Gaslighting: They deny your experiences, saying, “That never happened,” making you doubt your truth, as described by the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
- Invalidation and Criticism: Your thoughts are belittled, leaving you steeped in self-doubt.
- Emotional Control: They twist arguments to make you feel wrong, maintaining power over you.
These tactics can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, or even physical symptoms like bowel syndromes or autoimmune disorders, as Gabor Maté notes in When the Body Says No. If you’re in Toronto searching for “narcissistic abuse recovery near me,” know that these experiences are not your fault, and healing is possible with the right support.
The Emotional and Physical Toll of Narcissistic Abuse
Narcissistic abuse leaves deep emotional scars, often manifesting as CPTSD, codependency, or psychosomatic symptoms. You might feel trapped, walking on eggshells to avoid conflict or anger, or second-guessing your decisions due to constant invalidation. This can create a mental fog of cognitive dissonance, where you struggle to reconcile your reality with the narcissist’s narrative, as highlighted by Psychology Today. Physically, the stress can disrupt your nervous system, leading to issues like digestive problems or autoimmune disorders, as Bessel van der Kolk discusses in The Body Keeps the Score.
In my own journey, I’ve felt the weight of narcissistic abuse—constantly seeking approval, suppressing my voice to avoid conflict, and battling chronic illness from the stress. It wasn’t until I embraced somatic and relational healing that I began to reclaim my power. If you’re feeling lost, confused, or powerless, you’re not alone. Our therapy helps you untangle these effects, fostering emotional and physical healing.
Why Traditional Therapy May Not Be Enough
Traditional therapy, like venting or exploring emotions, can be valuable but often falls short for narcissistic abuse survivors. General approaches may not address the unique tactics of manipulation—like gaslighting or emotional control—that erode your identity. As the Trauma Research Foundation emphasizes, unresolved trauma can lead to dissociation, where you tolerate emotional pain or dismiss your own needs, perpetuating cycles of shame or victimhood.
With my lived experience overcoming narcissistic abuse, codependency, and chronic illness, I bring deep empathy and expertise to your recovery. Our trauma-informed approach targets root issues, saving you years of cycling through negative emotions. Whether you’re struggling with self-doubt, financial insecurity, or physical symptoms, we address the whole you—mind, body, and soul—to foster lasting change.
How Narcissistic Abuse Therapy Helps You Heal
At True Health Counselling, our narcissistic abuse recovery therapy empowers you to reclaim your voice, rebuild your identity, and break free from toxic patterns. We use the Integrative Somatic Trauma Healing Approach, combining:
- Complex Trauma-Informed Therapy: Heal emotional instability and self-doubt with techniques like Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), as supported by Psychology Today.
- Somatic Experiencing and Breathwork: Release trauma stored in your nervous system, as developed by Peter Levine.
- Gestalt Therapy: Embrace authenticity by integrating disowned parts of yourself.
- Shadow Work: Uncover hidden patterns, inspired by Carl Jung’s concepts, to increase self-awareness.
- Faith-Based or Secular Healing: Find peace through God’s love or evidence-based mindfulness, tailored to your beliefs.
Our therapy focuses on heart-to-heart conversations, addressing relationships that matter—whether with partners, family, or yourself. We help you:
- Validate Your Reality: Acknowledge your feelings and experiences, countering gaslighting and invalidation.
- Set Healthy Boundaries: Stop bending your needs to please others, as supported by Mindful.
- Reclaim Your Identity: Rediscover your values and strengths, breaking free from the narcissist’s control.
- Heal Survival Responses: Release anxiety or hypervigilance from abusive dynamics, fostering emotional and physical safety.
- Build Emotional Resilience: Develop skills to navigate triggers and form secure connections.
Unlike basic talk therapy, we avoid endless venting, offering guided, trauma-informed support to accelerate your healing. Clients in Toronto and worldwide have transformed their relationships and lives through this approach.
Signs You May Need Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
Wondering if narcissistic abuse therapy is right for you? You might benefit if you:
- Constantly second-guess your thoughts or feelings due to gaslighting.
- Feel drained or resentful from people-pleasing or seeking approval.
- Struggle with a loss of identity or low self-esteem from emotional manipulation.
- Experience anxiety, CPTSD, or psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., headaches, digestive issues).
- Fear conflict or avoid expressing yourself to keep the peace.
These patterns, often rooted in generational trauma or dysfunctional family dynamics, can persist without specialized support. As Gabor Maté notes, early relational wounds can manifest as emotional and physical distress, making trauma-informed therapy essential.
Why Choose True Health Counselling in Toronto?
As a narcissistic abuse recovery specialist, I understand the nuances of manipulation—dismissal, gaslighting, and emotional control—because I’ve healed from it myself. With over 10 years of experience, I’ve helped hundreds of clients in Toronto and globally heal from CPTSD, codependency, and narcissistic trauma, reducing symptoms of chronic illnesses like autoimmune disorders. Our virtual practice ensures accessibility, and local Toronto clients may benefit from insurance coverage through providers like Manulife, Desjardins, or Green Shield.
Our approach is unique because it:
- Targets the root causes of trauma, not just symptoms.
- Integrates somatic, relational, and faith-based methods for holistic healing.
- Creates a safe, empathetic space to validate your reality and rebuild confidence.
Whether you’re in downtown Toronto, Mississauga, or anywhere worldwide, we tailor therapy to your needs, offering both faith-based and secular paths.
Practical Steps to Start Your Recovery
Healing from narcissistic abuse is a journey of rediscovery, and every step counts. Here are practical ways to begin:
- Gain Clarity on Manipulation: Journal about a time you felt invalidated or gaslit. What did they say, and how did it make you feel? This helps you see the abuse clearly.
- Validate Your Feelings: Practice saying, My feelings are valid, even if they weren’t heard. This counters the narcissist’s dismissal, as supported by the American Psychological Association.
- Set Small Boundaries: Start with one boundary, like, I’ll take time to process before responding to criticism. This builds autonomy.
- Release Stored Trauma: Try a one-minute breathwork exercise when triggered to calm your nervous system, as recommended by Somatic Experiencing.
- Seek Support: Work with a trauma-informed therapist who understands narcissistic abuse to guide your healing.
These steps, grounded in somatic and relational therapies, have helped my clients move from confusion to clarity, building relationships that nurture rather than drain. You can start with one small action today, like journaling about an experience, to begin your recovery.
Breaking the Cycle of Isolation
Narcissistic abuse can leave you feeling isolated, even in relationships, as you struggle to be seen or heard. This loneliness often stems from fear of rejection or invalidation, as Gabor Maté discusses in relation to trauma. By healing these wounds, you create space for connections where you feel valued. I’ve seen clients shift from isolation to authentic relationships, finding joy in being their true selves. Therapy helps you break this cycle by rebuilding trust in your emotions and fostering secure bonds.
Embracing Your True Self
Healing from narcissistic abuse isn’t about erasing the pain—it’s about rediscovering who you are beneath it. As Bessel van der Kolk emphasizes, trauma recovery involves reclaiming your body and voice. By embracing your authentic self—flaws and all—you invite relationships that honour your worth. Clients often share how this process feels like coming home, finding peace in their own strength. You deserve that, too.
Start Your Healing Journey Today
You don’t have to carry the pain of narcissistic abuse alone. At True Health Counselling, we offer a compassionate, trauma-informed space to heal, rebuild confidence, and create fulfilling relationships. Contact us at 647-980-8734 or truehealthcounselling@gmail.com to book a free 15-minute consultation. With limited spots available, visit https://www.truehealthcounselling.com/contact to take the first step toward healing and wholeness today.
Citation: Nguyen, T. (2025, August 27). Heal from Narcissistic Abuse: Reclaim Your Voice and True Self. True Health Counselling. https://www.truehealthcounselling.com/narcissistic-abuse-recovery
Tags: narcissistic abuse recovery, CPTSD healing, trauma-informed therapy, somatic therapy, codependency recovery, emotional healing, holistic psychotherapy, faith-based therapy, chronic illness recovery, Toronto therapy, virtual counselling, Bessel van der Kolk, Gabor Maté, gaslighting recovery
