What really happens when you try couples therapy with a narcissist — and why it can make things worse? If you're in couples counseling, you NEED to listen to this episode!

In this unfiltered conversation, Dr. Jamie Zuckerman (“Dr. Z”), a nationally recognized psychologist and narcissistic abuse expert, joins Lindsay to break down how abusers use therapy, gift-giving, and everyday moments to keep control. She explains coercive control in plain language, how abuse escalates over time, and why leaving is the most dangerous (but most empowering) step.

If you’ve ever searched “Why does my partner track me?” “Is couples therapy safe with an abusive partner?” or “How do I plan my exit without them knowing?” — this episode gives you real-world strategies to protect yourself.

Inside This Episode:

- Why therapy with a narcissist often backfires

- How gift-giving and “grand gestures” become tools for control

- What coercive control really means and how to spot it

- Why abuse escalates when you stop reacting

- The ultimate goal of a narcissistic abuser (it’s darker than you think)

- Dr. Z’s practical, step-by-step safety plan for leaving safely

Dr. Z also shares the Bestie Toolkit — small, daily actions to reclaim your clarity, document abuse patterns, and protect your sanity while planning your escape.

Visit Dr. Z for coaching at https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/ and check out her podcast NEXT UP: NARCISSISM WITH DR. Z on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

📞 If you need immediate help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

This podcast is for you if you're asking questions such as:

- therapy with a narcissist

- is couples therapy safe with abusive partner

- coercive control examples

- why does my partner track me

- gift giving from narcissist

- how to leave an abusive relationship safely

- narcissist exit strategy

- documenting abuse for court

#TherapyWithANarcissist #CoerciveControl #NarcissisticAbuseRecovery #LeavingAnAbuser #SafetyPlanning #DocumentingAbuse #BreakTheTraumaBond #GaslightingAwareness #ToxicRelationshipHelp #SurvivorStrong #domesticabuseawareness

B!tch Is A Bad Word: A Podcast On Domestic Abuse is a podcast about identifying and navigating your way through and out of Domestic Violence and Domestic Abuse, hosted by a survivor of Domestic Abuse.

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