Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley: an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist who specializes in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. I'm also a mom to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades.

In today's episode, we're unpacking two of the most insidious and socially camouflaged forms of narcissism: the covert narcissist and the communal narcissist. Unlike the overt narcissist, who demands attention and admiration in obvious ways, these two operate in the shadows of self-sacrifice, subtle manipulation, and image protection. They don't want to appear powerful they want to appear virtuous. And that's what makes them so confusing to live with, especially if you're raising kids under the same roof.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alone.

Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley: an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist specializing in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and narcissism. I'm also a mother to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades. I bring both clinical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation because I've walked this road.

Today's episode is for the brave ones: the moms, dads, and caregivers navigating the complex and often bewildering terrain of co-parenting with an individual who exhibits narcissistic traits. This isn't about typical parenting challenges; it's about the profound courage required to raise children in the shadow of someone who expertly manipulates, gaslights, and distorts reality so profoundly that even your child begins to question their own perceptions and what they know to be true. We're here to acknowledge the unique difficulties you face and equip you with insights to protect your child's well-being.

We're talking about what it means to co-parent or try to parent when your former partner exhibits narcissistic traits. This isn't just a personality clash. This is about psychological warfare disguised as parenting.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alone.

Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley: an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist specializing in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and narcissism. I'm also a mother to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades. I bring both clinical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation because I've walked this road.

Each week, I help parents, partners, and professionals navigate the messy, emotional, and beautiful reality of raising kids, managing mental health, and protecting peace inside families that don't always play fair.

Today's episode hits close to home for so many people especially those navigating co-parenting with someone who displays narcissistic traits. Maybe that means gaslighting. Maybe it's manipulation. Perhaps it's the constant undermining, the boundary-pushing, the love-bombing with your child, and the stonewalling with you.

We're diving deep into counter-parenting. We're talking about dysregulation. And we're exploring what this dynamic truly does to a child's nervous system when there's one safe parent… and one who plays games.

This is a deep episode, but it's also packed with practical tools. And as always, my goal is to help you walk away more grounded, more equipped, and more seen.

Co-parenting with someone who has narcissistic traits isn't just exhausting it's profoundly destabilizing.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

#Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

#Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alone. #hermosabeachtherapist #ADHD

Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley, an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist who specializes in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and narcissism. I'm also a mom to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades. Every week, I help parents, partners, and professionals navigate the complex terrain of mental health and family systems. Today we're talking about what it might feel like to still be in the marriage to still be living with someone who exhibits narcissistic traits, and what that slow erosion looks like from pregnancy to parenthood.

This episode focuses on a particular type of narcissist known as the covert narcissist, sometimes called the vulnerable or quiet narcissist. Unlike the grandiose type who seeks constant praise with overt charm or dominance, the covert narcissist operates through manipulation masked as martyrdom, helpfulness, or moral superiority. They don't yell. They suggest. They don't demand. They guilt. They don't chase the spotlight. They control it from the shadows.

This type of narcissist often uses plausible deniability, gaslighting, and emotional withholding to erode your confidence while maintaining a façade of normalcy or charm. They're harder to spot than grandiose narcissists, but the emotional erosion they cause is just as real and often more pernicious.

Plausible Deniability means their behavior is always just subtle enough that if you call it out, you risk looking irrational or overly sensitive. They didn't yell, they just "offered advice." They didn't ignore your accomplishment, they were just "distracted." Because their actions fall into gray zones, you begin to doubt yourself. This constant second-guessing chips away at your reality, leaving you perpetually questioning your own perceptions.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alon

Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley, an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist who specializes in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and narcissistic relationships. I'm also a mom to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades. I speak from both sides of the couch with both clinical training and lived experience guiding the work I do every day.

Today's episode takes us into one of the most insidious and structurally complex roles a narcissist assumes: the gatekeeper of opportunity. This isn't just about being controlling; it's about architecting an entire system of dependence where they are the central hub. This is the position where they curate and control access to resources, professional networks, social mobility, or even foundational emotional approval. In doing so, they create a state of profound dependency that keeps you tethered to them, often in an invisible cage of your own perceived limitations.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therapy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alone.

Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley — an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist specializing in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and narcissistic relationships. I'm also a mom to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades. What you hear today isn't just clinical it's lived experience, it's layered, and it's honest. I want to take you behind the public narrative and into the psychology, the neuroscience, and the relational dynamics.

Today, we're diving into a topic that is often sensationalized on reality TV but exists in homes and relationships everywhere: reactive abuse. We'll explore how it's intentionally engineered, why it's so misunderstood by outsiders, and why individuals like Britney and Michelle from The Valley might be unfairly labeled as combative or volatile. What you're actually seeing isn't a personality flaw; it's the culmination of a very long, painful story.

Reactive abuse is a term used to describe a victim's defensive, often volatile, response to prolonged narcissistic abuse. It's not the initiation of conflict but rather a reaction to a sustained campaign of psychological manipulation. It shows up after years of abuse because the victim's nervous system, constantly in a state of hyper-vigilance, eventually reaches a breaking point where their capacity for emotional regulation is completely exhausted.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therapy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alone.

Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley—an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist specializing in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and narcissism. I'm also a mom to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades.Each week, I help parents, partners, and professionals navigate the messy, emotional, and beautiful reality of raising kids, managing mental health, and protecting peace inside families that don't always play fair or it doesn't feel fair.

Today, we're building on our previous discussions, particularly our deep dive into the quiet, corrosive force of resentmen tin ADHD partnerships. Last time, we explored its origins, distinguishing ADHD symptoms from perceived slights. But as many of you shared, simply understanding isn't enough when you're still drowning in the day-to-day realities.

If you're the non-ADHD partner constantly feeling like you're carrying the weight of two, if you're battling the "invisible load" the relentless mental labor of remembering, planning, and anticipating and finding yourself exhausted, frustrated, and silently fuming, this episode is your lifeline.

We're moving beyond just identifying resentment. Today, our mission is to empower you, the neurotypical partner, with a comprehensive toolkit of proactive, psychologically-informed strategies to not just cope, but to thrive and survive in your ADHD-impacted relationship. This isn't about fixing your partner; it's about equipping you with the tools to build a more peaceful, equitable, and resilient partnership, all while protecting your own well-being.

Let's transform that silent sigh into a powerful, intentional shift. Let's dive deep.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

#Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

#Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alone. #hermosabeachtherapist #ADHD

Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley: an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist specializing in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and narcissism. I'm also a mother to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades. I bring both clinical knowledge and lived experience to this conversation because I've walked this road.

Today's episode isn't just about Bravoit's about behavioral psychology, public identity collapse, and what happens when a narcissist loses the thing that made them feel real: the spotlight.

We're focusing on Jax Taylor, but this isn't just a takedown or character analysis. This is about understanding **what happens when someone with narcissistic traits loses their external reflection specifically, how this played out after his long run on Vanderpump Rules and his subsequent departure from The Valley and how that energy often turns inward… or worse, toward the ex-partner who held the last thread of reality.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alone.

Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist specializing in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and narcissistic relationships. I'm also a mom to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades.This work is informed by clinical expertise and shaped by lived experience, delivering a layered understanding that connects theory to everyday reality

Today we're pulling back the curtain on a volatile intersection: steroid abuse, 'roid rage, bipolar disorder, and narcissism and how these forces collide to create chaos in relationships, families, and careers. To make it real, we'll use Jax Taylor from Vanderpump Rules and The Valley as a public case study. His on-camera behavior the highs, the volatility, the defensiveness, the self-sabotage provides an unfiltered look at how this plays out in everyday life.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alone.

Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I'm Stephanie Buckley, an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist specializing in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and narcissistic relationships. I'm also a mom to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I've been married for over three decades. What you hear from me isn't just clinical analysis it's lived experience, layered with professional insight.

Today, we're diving deep into a topic that's been swirling in pop culture but we're going to break it down through the lens of psychology, neuroscience, and relationship dynamics. We're talking about Jax Taylor from Vanderpump Rules and now The Valley. And we're going to unpack why his behavior which looks chaotic and unpredictable to the casual viewer, actually follow a very predictable pattern once you understand the brain science, personality structure, and life history behind them.

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

To Book An Appointment The Path To Peace Therapy Website

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/book-online

The Path to Peace Therpy Blog over 65 posts

https://www.thepathtopeacetherapy.com/blog

Good Therapy

https://www.goodtherapy.org/therapists/profile/stephanie-buckley--20250310

Theravive

https://www.theravive.com/therapists/stephanie-buckley.aspx

This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They're not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment."

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I'd love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always, take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don't have to do this alone.