Amy Marlow-MaCoy – Emotional Abusive Behaviors and A Closer Look at Gaslighting: Clinical Tools to Break the Cycle of Manipulation and Regain Personal Power

Outline

Gaslighting in Relationships and Society

• Define what gaslighting is in measurable terms
• Review of term Gaslighting
• Romantic/intimate relationships
• Friendships
• Family relationships
• Work
• How gaslighting shows up on a larger scale: social media and advertising
• Gaslighting and communal trauma in minority groups

Signs and Side Effects of Gaslighting

• How this shows up for our clients
• Loss of self-confidence
• Emotional disturbance
• Increased vulnerability to emotional abuse
• Decreased autonomy
• Increased risk of codependency
• Retraumatizing survivors of abuse and trauma

Clinical Approaches

• Review of Evidence-based treatments
• Insight and self-awareness – how to help clients recognize gaslighting in their lives
  • Self-forgiveness and compassion techniques to heal from shame and interrupt self-criticism
  • Body-based approaches to help clients validate their experience and rebuild trust in themselves
  • Assertiveness training — teach clients to express needs clearly, directly, and openly
  • 5 steps to help clients set healthier boundaries
  • Teach clients to identify traits of healthy relationships
  • Unravel problematic beliefs with
  • IFS, DBT, narrative therapy and somatic experiencing techniques
  • Research limitations