Brian James

Divorcing a Narcissist in Mediation

How do you negotiate with someone who has to be right? If you’re divorcing a narcissist, you know that they simply can’t see things from someone else’s point of view. So, how do you come to an equitable divorce agreement? And is mediation an appropriate option for divorcing a narcissist?

Brian James is the founder of CEL & Associates, a mediation practice with offices throughout Chicagoland and Southeastern Wisconsin. An experienced divorce and family mediator, Brian spent ten years resolving family conflicts in the criminal justice system before starting CEL & Associates in 2005. Brian is dedicated to helping clients come to an agreement outside the courtroom, creating a win-win situation for all involved in a divorce.

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Brian joins Katherine to explain how to know if you’re married to a narcissist, describing what gaslighting looks like and how it makes you feel. He shares his approach to managing a narcissist in the divorce mediation process and discusses how he decides when mediation is the right option for a divorcing couple. Listen in for Brian’s insight on persuading a narcissist to try mediation and learn his top strategies for surviving a high-conflict divorce.

Topics Covered 

 How to know if you’re married to a narcissist (and why it’s hard to tell early on)

What it looks like when a narcissist is gaslighting you and how it makes you feel

How narcissists lack the capacity for empathy

Brian’s approach to managing a narcissist in the divorce mediation process

Why it’s crucial to come to a detailed, air-tight agreement if you’re divorcing a narcissist

How Brian determines whether mediation is the right option for a divorcing couple

Brian’s strategies for surviving divorce mediation with a high-conflict spouse

The narcissist’s inability to engage in respectful disagreement

How to persuade your spouse to try divorce mediation rather than go to court

How attorneys can support the mediation process when a narcissist is involved

Connect with Brian James

CEL & Associates

CEL on Facebook

CEL on Twitter

Call (312) 524-5829

Connect with Katherine Miller

The Center for Understanding Conflict

Miller Law Group

Katherine on LinkedIn

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller

Email katherine@miller-law.com

Call (914) 738-776

The post Divorcing a Narcissist in Mediation With Brian James appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Lisa Cheatham 

How to Divorce a Narcissist & Get Your Power Back

The early stages of a relationship with a narcissist feel perfect. They are charming and charismatic and make you feel like you’re a part of something bigger than yourself. But when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. And without fail, being with a narcissist evolves into a situation where you’re always trying to please and everything is your fault. So, how do you take the first steps to leave a narcissist? And how do you take care of yourself in the divorce process?

Lisa Cheatham is a Transformational Life Coach who works with high-achieving women recovering from toxic relationships. She is on a mission to inspire and empower women transitioning through divorce, helping them step into their power and get their life back. Lisa leverages her personal experience with narcissistic abuse to support others in cultivating the confidence and unshakable self-love necessary to move forward and rebuild their lives.

On this episode, Lisa joins Katherine to explain what a relationship with a narcissist looks like and share the characteristics of narcissistic personality disorder. She describes how a relationship with a narcissist changes over time, why it takes longer to recover from a breakup with a narcissist, and how a narcissist’s lack of empathy presents in the divorce process. Listen in for insight on maintaining a positive relationship with your kids when they’re being manipulated by your ex and learn how to navigate the difficult process of divorcing a narcissist.

Topics Covered

How to know if you’re in a relationship with a narcissist

The characteristics of narcissistic personality disorder

• Need constant attention and praise
• Sense of self-importance and entitlement
• Lack empathy and view people as objects

How a relationship with a narcissist changes over time

How narcissists exercise control over their partners

How long it takes to recover from a breakup with a narcissist

How a narcissist will do anything to save face in divorce

The challenges around coparenting with a narcissist

How to deal with the process of divorcing a narcissist

• Develop self-care regimen
• Set firm and loving boundaries
• Foster forgiveness
• Block as much contact as possible

Lisa’s personal experience being married to a narcissist

What to do when your kids are being manipulated

Setting up a support system when you leave a narcissist

Connect with Lisa Cheatham

Lisa on LinkedIn

Lisa on Facebook

Email lisax4b@gmail.com

Connect with Katherine Miller

The Center for Understanding Conflict

Miller Law Group

Katherine on LinkedIn

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller

Email katherine@miller-law.com

Call (914) 738-7765

The post How to Divorce a Narcissist & Get Your Power Back with Lisa Cheatham appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Dr. Karyl McBride

How to Divorce a Narcissist

Will I ever be good enough? If you’re married to a narcissist, chances are you’ve struggled with this question. But the truth is, it’s impossible to please a narcissist, and you may need to leave the relationship. So, what can you do to prepare for the divorce process? Is there any way to avoid a high-conflict divorce? How can you protect your children and offer them the empathy they can’t get from a narcissistic parent?

Dr. Karyl McBride is a marriage and family therapist with 30-plus years of experience in public and private practice. An expert in the realm of narcissism and trauma recovery, Dr. McBride is a regular contributor at Psychology Today and the author of Will I Ever Be Good Enough? Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers and Will I Ever Be Free of You? How to Navigate a High-Conflict Divorce from a Narcissist and Heal Your Family.

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Dr. McBride joins Katherine to discuss narcissism, describing the narcissist’s characteristic lack of empathy and need to win and explaining why they nearly always have high-conflict divorces. She speaks to the way children of narcissists are used as pawns in the divorce process and explores how to counter narcissism by parenting with empathy. Listen in for Dr. McBride’s insight around preparing to divorce a narcissist and learn how to recover from a difficult relationship with a narcissistic parent or spouse.

Topics Covered

The lack of empathy that is characteristic of a narcissist

How narcissists use charm to manipulate in the dating phase

Why narcissists nearly always have high-conflict divorces

How victims of narcissists present in the divorce process

How children of narcissists are used as pawns in divorce

When older kids start to recognize narcissism in a parent

How the other parent can counter narcissism with empathy

Giving children a voice by way of reintegration therapy

Why children of narcissists suffer from crippling self-doubt

What happens when families with a narcissist stay together

Dr. McBride’s advice for preparing to divorce a narcissist

• Gather team of support
• Pre-therapy to identify triggers

Connect with Dr. Karyl McBride

Will I Ever Be Good Enough

Connect with Katherine Miller

The Center for Understanding Conflict

Miller Law Group

Katherine on LinkedIn

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller

Email katherine@miller-law.com

Call (914) 738-7765

Resources

Will I Ever Be Good Enough? Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers by Dr. Karyl McBride

Will I Ever Be Free of You? How to Navigate a High-Conflict Divorce from a Narcissist and Heal Your Family by Dr. Karyl McBride

The post How to Divorce a Narcissist with Dr. Karyl McBride appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.