Narcissistic Abuse with

 Vanessa Reiser Podcast.

Real Stories. Expert Insight. Conversations About Narcissistic Abuse and Recovery.

Narcissistic abuse often leaves survivors questioning what happened, why they did not recognize the signs sooner, and how they move forward.

Narcissistic Abuse with Vanessa Reiser is a podcast focused on the realities of narcissistic abuse, toxic relationships, emotional manipulation, coercive control, gaslighting, trauma, and recovery.

Hosted by psychotherapist and narcissistic abuse specialist Vanessa Reiser, the podcast brings together professional insight and real experiences from people who have lived through abusive and controlling relationships.

Listen to Narcissistic Abuse with Vanessa Reiser

Each episode explores narcissistic abuse from a different perspective. Guests share personal experiences, warning signs they recognize now, the manipulation they experienced, what helped them leave, and what recovery looked like afterward.

The conversations address topics survivors often search for when they are trying to understand their experiences, including:

• Signs of narcissistic abuse
• Gaslighting and emotional manipulation
• Love bombing
• Trauma bonding
• Coercive control
• Emotional and psychological abuse
• Toxic relationship patterns
• Leaving a narcissistic relationship
• Rebuilding boundaries after abuse
• Recovering self-trust
• Healing after narcissistic abuse
• Understanding narcissistic behavior

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What Is Narcissistic Abuse?

Narcissistic abuse describes patterns of emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical abuse associated with controlling and manipulative relationship behaviors.

Someone experiencing these patterns might deal with gaslighting, isolation, blame shifting, love bombing, devaluation, intimidation, coercive control, manipulation, or repeated attempts to undermine their confidence and perception of events.

For survivors, recognizing the pattern often becomes an important part of understanding what happened.

Vanessa specializes in narcissistic abuse recovery and works with clients experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, relationship problems, and other challenges related to abusive relationships.

Why Narcissistic Abuse Is So Difficult to Recognize

Abusive relationships do not always begin with obvious abuse.

Love bombing, intense attention, affection, promises about the future, or a rapid sense of connection might appear early in a relationship. Over time, the dynamic might shift toward manipulation, control, criticism, isolation, gaslighting, or emotional instability.

The person experiencing the abuse often spends significant time trying to understand what changed.

Questions such as these are common:

“Am I overreacting?”

“Why do I keep questioning my own memory?”

“Why is leaving so difficult?”

“Why do I still miss this person after everything they did?”

“Was I in a narcissistic relationship?”

“Why do I feel like I lost myself?”

These are some of the experiences and questions explored through Narcissistic Abuse with Vanessa Reiser.

Real Conversations With Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse

One of the central parts of the podcast is giving survivors space to tell their stories.

Guests discuss experiences with manipulation, gaslighting, coercive control, emotional exploitation, trauma bonds, and other abusive relationship dynamics.

They also talk about what happened afterward.

What helped them recognize the abuse?

What warning signs do they see now?

How did they leave?

What surprised them about recovery?

What do they wish someone had told them sooner?

These conversations help put words to relationship patterns people often struggle to explain.

Meet Vanessa Reiser

Vanessa Reiser, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, narcissistic abuse expert, author, podcast host, and continuing education instructor for PESI. She is a leading voice on narcissistic abuse, coercive control, trauma bonding, cult dynamics, and recovery from toxic relationships, combining professional expertise with powerful lived experience to help individuals and organizations better understand the impact of psychological abuse and the path to healing. A survivor of narcissistic abuse herself, Vanessa transformed her personal experience into a clinical specialty and has dedicated her career to educating survivors, mental health professionals, and the public about the often-overlooked effects of emotional manipulation and coercive control. Her unique combination of clinical training and firsthand experience allows her to connect with audiences in a way that is both deeply authentic and evidence-based.

Vanessa Reiser is the author of Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide to Identifying, Escaping, and Healing from Toxic and Manipulative People (Hachette Book Group, 2024), which has received widespread praise from leading experts and advocates and has been assigned reading in graduate-level college psychology courses. Vanessa is an experienced speaker represented by All American Speakers Bureau and has spoken at colleges and universities across the country. As a continuing education instructor for PESI, Vanessa trains clinicians and mental health professionals on topics including narcissistic abuse, trauma bonding, cult recovery, and coercive control. She is also the founder of Tell A Therapist, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making mental health support more accessible and reducing barriers to care. Vanessa holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and government from SUNY Empire State College and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California.

Vanessa Reiser is the host of the Narcissistic Abuse with Vanessa Reiser Podcast, which is dedicated to giving survivors of narcissistic abuse, coercive control, toxic relationships, and psychological manipulation a place to tell their stories in a way that is empowering, educational, and safe. Vanessa has interviewed a wide array of notable guests, including narcissistic abuse experts Dr. Ramani Durvasula and Dr. Nadine Macaluso of The Wolf of Wallstreet fame, filmmaker and NXIVM survivor Mark Vicente of HBO’s The Vow, Sarma Melngailis of Netflix’s Bad Vegan, Debra Newell of Bravo’s Dirty John, journalist and advocate Gretchen Carlson, and actress Evan Rachel Wood who shares her story of being abused by singer Marylin Manson. The goal of Vanessa’s podcast is to help listeners recognize patterns and red flags in their own lives, understand why these relationships can be so difficult to leave through the eyes of other survivors, and see that healing and rebuilding are possible.

Known for her relatable approach, clinical expertise, and ability to make complex psychological dynamics easy to understand, Vanessa helps listeners identify narcissistic abuse, recognize dangerous relationship patterns, spot manipulation tactics, understand why toxic relationships can be so difficult to leave, and navigate the process of healing from emotional trauma. Through candid conversations with survivors, leading experts, advocates, and public figures, Vanessa creates a safe space to explore the realities of narcissistic abuse while giving listeners practical insight, validation, and the tools to recognize these patterns in their own lives. Vanessa is represented by Serendipity Literary Agency for literary, speaking, and select media opportunities.

 

Start Listening to Narcissistic Abuse with Vanessa Reiser

If you have experienced narcissistic abuse, are supporting someone who has, or want to better understand manipulation and toxic relationship dynamics, Narcissistic Abuse with Vanessa Reiser offers survivor stories, education, and conversations centered on understanding what these behaviors look like.

Because survivors deserve to be heard.

Because truth disrupts manipulation.

Because healing starts with telling the story.

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Looking for Help After Narcissistic Abuse?

Listening and learning might help you understand what you experienced. Therapy provides a private setting to work through how those experiences have affected your life.

Tell a Therapist specializes in narcissistic abuse recovery and trauma-informed care. Vanessa and the Tell a Therapist team work with clients dealing with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, and other effects associated with abusive relationships.

Tell a Therapist also offers telehealth services for eligible clients in states where its clinicians hold appropriate licenses.