Escaping Narcissistic Abuse – Stages 4 and 5 of The Codependency Cure
Preparing for The Narcissistic Storm: Stage 4
Stage Four of the Ten Stage Self-Love Recovery Treatment Program empowers, educates, and guides embattled and often gaslit SLDs (codependents), so they can effectively set and keep boundaries while disengaging or terminating relationships with narcissists. In this seminar, you will learn how and why SLDs consistently and predictably fall victim to narcissistic abuse, and why it is nearly impossible to escape the vice-like grip of narcissistic abuse. You will learn about the manipulative and duplicitous strategies that narcissists use to easily render their victim-partners powerless. Power and control and manipulative strategies used to entrap and weaken SLD victims will be discussed.
You will learn about how a person’s Self-Love Deficit Disorder/SLDD (codependency) and narcissism interact. Neutralizing a narcissist’s debilitating stealthy engagement strategies will be taught. The interactional mechanics and consequences of placing boundaries on narcissists will be presented. Mastering this stage is analogous to becoming skilled at a “psychological chess game.” Predicting a narcissist’s “moves” helps the SLD escape narcissistic abuse.
Expect to learn the predictable manipulation, mind control, and power and control dynamics that narcissists use to entrap their victims. Without this proactive, educational, and supportive treatment stage, failure, relapse, and/or psychological harm will predictably befall the SLD. The now famous Observe, Don’t Absorb (ODA) Technique will be taught (800,000 YouTube videos views). Mastery of ODA enables SLDs to safely emotionally disconnect from the toxic “wrestling match” that the narcissist will do almost anything to keep them engaged in.
Setting Boundaries in a Hostile Environment: Stage 5
This is the Self-Love Recovery Stage when the “stuffhits the fan,” during which the prepared SLD moves confidently forward in their plan to escape narcissistic abuse and move closer to self-love abundance. In this stage, the SLD is confident, prepared, and appropriately frightened and nervous with their well-studied and rehearsed plan to set boundaries with people, who by definition, are going to resist and fight back with every bit of their dysfunctional abilities.
As a direct result of the lessons learned in the previous stage, SLDs are sufficiently prepared for the potentially harmful and dangerous reactions of the angered and more than likely agitated and dangerous narcissist. Since being “forewarned is forearmed,” this stage begins with Rosenberg’s “Surgeon General’s Warning,” which prepares SLDs for the pathological narcissist’s angry and retaliatory reactions to their newfound boundary-setting abilities, the potential for consequences and harm, while accurately predicting the wholesale loss of friends, loved ones, and family members.
One boundary at a time, the SLD begins to insulate and protect themselves, while for the first time, getting a taste of self-love, self-respect, and hope. SLDs are prepared for the “extinction response” or a last-gasp effort to do almost anything to return the SLD back to his/her former trapped relationship role and dysfunctional mental health patterns. Further disconnecting from the narcissist’s gaslighting and system manipulation is discussed. SLDD (codependency) addiction and relapse risks are discussed.
Stage 5 leaves few-to-no pathological narcissists “standing,” except those to whom the SLD has little choice but to remain connected—such as an elderly parent or a husband who controls the finances and/or children. The carefully executed uncoupling of the SLD/narcissist relationship, and the implementation of boundaries and safety measures, ensures the completion of this stage and the reaching of the next.
CPD Information For Mental Health Professionals
Enjoy complete flexibility with 100% self-paced learning you can access anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Pay once for lifetime access.
Course Duration: 5.5 learning hours
Certificate and CPD hours: On completion you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion to support your CPD records.
Assessment: Complete a short quiz at the end (80% pass mark), which you can resit as many times as needed.
Lifetime Access: Your access to the course does not expire, so you can revisit key concepts anytime you want a refresher for practice.
CPD Eligibility: This program may be suitable for CPD for professionals such as:
- Psychologists
- Counsellors and Psychotherapists
- Social Workers
- Community Workers
- Mental Health Nurses
- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Occupational Therapists
CPD requirements vary between professional bodies, so please check with your association or credentialing body to confirm you can claim CPD hours/OPD points for this program and what evidence they require.
Course Content
Meet Your Instructor
Individuals trapped in destructive relationships with narcissists - and the practitioners trying to help them break free from what seems like magnetic attraction to toxic partners - may need more than traditional codependency treatment to understand and heal the deeper patterns that keep them stuck. Ross Rosenberg has spent over 35 years developing groundbreaking theories about what he calls "The Human Magnet Syndrome," becoming one of the world's leading experts in narcissistic abuse recovery and the pioneer of "Self-Love Deficit Disorder™" as a revolutionary replacement for outdated codependency concepts.
As CEO/Owner of Self-Love Recovery Institute and bestselling author of The Human Magnet Syndrome (200,000+ copies sold in 12 languages, Amazon bestseller since 2013), Rosenberg brings unique expertise that combines clinical excellence with massive global reach. His 34+ million YouTube views, 310,000+ subscribers, and top 2% globally-ranked Self-Love Recovery Podcast demonstrate his exceptional ability to make complex psychological concepts accessible to millions worldwide. His latest work, The Codependency Revolution: Fixing What Was Always Broken, introduces his revolutionary Self-Love Deficit Disorder™ concept, fundamentally reshaping how we understand and treat codependent patterns.
Rosenberg's expertise spans codependency (Self-Love Deficit Disorder™), narcissistic abuse recovery, pathological narcissism, trauma treatment, gaslighting recovery, and what he describes as helping people break free from their "magnetic" attraction to partners who hurt them. His approach recognises that traditional codependency treatment often fails because it doesn't address the deeper self-love deficits that create vulnerability to narcissistic partners. He specialises in helping survivors of narcissistic abuse understand why they repeatedly choose harmful partners, develop the self-love necessary to break these patterns, and recover from the complex trauma that narcissistic relationships create.
What sets his training apart is theoretical innovation combined with authentic vulnerability. Rosenberg doesn't just teach recovery techniques - he shows practitioners and clients how to understand the unconscious "magnetic" dynamics that draw codependent individuals to narcissistic partners. His willingness to share his own recovery journey creates the authentic connection that facilitates deep healing in both professional and personal contexts.
For your practice, expect to gain specific techniques for treating narcissistic abuse trauma, tools for helping clients develop genuine self-love, and frameworks for understanding the complex dynamics that keep people trapped in toxic relationships. His approach particularly benefits practitioners working with domestic abuse survivors, those treating complex trauma presentations, or clinicians wanting to develop expertise in narcissistic abuse recovery.
Quick Win: Rosenberg's "Observe Don't Absorb" technique helps clients to create emotional boundaries with narcissistic partners - sometimes providing the first sense of personal power they've experienced in years while building the foundation for deeper recovery work.
Qualifications
- M.Ed., Counseling Psychology, Boston University, 1988
- B.A., Psychology, Towson University, Maryland, 1987
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Illinois
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
- Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT)
- 35+ years clinical experience (practicing since 1988)
Authored Books & Publications
- The Codependency Revolution: Fixing What Was Always Broken (2024, introduces Self-Love Deficit Disorder™ concept)
- The Human Magnet Syndrome: The Codependent Narcissist Trap (2018, Morgan James Publishing, complete rewrite)
- The Human Magnet Syndrome: Why We Love People Who Hurt Us (2013, Premier Publishing & Media, 200,000+ copies sold in 12 languages, Amazon bestseller since 2013)
- The Codependency Cure™ (treatment methodology book)
Media & Global Reach
- 34+ million YouTube views with 310,000+ subscribers
- Self-Love Recovery Podcast: Top 2% globally ranked, 245,000+ downloads
- Featured on: ABC Late Night, Fox News, WGN News, UT-San Diego News
- Regular contributor: Huffington Post, PsychCentral.com
- Featured in: Chicago Tribune, Publisher Weekly
- Hundreds of podcast guest appearances
Professional Experience & Leadership
- CEO/Owner, Self-Love Recovery Institute, Pensacola, FL, September 2013–present
- Owner, Clinical Care Consultants, Arlington Heights, IL, 2012–current
- Expert Witness, Narcissistic Abuse cases, current
- Owner, Advanced Clinical Trainers (professional training company)
Clinical Specialties
- Narcissistic abuse recovery and complex trauma treatment
- Self-Love Deficit Disorder™ (codependency) treatment
- Pathological narcissism and personality disorders
- Gaslighting recovery and psychological manipulation
- Sex and love addiction therapy
- Expert witness work in narcissistic abuse cases
Ready to help clients break free from their magnetic attraction to toxic partners and develop genuine self-love? Discover how Ross Rosenberg's revolutionary Self-Love Deficit Disorder™ methods can transform your understanding of codependency while giving you the tools to help survivors of narcissistic abuse create healthy, loving relationships for the first time.
Feedback & Reviews
This course includes:
- Lessons 1
- Topics 5
- Duration 5.5 hours
- Quizzes 1
- Language English