Narcissistic Abuse Therapy in Houston, TX
Do you second-guess your memory, your feelings, or your perception of reality after time with a certain person?
Do you feel like you're always walking on eggshells, apologizing for things that weren't your fault?
Have you left the relationship but still can't stop replaying it or feel like yourself again??
Narcissistic abuse is a pattern of manipulation, control, gaslighting, and emotional harm. It can happen in a romantic relationship, with a parent or family member, in a friendship, or at work. Over time, it wears down your confidence, your sense of reality, and your trust in your own judgment. You may not have bruises, but the impact is real, and so is your ability to heal. We help you make sense of what happened, quiet the self-blame, and rebuild a life that feels safe and like your own.
You're not imagining it. You're recovering from a relationship that taught you to doubt yourself.
People Come To Us When They Experience
Constant self-doubt and second-guessing
Confusion after being gaslit or told their feelings are "too much"
Anxiety, hypervigilance, or feeling on edge around certain people
Guilt, shame, or the belief that everything was their fault
Difficulty setting boundaries or saying no without fear
Loss of identity, confidence, or sense of self-worth
Replaying conversations and wondering "what if" long after the relationship ended
Trouble trusting new relationships, or their own instincts
Depression, numbness, or exhaustion from years of emotional strain
Feeling isolated from friends and family
Narcissistic abuse is not a formal diagnosis, but it describes a real and damaging experience. It often involves a person who needs control, admiration, or power in the relationship, and who uses tactics that leave you confused and questioning yourself.
Common patterns include:
Gaslighting: being told your memory or perception is wrong
Love-bombing and devaluing: extreme affection followed by criticism, coldness, or withdrawal
Blame-shifting: being held responsible for the other person's behavior
Isolation: being cut off, or pulled away from, people who support you
Silent treatment and emotional withholding: affection used as a reward or punishment
Controlling behavior: monitoring, criticizing, or limiting your choices
If you recognize yourself in this, you are not alone, and it was not your fault.
What is Narcissistic Abuse?
Safety Note
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are experiencing abuse in a relationship, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 (or text START to 88788).
How Therapy for Narcissistic Abuse With Us Works
We begin with trust and emotional safety. You don't have to prove what happened or defend your experience here. Therapy is a place where your feelings are taken seriously and your story is believed.
Together, we work to make sense of the patterns you lived through, ease the anxiety and self-blame that followed, and rebuild trust in your own perceptions. Sessions are paced to you and focused on practical tools, so you can set boundaries, respond to difficult people with confidence, and reconnect with who you are outside the relationship.
Modalities We Use
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We move at your pace and prioritize safety, never pushing you to revisit more than you're ready to.
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We identify the beliefs left behind by manipulation, such as "it's my fault" or "I'm too sensitive," and replace them with clearer, kinder thinking.
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DBT offers practical skills for managing distress, big emotions, and boundary-setting.
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We build grounding skills that calm your body and mind when old fear responses show up.
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We explore how earlier relationships and patterns shape your present, so you can stop repeating them.
Healing is possible, and you don't have to do it alone.
What Healing Can Look Like
Every person's path is different, but the goals of our work together often include:
Trusting your own memory, feelings, and instincts again
Less anxiety, rumination, and self-blame
Confidence setting and keeping boundaries
A stronger, clearer sense of who you are
Healthier relationships built on respect and safety
Feeling present, calm, and more like yourself
Clarity on what you want next
Meet our Narcissistic Abuse Specialist
Nicole Duarte, LCSW, CCTP, NATC
I'm a Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional who works with people healing from manipulation, gaslighting, and emotionally unsafe relationships. I also support women through the identity shifts of motherhood, including pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the pressure of caring for everyone else while losing touch with yourself. I'm bilingual and bicultural (English and Spanish), and I focus on creating a space of trust and emotional safety where you can rebuild self-worth and come to terms with unresolved struggles.
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Availability: I work with clients in-person in Houston. Telehealth sessions available across Texas.
Education, Credentials,
& Trainings
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Texas, #104187
Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC)
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
Master of Social Work with a clinical concentration in Health and Behavioral Health, University of Houston
Member of the Phi Alpha Honor Society and the Graduate College of Social Work's Clinical Leadership Society
Bilingual and bicultural: fluent in English and Spanish
Experience with trauma, anxiety, depression, relationships, self-esteem, and life transitions across a range of clinical settings
Experience in Intensive Treatment Settings, including The Menninger Clinic, Private Practice & Catholic Charaties
3 Steps To Get Started
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Fill out the contact form. We will personally respond and answer your questions.
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We will schedule a short call to see if it feels like a good fit and talk through next steps.
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We begin building trust, understanding your current struggles, and creating a clear plan for our work together.
FAQs about Narcissistic Abuse Therapy
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"Narcissistic abuse" is a term for a pattern of emotional manipulation and control, not a formal diagnosis. The effects, including anxiety, depression, trauma symptoms, and loss of self-esteem, are real and treatable.
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No. Many clients come while still in the relationship, while deciding what to do next, or years after it has ended. Therapy meets you where you are.
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Yes. It can occur with a parent, sibling, friend, boss, or co-worker. We support healing from all of these.
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Cycles of affection and cruelty can create strong emotional bonds that are hard to break. This is a common response, not a personal failing, and therapy can help you understand and move through it.
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Initial Intake (60 minutes): $250
Standard Session (45 minutes): $200
Extended Session (60 minutes): $230
Family or Couples Session (50 minutes): $250
Following your initial assessment, we will collaborate with you to determine which session length best supports your treatment goals.