Peaceful Parenting

Narcissism

Inoculate the Narcissistic Co-Parent's Most Toxic Weapon

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on November 26, 2023

A narcissistic co-parent may play the victim to manipulate children into turning against their ex. Here's how to protect kids from parentification.

A narcissistic co-parent may play the victim to manipulate children into turning against their ex. Here's how to protect kids from parentification.

Social Media

How Toxic Relatives Weaponize Social Media

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on November 16, 2023

Toxic relatives seem to up their game during the holiday season, as their need to control the family narrative, and your schedule, intensifies.

Toxic relatives seem to up their game during the holiday season, as their need to control the family narrative, and your schedule, intensifies.

Narcissism

Narcissists Exploit Your Defenses and Use Theirs for Immunity

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on October 29, 2023

A narcissist may purposefully exploit your defense mechanisms while hiding behind their own.

A narcissist may purposefully exploit your defense mechanisms while hiding behind their own.

Emotional Intelligence

11 Things an Emotionally Intelligent Boss Says

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on October 7, 2023

Familiarity with statements like these could help you identify a narcissistic supervisor.

Familiarity with statements like these could help you identify a narcissistic supervisor.

Narcissism

Detect Narcissism by the Way a New Partner Opens Up

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on September 24, 2023

Detecting a new partner's level of narcissism before you invest in the relationship is critical. The answer may be found in the way they open up.

Detecting a new partner's level of narcissism before you invest in the relationship is critical. The answer may be found in the way they open up.

Infidelity

6 Things a Partner Might Say if They're Caught Cheating

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on September 10, 2023

After a partner gets caught cheating, they may use six strategies to make their cheating your fault. Understand their attempts to manipulate you and protect your better judgment.

After a partner gets caught cheating, they may use six strategies to make their cheating your fault. Understand their attempts to manipulate you and protect your better judgment.

Parenting

5 Signs a Toxic Parent Is Involved With Your Child’s Team

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on August 26, 2023

Help yourself and your child when a problematic fellow parent attempts to undermine both of you.

Help yourself and your child when a problematic fellow parent attempts to undermine both of you.

Attachment

Self-Hatred: How It Started and Why It Is Hard To Stop

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on August 13, 2023

Your self-hatred may not be yours at all. In order to protect your attachment relationship, you may have turned your anger and rage at a parent inward.

Your self-hatred may not be yours at all. In order to protect your attachment relationship, you may have turned your anger and rage at a parent inward.

Narcissism

Why Narcissists Can Forget Their Own Bad Behavior

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on July 29, 2023

A narcissist's ability to magically erase any wrongdoings from their memory is harmful.

A narcissist's ability to magically erase any wrongdoings from their memory is harmful.

Intuition

How to Listen to Your Intuition

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on July 24, 2023

Intuition is an honest voice from your emotional self. It's not anxiety or a defense mechanism.

Intuition is an honest voice from your emotional self. It's not anxiety or a defense mechanism.

Anxiety

3 Origins of Overthinking

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on June 26, 2023

Overthinking is miserable, but human. Understand three roots of overthinking and ease your mind.

Overthinking is miserable, but human. Understand three roots of overthinking and ease your mind.

Narcissism

3 Ways to Evaluate Your Level of Narcissism

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on June 25, 2023

Use four scenarios to evaluate your level of narcissism and determine its toxicity.

Use four scenarios to evaluate your level of narcissism and determine its toxicity.

Empathy

5 Steps to Stop Being a "Fixer"

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on May 27, 2023

These five tips will help you empathize instead of advise.

These five tips will help you empathize instead of advise.

Anxiety

Turn Social Anxiety Into an Emotionally Intelligent Tool

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on May 21, 2023

Social awareness is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence. Although it is a gift, it may also be the reason for a wave of anxiety.

Social awareness is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence. Although it is a gift, it may also be the reason for a wave of anxiety.

Forgiveness

Victim Mentality or Vulnerability? 3 Ways to Tell

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on April 24, 2023

People who play the victim may inflict guilt, use a past hardship to justify a current wrongdoing, and shift the blame. A person who is vulnerable does the opposite.

People who play the victim may inflict guilt, use a past hardship to justify a current wrongdoing, and shift the blame. A person who is vulnerable does the opposite.

Narcissism

6 Things a Narcissistic Partner May Never Say

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on April 8, 2023

A partner who fails to respond in six ways may not be emotionally intelligent or emotionally safe. Understand why and protect yourself.

A partner who fails to respond in six ways may not be emotionally intelligent or emotionally safe. Understand why and protect yourself.

Friends

4 Types of Toxic Friends

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on March 26, 2023

Know how to safely navigate emotionally unsafe and emotionally intelligent friends.

Know how to safely navigate emotionally unsafe and emotionally intelligent friends.

Bullying

What to Do When Your Work Friend Turns Out to Be Toxic

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on March 14, 2023

Recognize the red flags early and implement several specific strategies to protect yourself.

Recognize the red flags early and implement several specific strategies to protect yourself.

Empathy

3 Ways a Partner Displays a Lack of Empathy

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on February 28, 2023

A partner is the one person who is supposed to understand you. A resistance to considering how you feel when it differs from how they feel may signify a lack of empathy.

A partner is the one person who is supposed to understand you. A resistance to considering how you feel when it differs from how they feel may signify a lack of empathy.

Empathy

Key Early Red Flags of an Emotionally Unavailable Partner

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on February 26, 2023

Positive attention and love-bombing are different from empathy and emotional attunement.

Positive attention and love-bombing are different from empathy and emotional attunement.