Content note: this page talks about emotional abuse and control.
Therapy after controlling and narcissistic relationships in Redding, CA
If you spent years managing someone else’s moods, image, or anger, your body and mind may still be set up to keep the peace at any cost.
You may call it narcissistic abuse, emotional abuse, or something you don’t have a name for yet. I’ll use the words that fit for you.
I offer narcissistic abuse counseling in person at Attune Center for Healing in Redding, for women from Redding, Anderson, Shasta Lake, Palo Cedro, and across Shasta County, and by secure video anywhere in California.
Yvette Brown, Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee at Attune Center for Healing. Supervised by Christina Whitney, LMFT #111050.
Does any of this sound familiar?
- “I second-guess myself and over-explain, even when no one is asking.”
- “I watch faces and tones of voice to figure out what kind of day it’s going to be.”
- “I feel guilty for even having a preference.”
- “I don’t trust my own memory anymore.”
- “My body still startles or shuts down, even though I know I’m safe.”
- “Now that I’ve finally named what happened, I feel ashamed.”
It’s not what’s wrong with you. It’s what’s happened to you. These are the ways those relationships trained you to survive.
What this work is, and what it isn’t
This is about the impact on you. I don’t diagnose a partner, parent, or ex I’ve never met, and I won’t use our time to label them.
This work is
- Understanding what those relationships trained you to do: people-please, freeze, put yourself last, and call it kindness
- Getting your choices back, at a pace that doesn’t repeat the old pressure
- Making room for the parts of you that want to leave and the parts that are afraid to
This work is not
- Telling you whether to stay or go. That decision stays yours.
- Diagnosing the other person. We focus on the impact on you.
- A replacement for legal advice, a restraining order, or emergency services
If your relationship isn’t safe right now
If you are in a dangerous relationship, we start with a safety plan and the right resources before any deeper work.
If someone checks your phone or computer, this page may not be safe to view on that device. Consider using a device they can’t access.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 800-799-7233 (TTY 800-787-3224) or at thehotline.org. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
How I work with this
Sessions are paced and collaborative. You will never be pushed to share more than you are ready to. Change usually happens in three steps: we help you feel safe and steady first, then get to know the parts of you that are struggling, then heal the hurt underneath.
Parts work (IFS)
Internal Family Systems, or IFS, is a way of working with the different parts of yourself. The parts that kept you safe in that house or that marriage often refuse to retire. We get to know them with respect, so they don’t have to do it alone anymore.
Brainspotting
A body-based way of healing. Helpful when your body still startles at a tone of voice, and understanding why hasn’t made it stop.
Talk therapy
Honest conversation keeps the story clear, so you don’t talk yourself out of what really happened in the name of being fair.
Why women come to see me
- Leaving, staying, or co-parenting after a controlling relationship
- Family patterns that taught you to disappear
- Shame after finally naming what happened
- Trouble trusting your own memory and judgment
- Burnout from years of keeping everyone else calm
If saying no still feels dangerous, you may also like the journal post Why boundaries feel like betrayal.
Questions about narcissistic abuse counseling in Redding
Will you tell me to leave?
No. I’ll help you hear the parts of you that want to leave and the parts that are afraid to, without taking the decision from you.
Does the other person need a diagnosis?
No. We focus on the impact on you.
What if I’m still in the relationship?
You’re welcome whether you’re staying, leaving, co-parenting, or not sure yet. If the relationship is unsafe, we start with a safety plan.
Is this trauma work?
For many people, yes. We can combine it with other trauma therapy at a pace that feels manageable.
How long does healing from narcissistic abuse take?
There’s no honest single number. Many women notice small changes first, like apologizing less or trusting their own memory again. We check in together on how it’s going, instead of promising a timeline.
How much does narcissistic abuse counseling cost in Redding?
Attune Center for Healing’s self-pay rate is $100 per session. Attune Center for Healing accepts Aetna, Health Net, L.A. Care, Magellan, UnitedHealthcare, Partnership, and Medi-Cal, and provides superbills upon request. Confirm coverage with your insurance plan for therapy with a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee prior to service.
Do you see women from outside Redding?
Yes. Women come to the Redding office from Anderson, Shasta Lake, Palo Cedro, Cottonwood, and across Shasta County. Video sessions are available anywhere in California, as long as you are in California at the time of your session.
How do I get started?
Book a free 15-minute consult. You can tell me a little about what you’re carrying and ask anything. There’s no pressure to book afterward. Here’s what to expect in your first session.
Good to know
Where we meet
In person at Attune Center for Healing, 2395 Bechelli Ln., Ste. B, Redding, or by secure video anywhere in California.
Cost and insurance
Attune Center for Healing accepts Aetna, Health Net, L.A. Care, Magellan, UnitedHealthcare, Partnership, and Medi-Cal.
Attune Center for Healing’s self-pay rate is $100 per session.
Confirm coverage with your insurance plan for therapy with a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee prior to service.
Your pace
You decide how much to share and when. We can slow down or pause at any time.
Faith
Faith is welcome, but not required.
Ready to talk, or just curious?
A free 15-minute consult lets you tell me a little about what you’re carrying and hear how I work. There’s no pressure to book afterward.
Keep exploring
Want to understand my approach first? Read the free guide to IFS and Brainspotting, or start with the journal post When being needed stops being safety.
This page is education, not therapy. It’s not medical advice, and it doesn’t create a therapist-client relationship.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Whatever brought you here, it makes sense. Let’s talk about what you’re carrying.