How Does Narcissistic Relationships Impact Children?
Children are not harmed by a single bad moment or by a single argument. What has a lasting impact is ongoing exposure to emotional unsafety, role confusion, and inconsistent caregiving. These patterns are often present in households affected by narcissistic relationships, where manipulation, control, and emotional volatility are common. In such environments, children may feel uncertain about what is safe or acceptable, unsure of how to respond to shifting moods, and pressured to navigate adult conflicts they should never have to manage. Over time, this constant unpredictability undermines a child’s sense of security, self-esteem, and trust in others.
How Narcissistic Dynamics Affect Children
A narcissistic parent often uses control to dominate others. This can look like:
Gaslighting or guilt-tripping
Emotional blackmail
Exploiting others for attention, admiration, financial support, or validation
Devaluing, belittling, or undermining self-esteem
Alternating between idealization and criticism
Isolating others and creating competition or jealousy through triangulation
In severe cases, using threats or intimidation
Children may not always be the direct target, but they feel the effects of emotional unpredictability. Role confusion can occur when children are pulled into adult conflicts or asked to take sides.
We have seen and heard it many timed in our sessions where the narcissist parent and their lawyer get the children to testify against the other parent in court by using fear or intimidation. Over time, this undermines their sense of security.
What Children Really Need
Children do not require parents to agree on everything or maintain a polished front. They need emotional safety. Emotional safety is built through:
Predictable and consistent care
Emotionally available adults
Clear boundaries that protect children from adult conflict
Freedom to love both parents without fear or pressure
Consistency, not perfection, creates stability. From a therapeutic perspective, even one emotionally regulated parent can buffer children from the effects of high-conflict or narcissistic dynamics.
Something that we have even seen is the non-narcissist parent, out of fear, teaches the child that the other parent is a narcissist and their narcissistic behaviour. While us as therapist understand where these parents are coming from, that is still not conducive the the child’s well-being.
The Long-Term Impact
Growing up around narcissistic behaviour can subtly shape a child’s emotional and social development. They may:
Internalize self-doubt or low self-esteem
Develop anxiety or hyper-vigilance
Struggle with trust and boundaries in relationships
Take on caregiver roles prematurely
These patterns often persist unless children have access to supportive, consistent, and emotionally regulated adults who model healthy relationships and boundaries.
Healing Through The Therapeutic Way
Children and parents affected by narcissistic relationships do not have to face the impact alone. At The Therapeutic Way, we provide specialized support for children, youth, and families navigating narcissistic abuse, helping both children and adults build emotional safety and resilience. Therapy at The Therapeutic Way can help:
Validate experiences: Children and parents can explore what they’ve gone through in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
Restore emotional safety: Consistent support and clear boundaries help rebuild a sense of stability and trust.
Develop coping strategies: Families learn how to regulate emotions, respond to manipulation, and navigate triggers.
Strengthen relationships: Even one emotionally regulated adult can buffer the effects of narcissistic dynamics, supporting healthier parent-child connections.
Empower recovery: Guidance on recognizing narcissistic behaviour and breaking cycles of emotional harm helps families regain control and confidence.
Through therapy at The Therapeutic Way, children and parents can recover from the hidden impacts of narcissistic relationships, creating a safe and nurturing environment where emotional well-being can thrive.
Shikha is a therapist/owner of The Therapeutic Way, Counselling and Psychotherapy Services. Her and her team are relationship and relational trauma therapists who works with individuals, couples, and families who have been on the receiving end of narcissistic abuse, gone through trauma, experiencing relationship issues, and experienced attachment wounds as a child or adult. The team uses a trauma-informed and holistic approaches to help their clients.
Thinking of therapy? Schedule your free 20 mins consultation call to see how we can help.
For more information reach us at info@thetherapeuticway.ca or call/text (289) 635-4660.
Therapy services: Online Anywhere in Canada; Hamilton, ON; Burlington, ON, Oakville, ON; London, ON; Milton, ON.
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Online therapy is as effective as in person therapy. What is most important with any format of therapy is the strong therapeutic relationship between you and your therapist. Online therapy is a good option when coming in-person is not feasible, when you have dependents at home, and it is also more convenient.
At The Therapeutic Way, we offer online therapy and therapy by phone from the convenience of your home. Click here to learn more about our online therapy.
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Not necessarily. Online therapy and in-person therapy are usually the same cost as their effectiveness are the same. Online therapy can also be most cost effective for the client as transportation is not involved. Now, there are therapy apps or programs that area available to clients that are cheaper than traditional therapy. However, the effectiveness of those programs are questionable, and they are most likely not covered by insurance.
At The Therapeutic Way, we offer online therapy with a registered psychotherapist that is covered by most insurance providers and helps you save the cost of transportation.
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There are many different types of therapist that you can choose from. Before reaching out to a therapist, it’s important to know what issue you would like to work on. A tip is to seek out a therapist who specializes the issue and problem you are facing with. For example, if you would like to work on trauma, a therapist who focuses on eating disorders may not be the best fit.
It is also important to decide what type of therapist you are looking for, such as gender, experience, their approaches to therapy, etc. It’s also a good idea to check with your insurance provider which type of therapist they cover. A lot of therapists offer free consultation calls for you to decide they are a right fit.
At The Therapeutic Way, we specializes in relationship issues, relational trauma, narcissistic abuse recovery, and attachment wounds. We work with adults, couples, and families over the age of 16.
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The type of therapy that is best for you, depends on you as a person and the reason you are seeking therapy. There are different types of therapy, such as somatic-based therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, trauma-informed therapies, holistic therapy, existential therapy, and more. The type of therapy that is right for you will depend what you are looking for. While you may have an input in this, majority of the time the therapist will know what is best suited for you and will let you know.
At The Therapeutic Way, we work with clients using an integrative approach to therapy, meaning using different modalities to suit your needs. We use a trauma-informed, holistic, and relational approach to working with you. Click here to learn more.
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The term psychotherapy and counselling are often used interchangeably with some slight differences. Psychotherapy refers to the treatment based for psychological disorders and mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc. Counselling refers to wellness support and providing insights and clarity which leads to growth or personal betterment. At The Therapeutic Way, we provide both psychotherapy and counselling.
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The difference between psychotherapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist, depends on education and scope of practice.
Psychotherapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist can provide therapy called talk therapy.
A psychotherapist can provide therapy under the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario, a psychologist can provide therapy under the College of Psychologists of Ontario, and a psychiatrist can provide therapy under College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Difference:
Psychotherapist Education: Master’s Degree or higher
Psychologist Education: PhD or PsyD.
Psychiatrist: MD
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Psychotherapist: Can’t diagnose
Psychologist: Can do assessment and diagnose
Psychiatrist: Can do assessment, diagnose, and prescribe medication
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Psychotherapist Training: Counselling and focus on therapy techniques
Psychologist: Focus on clinical research and assessment
Psychiatrist: Use medical treatment such as prescribing medications for mental health conditions
Before seeking help, it’s important to know what you need and are seeking. A consultation call can help you decide.
At The Therapeutic Way, we are registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario.