The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

By: Christine Hammond LMHC It took several committee meetings for Jill to put together a thorough proposal for the management of a new department. She did the work under the presumption that her narcissistic boss would be open to suggestions and recommendations from the committee. But even given that liberty, Jill carefully still sought out opinions from those outside the committee and department to ensure that the most accurate information was gathered and properly processed. She had achieved unanimous agreement from the committee on how to precede, something that was unheard of in the past. Not wanting her boss to be caught off guard during the proposal meeting with the committee, she messaged a preview of their progress privately to her boss. Just before the meeting began, she was ecstatic at the opportunity to effect real change in the company. As they sat around the conference table, the boss quickly took control of the meeting and did not allow Jill or the commi...

By: Christine Hammond LMHC The second Stacey walked into the office, she could feel the tension. Usually it took hours for the tension to mount but this morning, something was already amiss. As she turned on the lights for the floor, she checked the other offices for signs of life and finding none, she retreated to her desk. Out of nowhere her boss appeared with the intensity of lion. With no one there to witness the surprise attack, her boss ripped her to shreds like a tiger with its prey. Abusive behavior is not reserved for just the home. It can happen at work were the stakes of employment, position, benefits, and financial commitments prevent a person from leaving. Abuse is also not just physical. There are many other forms of abuse such as sexual, financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, and verbal. While some of the other forms of abuse are obvious, mental abuse by a narcissist can be difficult to spot. It’s even more difficult when the narcissist is a person’...

By: Christine Hammond LMHC The mistrial of the sexual assault case against Bill Cosby has reignited old stereotypes about rape and abuse. Some new acquaintances of mine, who were unaware of my vocation, commented their satisfaction of the outcome siting several reasons. Rather than argue my position, I chose to listen to a barrage of ignorance and blame casing. Their comments of “why did they wait so long,” “so what if he is a public figure, they should have told someone,” and “they are just out for the money” were filled with shame for the victims. The judgmental attitude is exactly what keeps many victims from coming forward. What is needed is a better understanding of the process, more safety for the victims, and consistent prosecution of the abusers. The following describes that process from the rape to the silence and offers suggestions for how to be more supportive and less convicting. The shock. An experienced rapist has the pattern down. They begin by targe...

By: Christine Hammond LMHC Sometimes the key to success is in knowing whom to avoid at work. Having the wrong association can be the difference between promotion and demotion. In some cases, the casualty could even be a loss of employment. So how can a person navigate through the different personality? Here are ten types of people to be wary of at work. Blamers. The boss is fuming over a missed customer call. Mark, who is the service rep, immediately starts blaming his assistant for the oversite. When he realizes she was out sick, he shifts the blame to his cell phone, the new computer program, and lastly claims the customer is needlessly demanding. Blame shifters hate to take responsibility for any error because they believe this makes them look weak or vulnerable. Complainers. Susie comes into work with a new complaint nearly every day. The traffic was bad and it made her late. The deadline was unrealistic. The bathroom is dirty. Worse yet, she criticizes any new...