The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

By: Christine Hammond, LMHC, NCC It was clear that after 7 years of marriage, Jack and Jill still loved each other. But the way they solved problems, or rather, the way they didn’t solve problems, was destroying their marriage. The last argument ended in a physical altercation and a wrestling match that left them ashamed and humiliated. Neither had ever engaged in this manner before so the shock of how quickly they escalated took them by surprise. Jack and Jill lived in an upper middle-class neighborhood with their two preschool kids. They came from stable families, had satisfying careers, and enjoyed spending time together as a family. But years of pent-up unresolved issues came bubbling to the surface over a minor dishwasher loading offense that resulted in broken dishes and a tumble on the floor. Committed to never allow this to happen again, they willingly came into therapy. The first agreement was to establish new rules for engagement going forward. Instead of ca

By: Brian Murray LMHC Narcissists have a unique way of looking at the world. Their way of thinking and perceiving is different than almost 90% of the world around them so they can be hard to understand and even more difficult to love. Their emotions can become intense and out of proportion with the situation they are faced with due to their skewed perceptions and beliefs. Because of these underlying deviations from cultural expectations, their behavior comes across as arrogant, boastful, intense and they have difficulty with interpersonal functioning. These enduring patterns are lifelong and can usually be traced back to adolescent or even childhood. Narcissist behaviors are inflexible, lack empathy and have a strong need for admiration. Even if they haven’t done anything to deserve special recognition, they still expect to be treated as such. Some people who are not savvy to the ways of a narcissist may challenge the narcissistic behaviors and this is where trouble b

By: Christine Hammond, LMHC, NCC For the last ten years, I have made working with people who have a personality disorder and their family members the main part of my practice. I made this choice for several reasons. First, there are numerous family members within my own family that have a personality disorder and I have a natural talent for handling this population. Second, this is an area of care that most therapists avoid and therefore there is limited help. Third, I believe that everyone can get better and seeing that change in this population is wholly satisfying. Having said that, there are several mistaken assumptions many people make when dealing with a person who has a personality disorder. Here are ten examples: Personality Traits = Personality Disorder. A person can have the traits of a personality disorder without being fully diagnosed. For instance, they may demonstrate narcissistic behavior at work but not at home. In order to be a personality disorde