Rated #1 in ability to illustrate and connect concepts of narcissism through story, metaphor, and slightly spicy wit*

*Or so my clients tell me.

Learn to see what's really there

You can see all the signs of trauma, but your client insists they’ve never experienced any…So where is their perfectionism, constant anxiety, and apologies for taking up space coming from?

Identifying narcissistic abuse is sometimes like looking at a 3D visual puzzle. At first, all you see is a confusing pattern that doesn’t make any sense.

But if you look long enough, in just the right way, you might see a shape emerge.

And if you keep looking, you find you can identify the shape and see the image within.

Here at Courageous Heart, you will learn how to see the shape within and help your clients begin to heal.

(See what I mean about having a metaphor for everything?)

Healing from abuse is the work of a courageous heart. So is helping others to heal.

"Okay, Amy. I love your geeky humor and on-point analogies, but how can you help me as a Mentor?"

Fair question.

You aren’t here just for my sparkling wit, pop culture metaphors, and fun personality, after all – you’re here to learn from my 10+ years of experience building a specialty practice centered on the intimate, complex, nuanced, and intricate world of healing from narcissistic abuse. Whether working with individuals, running therapy groups and workshops, writing books or providing continuing education, I have always kept my focus on helping my courageous survivor clients to heal and thrive. Supporting them in healing from complex trauma has been richly rewarding work, and a true labor of love.

As a clinician specializing in complex developmental and relational trauma, I have honed my skills through training in models such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and Brainspotting. I stay current on up to the minute research that informs my continuing education programs and consultation. And I am proud to include the Therapist Mentoring Program in my work to increase client access to strong, clinically appropriate, ethical, and comprehensive treatment for survivors of narcissistic abuse.

As the author of two books and a frequently requested speaker and trainer, I had a front row seat to the responses of both clients and clinicians searching for better resources. In conversation after conversation, the feedback was nearly unanimous: there are just not enough narcissism-competent therapists to meet clients’ needs, and there is a thirst for learning and deeper understanding of narcissism within the clinical community.

And so, The Courageous Heart Institute was born.

I founded Courageous Heart to build a community of clinicians who share my deep, heart-centered desire to support adult children and survivors of narcissistic abuse in healing from their complex trauma legacies. I am passionate about helping clinicians gain a deeper, clearer understanding of these complex topics – not only to help you support your clients, but also to support you, the person of the therapist.

The Courageous Heart Institute is committed to developing and nurturing a supportive, compassionate, and highly skilled community of clinicians equipped to help clients heal from the wounds of narcissistic abuse. We are firmly committed to learning and practicing through a lens of inclusion, acceptance, anti-racism, and anti-oppression. I am so glad you are here to become part of it.

Amy's Track Record

Highly Trained in Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Treatment

Internal Family Systems Level 1 and 2
Brainspotting Phase 1 and 2, specialty training in Parts Work and Expansion Models
EMDR Basic training

Published Author

The Gaslighting Recovery Workbook: Healing from Emotional Abuse (2020)
The Clinician’s Guide to Treating Adult Children of Narcissists: Pulling Back the Curtain on Manipulation, Gaslighting, and Emotional Abuse in Narcissistic Families (2023, with Amy Kempe)

Continuing Education Trainer

PESI: Gaslighting 101, Narcissistic Abuse for Therapists, Ambiguous Loss in Narcissistic Relationships: Clinical Skills to Process the Unresolved Grief of Estrangement, Advisor for certification program (currently in development) with PESI, Inc and Evergreen Certifications.

Make an Impact: Narcissistic Abuse 101, Complicated Grief and Loss in Narcissistic Relationships (coming soon)

Featured Expert Speaker

Keynote speaker for The Family Advocacy Program’s Domestic Violence Awareness presentation at Mcguire Dix Lakehurst Military Base

Choose for your clients. Choose for you.

I’ll be real with you: I know it’s hard to take the step and commit to a process that involves just as much insight as it does clinical learning. But I want you to take that step, because our clients deserve to have therapists who really understand what they’ve been through. And you deserve to give yourself the same kind of compassion, patience, and encouragement you give your clients. As your Mentor, I’m here to help you with both of those. And I’ll do it with my own special blend of warmth, connection, and geek humor. The door is open. Come on in, and let’s deepen together.

About Amy Marlow-MaCoy, LPC