Field Development Accomplishments and Contributions
Field Development Work
1980s-1990s
Founded a Personality Disorder Program and created a dual-focus track for partners and children of Personality Disorders
Began data collections and mapping of relational dynamics identified as ‘Pathological Relationships’ (today called Narcissistic and Psychopathic Abuse)
Worked on re-development of inpatient Women’s Trauma/Women’s Personality Disorder Inpatient unit, the development of multi-site Intensive Outpatient Programs for Women’s Trauma, and sole developer of a Long-Term Residential Treatment Center for women with Dissociative Identity Disorder/Multiple Personality Disorder.
1990s-2000
Began data collections of trauma differentiations in the survivor population of Pathological Relationships
Began data collections of survivor personality features in Pathological Relationships
2000-2010
Isolated and identified atypical trauma symptom of cognitive dissonance in population as a ‘chronic and persistent’ form of CD
Introduced the concept of personality disorder relationships in the published book How to Spot a Dangerous Man and workbook
Established Therapist Training
Personality Testing of the survivors utilizing The TCI assessment and first discussion of the results of it in the first edition of the book Women Who Love Psychopaths: Inside the Relationships of Inevitable Harm with Psychopaths, Sociopaths & Narcissists, as well as relational dynamics and resulting trauma; book referenced as ‘seminal’ contribution to a new field
2nd Edition of Women Who Love Psychopaths: Inside the Relationships of Inevitable Harm with Psychopaths, Sociopaths & Narcissists, included expanded understanding of stages of relational development, typical behaviors of PD partners during stages of the relationship, trauma as a primary diagnosis of survivors, and introduction of the first model of care treatment and recovery map
Introduction of ‘Pathological Relationships’ via Psychology Today column
Developed and ran a prototype inpatient hospitalization program for further development of treatment protocols for survivors of Pathological Relationships
Launched website for survivors (2005)
Relational Expert on Pathological Relationships in The Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC)/The National Geographic Channel documentary The Psychopath Next Door with Drs Robert Hare and Stephen Porges
2011-2014
Introduction of Pathological Relationships via multiple conference lectures, including an APA sponsored conference through The Relationship Training Institute
200+ articles written on Pathological Relationships and survivors published on website
Began collaboration with Purdue University on collegiate research on survivors for large sample multi-assessment study of personality trait elevations
Began the utilization of the Purdue research data, new data collections from our Trauma Study of survivors and Cognitive Dissonance Study of survivors compiled into the 3rd edition of the book Women Who Love Psychopaths: Inside the Relationships of Inevitable Harm with Psychopaths, Sociopaths & Narcissists; including an updated view of a model of care treatment and recovery map
2015-2018
Publication of the 3rd Edition of the book Women Who Love Psychopaths: Inside the Relationships of Inevitable Harm with Psychopaths, Sociopaths & Narcissists, a 400+page book of field compilations in Pathological Relationship theory expansion, trauma, atypical trauma, and cognitive dissonance data collections
Approximately another 150+ articles for survivors written on Pathological Relationships for the website
World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day established by Bree Bonchay, LCSW, served as faculty speaker since 2016
Began our ‘Living Recovery Program’ online, trauma reduction program for survivors of Pathological Relationships
Began the formation of The Association for NPD/Psychopathy Survivor Treatment, Research & Education, a clinical theory-based training program
2019-2022
Website for The Association launched
Published data collection on Trauma Bonding and Cognitive Dissonance
Published for therapists a 300+page treatment manual Treating the Survivors of Narcissistic and Psychopathic Abuse: A Clinical Focus on Evidence-Based and Trauma-Informed Treatment Protocols
Data collected for deeper studies on Atypical Trauma and the introduction of ‘dual dysregulation’ theory in survivors
Published for therapists Trauma Bonding And Cognitive Dissonance—How They Are Connected and published Common Treatment Errors in Treating and Coaching Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse
The development of clinical training materials for PESI, Inc. (worldwide mental health CE prover) on Pathological Relationships/Narcissistic Abuse
Therapist Training with PESI launched in 2021 in the US, UK, and AU (approximately 10,000 have taken the workshop) and on The Assn’s website
Collaboration with Evergreen Certification Company to provide the initial content of training theory to meet the Certification Standards for a Certification (C-NATS) Clinical Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Specialist
2022-2023
(Pending) Collaboration with Evergreen Certification Company to provide the content of training theory to develop a Certification in Atypical Trauma Certification for Narcissistic Abuse
Develop videos for therapists on YouTube called ‘Shrink Think’ addressing common treatment issues
Clinical Lectures and Training
Ruth Ginsberg Lecture Series ‘Women and The Law on Domestic Violence’ Thomas Jefferson Law School
End Violence Against Women International, Keynote
Study Outcomes shared on our behalf at The Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy
National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)
The US Army—Psychologists and Family Advocate Training
APA San Diego ‘Staying Ahead of the Curve in Domestic Violence’ Training
The State of Georgia Commission on Family—For Judges and Prosecutors
The Victimology Academy
The Institute for Relational Harm Reduction’s Therapist Training (our inhouse training)
Nystrom Counseling Centers
( * Sample, not exhaustive)
Books: Chapters, Forewords, Citations, Theory Inclusions, Consultation
‘Insight is 20/20: How to Trust Yourself to Protect Yourself From Narcissistic Abuse and Toxic Relationships,’ Foreword, citations, theory inclusions (Pumphrey, Chelli, LPC).
‘Why Can’t I Just Leave? A Guide to Waking Up and Walking Out of a Pathological Love Relationship,’ Foreword, citations, theory inclusions (Milstead, Kristen, Ph.D.)
‘Psychopath Online: Risky Relationships While Dating,’ Citations, (Duvringe, L. and Florette, M). (Sweden)
‘The STOP Program for Women: Skills, Techniques, Options and Plans for Better Relationships,’ Chapter, Handouts, Worksheets (Wexler, David, Ph.D.)
‘Dangerous Liaisons: How to Recognize and Escape from Psychopathic Seduction,’ Citations, Theory Inclusions (Moscovici, Claudia)
‘#MeToo-Informed Therapy: Counseling for Men, Women, and Couples, Citations, theory inclusions, and theory consultation (Wexler, David Ph.D. and Sweet, Holly, Ph.D.)
‘Understanding Female Offenders: Psychopathy, Criminal Offender, Assessment and Treatment,’ relational dynamics and victim trauma consultation, (Smith, Jason, Ph.D., Gacono, Carl, Ph.D., Cunliffe, Ted, Ph.D.)
Multiple citations in survivor books on Narcissistic Abuse.
Research Advisor
Advisor consultant for research study at Metanoia Institute and Middlesex University in the UK: ‘The Long Road Back to Self: An Exploration of the Lived Experience of a Survivor’s Journey of Recovery After Being in a Relationship With a Partner Who Displays Psychopathic Traits,’ by Jayne Dales-Tibbott, MSc, UKCP, BACP
Clinical Work
30 years of working with C-PTSD and above on Trauma Continuum
Personality Disorders, and survivors and children of PDs
Individual and Group Treatment
Program development—inpatient, outpatient, multidisciplinary approaches, and modalities
Specific development of techniques for use with Pathological Relationship Survivors including:
• A clinical, evidence-based, and trauma-informed model of care treatment approach (and manual)
• Cognitive Dissonance approaches (Flip the Script, the Link and Label Method, and more)
• The Structured Inventory For Narrative Work
• The Pathometry Checklist
• Pathology Education Guidelines
• Using Neuroscience and The Brain Venn with Survivors
• Atypical Trauma Checklist and Comparison to PTSD
• Brief Cognitive Dissonance Checklist
• Contraindications in Treatment for Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse
• Super Traits of Personality -vs- Codependency Charts and Differentiation Scales
(* Sample, not exhaustive list)
Provided services to survivors of Pathological Relationships via:
• In person
• Tele-health
• Online year-long trauma reduction program
• Retreats
• Intensives
Contact Info
Sandra L. Brown, MA
Survivor website: saferelationshipsmagazine.com
Therapist and Professional Association website: survivortreatment.com
Facebook and Instagram: The Institute for Relational Harm Reduction
Facebook for The Association: Association for NPD/Psychopathy Survivor Treatment
YouTube: The Institute for Relational Harm Reduction
YouTube for The Association: Association for NPD/Psychopathy Survivor Treatment called ‘Shrink Think’ addressing common treatment errors