About this episode
Psychotherapist Daniel Shaw survived a decade in a cult — then spent 30 years helping victims of traumatic narcissism heal. He talks with host Patricia Martin about the mechanics of subjugation, why “no contact” isn’t always the answer, and how reclaiming dignity supports recovery.
Keywords: Narcissism, narcissistic trauma, cult, psychology, recovery
Daniel Shaw, LCSW, is a psychotherapist trained in psychoanalysis as well as in trauma-informed psychotherapies, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST). He is in private practice in New York City and in Nyack, New York; and Faculty and Supervisor at The National Institute for the Psychotherapies in New York.
In his book Traumatic Narcissism: Relational Systems of Subjugation, published by Routledge in 2014 for the Relational Perspectives Series and nominated for the prestigious Gradiva Award, Shaw introduced the traumatic narcissism theory. Shaw’s theory focuses on how the “traumatizing narcissist” manipulates victims, causing them to be fearful and insecure at the same time as they are becoming more and more dependent. Unlike with theories of pathological narcissism that focus on treating people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Shaw’s work focuses on helping victims of traumatizing narcissists recover their faith and trust in themselves. His book Traumatic Narcissism and Recovery: Leaving the Prison of Shame and Fear was published in 2021. In 2018, the International Cultic Studies Association awarded Dan the Margaret Thaler Singer Award for advancing the understanding of coercive persuasion
