Not Good Enough: Healing the Wounds of a Narcissistic Mother

Course overview

Many women raised by narcissistic mothers carry profound yet often invisible wounds that shape their sense of self, relationships, and mental health well into adulthood. Clinicians working with these clients must understand the unique developmental, relational, and identity struggles that emerge from growing up in narcissistic family systems. In this presentation, Ellen Biros will provide a comprehensive exploration of maternal narcissism, its impact on daughters' attachment, identity formation, and relational patterns, as well as the long-term consequences such as shame, codependency, and complex trauma. Participants will learn to apply trauma-informed and evidence-based interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), and inner child work to help clients challenge internalized criticism, establish healthy boundaries, and cultivate self-compassion. The workshop also addresses clinical challenges such as transference, countertransference, ambivalence, and managing ongoing relationships with narcissistic parents. By integrating theory with practical skills, this course equips clinicians to support adult daughters of narcissistic mothers in reclaiming their identities, developing healthier relational patterns, and fostering resilience in the aftermath of narcissistic abuse.