When children go through the trauma of a parental struggle, they take on the worst of it, often due to one parent’s unrelenting control issues. It’s important as the “safe parent” to be the strong one and stay in tune with what’s going on in your child’s heart and head.
Sometimes, the safe parent takes on all of the negative emotions and unleashing of frustration from the child, because that child is not emotionally safe with the narcissistic parent.
If possible, professional counseling that gives your child the tools to deal with sadness, lack of control over their lives, and another parent’s anger can be vital to your child emerging unscathed from a post-divorce battle. Counseling for yourself is also recommended, but only choose a counselor who fully understands NPD, or narcissistic personality disorder.