Mental Health Speaker on Narcissistic Abuse & People-Pleasing| Kirsten Cheong, LMFT
Speaking on narcissistic abuse, people-pleasing, survival mechanisms, boundaries, and going no contact.
About the Speaker
Kirsten Cheong is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician certified through Dr. Ramani Durvasula Ph.D.'s Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician program.
She speaks on narcissistic family systems, people-pleasing, survival mechanisms, boundaries, and going no contact, translating complex clinical concepts into language that is accessible, validating, and immediately actionable for her audiences.
Her style is direct, warm, and occasionally funny — because the heaviest topics land better when the room feels safe enough to breathe.
What Kirsten Speaks On
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People-Pleasing & Narcissistic Family Systems
Why people-pleasing isn't a personality trait but a a survival mechanism. This talk explores how growing up in a narcissistic family system creates chronic people-pleasing behaviors, what keeps them in place in adulthood, and what recovery actually looks like.
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Survival Mechanisms: Fawning, Freezing & the Nervous System
An accessible, trauma-informed look at how the nervous system responds to narcissistic abuse. Audiences leave understanding why they do what they do and feeling less shame about it.
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Going No Contact: Considerations, Shame & Survival
One of the most misunderstood decisions a narcissistic abuse survivor can make. This talk explores the considerations behind going no contact, the shame and grief that comes with it, and how to navigate the decision without guilt running the show.
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Boundaries After Narcissistic Abuse: How to Set and Maintain Them
Setting boundaries sounds simple. For women raised by narcissistic parents, it's anything but. This talk addresses why boundaries feel dangerous, how guilt and fear keep them in place, and how to start building them anyway—even parents don’t honor or care about boundaries.
Who Kirsten Speaks To
Kirsten's talks are designed for audiences who work with or include women navigating narcissistic abuse, trauma, and recovery. Audiences typically identify as anxious, perfectionistic, people-pleasers, have complicating dating patterns, or having come from dysfunctional family systems. Current speaking audiences include:
IOP and PHP programs: psychoeducation sessions for clients in intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs
Women's groups and organizations: community events, support groups, and women's wellness programming
Mental health professionals: continuing education and training for clinicians working with narcissistic abuse survivors
General public events: community workshops and webinars open to anyone wanting to understand narcissistic abuse and its effects