The truth about sociopaths and how to recover from relationship abuse
Lovefraud webinars on relationship abuse are presented from the perspective of experience. Almost every instructor learned about the behavior of sociopaths in relationships the hard way — by having them break our hearts, mess with our minds and attempt to destroy us.
When it happened to us, we found little effective support. Even the licensed professionals among us realized that our mental health training did not help us. We all had to find our own paths to recovery.
We don’t want that to happen to you.
So we want to teach you the truth about sociopaths — meaning people who have antisocial, narcissistic, borderline, histrionic or psychopathic personality disorders — and the harm they cause. They abuse almost everyone in their lives — partners, family members, work colleagues and acquaintances. The level of abuse may vary, but sociopaths exploit everyone who has something that they want.
If you’re a survivor, from these webinars on relationship abuse you’ll learn how sociopaths manipulate you and everyone else, why you were targeted and how you can recover.
If you’re a mental health professional, you’ll learn how to better serve clients who are, or were, in relationships with sociopaths, and are suffering from profound betrayal and trauma.
What is a sociopath?
“Sociopathy” is no longer an official clinical diagnosis. If you’re a therapist, you know this, and if you use the word, it’s probably shorthand for “antisocial personality disorder.”
But when Dr. George E. Partridge coined the term “sociopathy” in 1930, he suggested it mean, “anything deviated or pathological in social relations.” He wanted to describe a pathological condition in which people are maladjusted in their relations with others and society, and motivated towards antisocial behavior.
We need this word today. We need language to describe the millions of people living among us who routinely exploit, manipulate and abuse the rest of us, regardless of their precise clinical diagnosis.
Lovefraud uses the word “sociopath” as an umbrella term encompassing all of the manipulative and exploitative personality disorders. These are the American Psychiatric Association DSM 5 diagnoses of antisocial, narcissistic, borderline and histrionic personality disorders, along with psychopathy.
Here’s what these disorders have in common: The affected people use and abuse the rest of us. We need to be able to talk about them in general, so we can learn to protect ourselves from them.
Read Lovefraud’s position on terminology.
The Lovefraud Education and Recovery team
These webinars are presented by Lovefraud Education and Recovery, a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation.
Webinars for mental health professionals are reviewed and approved by the Lovefraud Education and Recovery Team. Members of the team are:
Donna Andersen, B.A., program administrator — Donna Andersen launched Lovefraud.com in 2005, and has collected more than 10,000 cases of people who have been involved with sociopaths. She is author of Red Flags of Love Fraud — 10 signs you’re dating a sociopath.
Liane J. Leedom, M.D. — Dr. Leedom is a psychiatrist and associate professor of counseling and psychology at the University of Bridgeport. She is the author of numerous scientific papers and also the book, Just Like His Father? A Guide to Overcoming Your Child’s Genetic Connection to Antisocial Behavior, Addiction and ADHD.
Monique A. Belton, Ph.D. — Dr. Belton holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Columbia University and is a licensed psychologist in private practice. She is also an executive coach and relationship coach. Dr. Belton co authored The Essential Guide to Overcoming Obsessive Love.
Mary Ann Glynn, LCSW — Ms. Glynn is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice, certified in EMDR and hypnotherapy. She runs and helps start support groups for partners in or out of relationships with low-conscience individuals. Ms. Glynn created the Mind Warrior app to help clients use mindful tracking to manage emotional, relational and PTSD triggers, which can lead to breaking No Contact.
Amber Ault, Ph.D., MSW, APSW — Dr. Ault is a psychology and sociology professor at the University of Wisconsin. She also practices as a therapist at the Madison Mental Health Services and Training Institute. She has written numerous scholarly articles and has just published books including, The Five Step Exit: Skills You Need to Leave a Narcissist, Psychopath, or Other Toxic partner and Recover Your Happiness Now, and The Wise Lesbian Guide to Getting Free from Crazy Making Relationships.
James Sullivan, Ph.D., LPC, NCCFC, ACS, NAFC — Dr. Sullivan received his doctorate in counseling from Fordham University and holds four masters degrees in the fields of theology, social science, counseling, and educational psychology. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Board Certified Approved Clinical Supervisor, a Diplomate in Clinical Forensic Counseling, and a Board Certified Criminal Justice Specialist. He is director of the Center for the Family in Brookfield, Connecticut, and has offered psychotherapy for children and adults for 50 years.
Tiffany Kettermann, LPC, LMHC, CADCI, MPA, MA — Ms. Kettermann is a licensed professional counselor and a certified drug and alcohol counselor with a private practice specializing in narcissistic abuse, Health Allies Counseling, in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Kettermann has a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a post-graduate certificate in Trauma Response Services from George Fox University, as well as training as an EMDR therapist from EMDRIA.
Several team members are engaged in scientific research on personality disorders and abusive relationships.
View scientific research by the Lovefraud team.
Your satisfaction guaranteed
All Lovefraud webinars on relationship abuse are presented by instructors who truly understand the behavior of sociopaths in relationships — whether it’s an intimate partner, family member, work colleague or acquaintance — and how you are affected by relationship abuse.
For that reason, all Lovefraud webinars are 100% guaranteed. If you are not satisfied with your webinar, just tell us and your money will be refunded.
We want to educate you about relationship abuse. We want to help you recover. And we are sure that we can do it.