Nancy Harris Blog - Psychotherapy and life coaching in Denver

You’re Not Too Sensitive – You May Be Experiencing Narcissistic Abuse

Understanding emotional manipulation and how to begin healing

Do you often feel like the problem in your relationships — even when your intentions are kind and your needs are reasonable? Do you leave conversations feeling confused, guilty, or emotionally drained? If so, you may be experiencing something known as narcissistic abuse.

While we often associate abuse with physical harm, emotional abuse can be just as damaging — and far more difficult to recognize. Narcissistic abuse, in particular, often flies under the radar because it’s insidious, confusing, and comes from people we may love deeply.

As a holistic psychotherapist, I’ve seen the deep pain this form of abuse can cause — and I want you to know:
You’re not too sensitive. You’re not imagining things. And you’re not alone.

What Is Narcissistic Abuse?

Narcissistic abuse is a form of emotional manipulation that occurs in relationships where one person consistently dismisses, devalues, or controls the other. The narcissist may appear charming to the outside world, but behind closed doors they engage in subtle (or overt) behaviors that undermine your sense of self.

Unlock the Power of Certainty and Transform Your Life

by Nancy Harris 1 Comment

The Power of Certainty: A Path to Inner Peace and Transformation

In a world that often feels unpredictable and chaotic, certainty can be a powerful anchor. As a holistic psychotherapist and transformational life coach, I have witnessed firsthand how cultivating certainty within oneself can lead to profound shifts in emotional wellbeing, personal growth, and even physical health.

At its core, certainty is not about controlling external events. It’s about developing an unshakable trust in yourself — in your inner wisdom, your resilience, and your ability to navigate whatever life brings. When you cultivate inner certainty, you move through life with greater ease, confidence, and peace.

Why Certainty Matters

When we lack certainty, we are more likely to experience anxiety, indecision, and emotional overwhelm. We look outside ourselves for validation, constantly second-guessing our choices. This leaves us feeling powerless and disconnected from our true selves.

Spread Your Wings

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Have you ever felt a quiet nudge within—an inner knowing that it’s time to grow, to evolve, to let the next version of yourself emerge? I like to think of this moment as the call to spread your wings.

Transformation doesn’t always come with fanfare. Sometimes, it begins as a whisper. A restlessness. A sense that the life you’ve been living no longer fully fits who you are becoming.

The image I’m sharing here—a peacock, wings at its sides—captures that moment just before the full expansion. It’s beautiful even in stillness. There’s strength and grace in the pause, in the waiting. It’s not any less magnificent because it hasn’t fully opened. In fact, that’s often where the most profound growth begins: in the quiet space before the unfolding.

Like the peacock, you, too, carry within you the potential for radiance. Even if you’re not quite ready to show it all. Even if you’re still gathering your courage. There is power in simply standing in who you are, right now.

Your Dreams Are Alive and Well

by Nancy Harris 2 Comments

Life can be disappointing. People let us down. They lie, cheat, betray our trust. Unexpected events knock us off course, draining our energy and breaking our spirit. It can feel almost impossible to pursue what we want when most of our time is consumed by obligations, responsibilities, and putting out fires.

But what if—beneath all the chaos—your long-forgotten dreams are still alive and well?

If that feels hard to believe, let’s just pause and suspend disbelief for a moment. Let’s peer into the corners of your heart and brush off the cobwebs. Let’s uncover the dreams you tucked away when life got too loud, too busy, too painful.

Take a moment.

Close your eyes. Breathe. Drop into your heart and listen.

What do you hear?

Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt: How to Navigate Life’s Most Difficult Emotions

by Nancy Harris 1 Comment

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or anxious about what lies ahead, you’re not alone. Has there ever been a more stressful time on earth? Hard to know, but we sure are in the thick of it right now and most of us are feeling the stress. Many of the clients I work with come to me in the midst of what I often call these difficult emotions “The FUD Trio”—fear, uncertainty and doubt.

These difficult emotions can be powerful, and at times, completely paralyzing. But the good news is: they don’t have to control your path. With the right tools and support, you can learn to navigate these feelings with clarity, confidence, and self-compassion.

What Is Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt?

Fear is a natural response to perceived danger—physical or emotional. Uncertainty arises when we face the unknown. Doubt steps in when our confidence wavers. Together, they can make even small decisions feel monumental.

Instead of curling up into a ball and shutting off the lights, perhaps there’s a better choice. How about getting support to move through these difficult emotions, rather than avoid them. Why? Because fear, uncertainty, and doubt aren’t signs that something is wrong with you and these emotions often don’t go away on their own. They’re signs that you’re human—and likely on the edge of something profound and meaningful. With the right support, your FUD may lead you to make very valuable positive life changes.