Narcissism 101: Understanding the Dynamics and Protecting Yourself

Narcissistic relationships can be confusing, draining, and deeply damaging—often leaving people questioning their own reality. In this 90-minute introductory class, we’ll break down what narcissism really is (beyond the pop culture buzzword), how it shows up in relationships, and the typical phases these relationships go through—from idealization to devaluation to discard. We’ll explore the common tactics narcissistic individuals use to manipulate, control, and erode self-worth, as well as the emotional and psychological impact these dynamics can have over time.

This session is designed to give you a clear foundation of knowledge, practical language for recognizing unhealthy patterns, and an understanding of why these relationships can be so hard to leave. We’ll also cover first steps for protecting yourself—whether you’re currently in a narcissistic relationship or recovering from one—including where to seek help and how to begin rebuilding your sense of self. This is a safe, nonjudgmental learning space for anyone who wants to better understand narcissism and its effects, either for their own healing or to support someone they care about.

📍Event Details

Wednesday, October 22 · 4 - 5:30 pm

Limited to 15 participants

Free. Limited space. Registration Required.

IMPORTANT: If you are not able to attend an event for which you have registered please so that we may offer that space to someone on the wait list. Thank you.

Additional Details:

Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event. The registration fee is non-refundable unless the event is canceled by the facilitator.

Parking Information

Shakti in the Mountains Website

✨ Led by Janna Browning

Janna Browning, MA, PRDT is a seasoned Trauma-Informed Drama Therapist, Expressive Arts Practitioner, Director, and Facilitator with Healing the Wounds of History (HWH) and Co-Founder of Integrative StoryWorks (ISW). She received her BFA in Acting from Emerson College in Boston and her MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco.

In California, she worked with Armand Volkas in Healing the Wounds of History, which uses expressive arts therapy to bring together groups who share a legacy of historical trauma. Her work with HWH includes groundbreaking projects uniting Armenians and Turks to address the shared legacy of the Armenian Genocide, as well as facilitating dialogue and healing around the historical traumas of Palestinians and Israelis, the conflict in Northern Ireland, and the deep racial wounds of the United States.

Janna has also worked with Community Performance International, a company specializing in community building across lines of difference, using the stories of a community in large-scale theatre performances. She helped develop Community Story Performances in towns across the South and created programming for schools. In 2011, she co-founded the StoryTown Program in Jonesborough, TN, which continues to this day.

As a grief practitioner, Janna brings her trauma-informed drama therapy expertise into the realm of community grief-tending—facilitating monthly grief rituals, keening circles, and embodied expressive arts processes to help individuals and communities honor loss, release what can no longer be carried, and make space for renewal. Her grief work draws from ancestral Celtic traditions, trauma-informed expressive arts, and ritual-based collective healing practices.

She is co-founder of Integrative StoryWorks, a company that uses personal stories to heal individual and collective wounds, as well as StoryWander Travel, which offers escorted, story-based small group travel experiences.

Host or Publisher Shakti in the Mountains