Jung in the World | Traumatic Narcissism, Cult Survival, and Reclaiming Dignity with Daniel Shaw, LCSW

Psychotherapist Daniel Shaw survived a decade in a cult — then spent 30 years helping victims of traumatic narcissism heal. He talks with host Patricia Martin about the mechanics of subjugation, why “no contact” isn’t always the answer, and how reclaiming dignity supports recovery.

Keywords: Narcissism, narcissistic trauma, cult, psychology, recovery

Daniel Shaw, LCSW, is a psychotherapist trained in psychoanalysis as well as in trauma-informed psychotherapies, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST). He is in private practice in New York City and in Nyack, New York; and Faculty and Supervisor at The National Institute for the Psychotherapies in New York.

In his book Traumatic Narcissism: Relational Systems of Subjugation, published by Routledge in 2014 for the Relational Perspectives Series and nominated for the prestigious Gradiva Award, Shaw introduced the traumatic narcissism theory. Shaw’s theory focuses on how the “traumatizing narcissist” manipulates victims, causing them to be fearful and insecure at the same time as they are becoming more and more dependent. Unlike with theories of pathological narcissism that focus on treating people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Shaw’s work focuses on helping victims of traumatizing narcissists recover their faith and trust in themselves. His book Traumatic Narcissism and Recovery: Leaving the Prison of Shame and Fear was published in 2021. In 2018, the International Cultic Studies Association awarded Dan the Margaret Thaler Singer Award for advancing the understanding of coercive persuasion and undue influence. A third book, Traumatic Narcissism Theory: A Contemporary Introduction, will be published in 2026.

Shaw has for many years been teaching groups of mental health professionals how to understand and use the traumatic narcissism theory to help not only cult survivors, but survivors of all kinds of traumatic narcissistic abuse. Learn more at danielshawlcsw.com.

Books by Daniel Shaw:

Patricia Martin, MFA, is the host of Jung in the World. A noted cultural analyst, she applies Jungian theory to her work as a researcher and writer. Author of three books, her work has been featured in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Huffington Post, and USA Today. She holds an MFA in writing and literature from Bennington College and an MA in cultural studies at the University College, Dublin (honors). In 2018, she completed the Jungian Studies Program at the C. G. Jung Institute Chicago where she is a professional affiliate. A scholar in residence at the Chicago Public Library, for the last decade she’s been studying the digital culture and its impact on the individuation process. Patricia travels the world giving talks and workshops based on her findings and has a private consulting practice in Chicago.

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Executive Producer: Ben Law
Hosts: Patricia Martin, Judith Cooper, Daniel Ross, Adina Davidson, and Raisa Cabrera
2025-2026 Season Intern: Zoe Kalaw
Music: Peter Demuth