The Divorce Course Podcast22 Okt 2025

Is My Co-Parent a Narcissist? Warning Signs, Boundaries & How to Protect Your Kids

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

You constantly walk away from conversations with your ex feeling drained, confused, or second-guessing yourself.
Co-parenting feels more like a battleground than teamwork.
You suspect your ex might be narcissistic or manipulative, but you're not sure what to do about it.
You want to learn how to protect your children emotionally while staying calm and in control.
You're tired of being baited into fights and want tools to respond, not react.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses family violence, coercive control, and trauma recovery.
📌 Disclaimer: This episode is for general information and education only. Please seek your own legal, psychological, or medical support for your specific circumstances.

📑 Free Disclosure Checklist

https://www.thedivorcecourse.com.au/disclosurechecklist

💻 The Divorce Course Free Resources

https://www.thedivorcecourse.com.au

What You'll Learn: Is My Co-Parent a Narcissist? Warning Signs, Boundaries & How to Protect Your Kids

💔 Recognising the Signs:
Mia explains how narcissistic or high-conflict co-parents reveal themselves — through blame-shifting, entitlement, image obsession, and control.

⚖️ The Court Reality Check:
Lyn shares why using the word "narcissist" in court can backfire — and how to instead describe their behaviours (the "ingredients" rather than "the cake").

🧱 Setting Boundaries That Stick:
How to stop being pulled into chaos, manage constant conflicts, and accept "who you're dealing with" so you can regain power.

🧒 Protecting the Kids:
Red flags to watch for in how your ex uses or manipulates the children — and how to model calm, consistent parenting when they don't.

💬 Parenting Teenagers of Narcissistic Exes:
Mia and Lyn dive into the tricky years — when kids start echoing their narcissistic parent's behaviour — and how to hold firm without turning into your ex.

💪 Your Healing & Hope:
Why the most powerful move isn't "winning" against your ex — it's rebuilding your self-trust, removing their emotional "buttons," and staying in your own lane.

🔗 Guest Expert

Mia from Grey Rock Consulting — https://www.greyrockconsulting.com.au/
Lawyer, founder, and Australia's first certified Master High Conflict Negotiation Coach (trained by Rebecca Zung).
Mia helps clients and lawyers navigate high-conflict personalities with strategy, clarity, and self-preservation.

⏱️ Episode Timeline –

00:00 — Intro: Are You Co-Parenting with a Narcissist? Signs to Watch For

00:34 — Meet Mia from Grey Rock Consulting: Expert in Narcissists & High-Conflict Exes

02:11 — What Narcissistic Co-Parenting Really Looks Like (and Why It's So Draining)

13:51 — How Narcissistic Co-Parenting Affects Kids Emotionally and Psychologically

18:25 — Setting Boundaries with a Narcissist: Staying Calm & In Control

21:49 — What to Include (and Avoid) in Parenting Orders or Plans

26:22 — Custody Chaos: When Your Narcissistic Ex Twists the Rules

26:45 — Unexpected Changes & Power Plays: How to Handle Parenting Plan Disputes

27:32 — Dealing with Difficult Co-Parents Who Refuse to Cooperate

29:12 — Emotional Recovery: Healing After Narcissistic Abuse

29:53 — When to Push Back (and When to Let It Go) in Co-Parenting Conflicts

35:08 — Teenagers & Narcissistic Parents: What to Do When Kids Mirror the Ex

37:38 — Maintaining Boundaries, Consistency & Emotional Safety at Home

40:39 — Becoming the Positive Role Model Your Kids Need

43:22 — Focusing on You: Self-Growth, Strength & Rebuilding Confidence

46:44 — Where to Get Help: Support, Counselling & Co-Parenting Resources

49:15 — Final Thoughts: Finding Freedom from a Narcissistic Co-Parent

Related Episodes:

Is it emotional abuse?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bSCQ3JdcU4xxW7D4LJUxG?si=VV8mR7aYS7uJYstTMYwZvg

Post Divorce Glow Up

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7JoSZEPWiMgM1N1G1C6WSU?si=HDBpOPXqTnmzzrIudA16tQ

Divorcing an abuser

https://open.spotify.com/episode/21TpYbC15VJt9lnb82Ub13?si=lonuOpx8Q22ZRrKKbArc0g

🎙️ Mediation or Manipulation?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4P1DjaMtXTq2sbel4qywew
🎙️ The Narcissist Playbook

https://open.spotify.com/episode/00kTon70LllVE97X8zn9vK

🚨 Support Services (Australia):

1800 RESPECT – Family Violence Support
Lifeline 13 11 14 – Crisis Support
Police – Call 000 if you are in danger

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses family violence, coercive control, and situations that may feel unsafe.
📌 Legal Disclaimer: This episode is for general information only and is not legal advice. Please seek your own legal support for your specific circumstances.

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