The Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Center (N.A.R.C.) was formed to help women overcome domestic violence and narcissistic, emotional, and psychological abuse; they believe that everyone deserves to live a happy, fulfilled life free of all forms of abuse. Through a series of programs, the organization supports women in improving their lives after dealing with trauma, teaching tools and skills to recognize signs of abuse while allowing them to develop the self-confidence to set boundaries. This work is done through personal and professional development, support groups, and community education.
N.A.R.C. was inspired by a domestic violence conference attended by CEO Monica Peterson in 2017. After being in an abusive relationship for over fifteen years without awareness of some of the underlying issues, the conference taught her that abuse is not just physical with bruises or broken bones but can also be emotional and psychological. Monica’s mission with the organization is to bring awareness, education, and prevention of narcissistic abuse. She says, “It’s very subtle. You don’t see the signs, you don’t see the red flags, and even if you do, you still proceed. We try to teach people how to recognize toxic people, and how to build their self-confidence and self-esteem to prevent it from happening again.” At the same time, narcissism must be diagnosed by a mental health professional and the individual must meet the criteria outlined in the DSM-5. The organization’s job is not to aid the narcissist but focuses on helping people overcome such abuse and how to live a better life.
In partnership with FLOURISH, N.A.R.C. implemented the “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies” project where they hosted a virtual one-day wellness retreat. This included providing support services, supplies, and resources to new and pregnant moms, but also increased awareness of infant mortality in St. Louis and how it can be connected to domestic violence. Monica shared that the risk of experiencing domestic violence increases when a woman is pregnant or has a new child. She finds that picking a good partner is of utmost importance and participating in one-on-one coaching can help with boundary setting. In another FLOURISH grant-funded project, participants learned more about finances, nutrition, mental health, and maternal health to build skills that will allow them to live healthy and independent lives.
Monica believes that getting the word out about N.A.R.C. would help the organization get better at the work they do. People are not always aware of the various resources out there that can help them improve their lives when it comes to abuse. The organization is always looking for volunteers and board members to advance their mission. To connect with their work or contribute, visit https://thenarcenter.org/ or their Facebook page for more information. You can also contact Monica through her personal Facebook page, by email at [email protected], or by phone at 314-475-2361.
Learn more about Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Center’s FLOURISH grant funded project, “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies”