evile

Should one expose a narcissistic professional with a negative review so others are protected? Or is it better to move on with your life where they no longer have control over you?

If you are going to leave a review, stick to facts—dates, times, behavior, damages. Do not name call. Do not ‘armchair diagnose’ the person’s disorder in a public forum—even if you are a licensed psychological professional, such a diagnosis should not be shared via public forum, it is a violation of HIPAA regulations to do so.

Just list the facts. “On X date, Professional So-and-so failed to provide Y service as specified in Z contractual obligation,” or what-have-you.

If you decide to leave a public review, be sure that there is nothing they can do to you or withhold from you in retaliation. The narcissist’s public image is very important to him/her, the narcissist is always engaged in image crafting—putting on what I call “The Great And Wonderful ME Show” for all of their followers, flying monkeys, and present (& future) victims. So anything that puts a dent in their shiny facade will be seen as an attack and a narcissist will respond accordingly.

Now, to a narcissist, the Facade—the “Great and Wonderful ME Show!” is their life itself, rather than all the shabby reality of the lies they tell to prop themselves up. So they will feel as tho ugh they are fighting for their actual, literal survival. Therefore, no retaliation is off the table, too low down, or too dirty for them to do. They are fighting for their existence. They will hurt you as badly as they can and feel completely justified in doing so.

Be prepared for this and do not engage with them in any way unless you are just as willing to fight as hard as you can, and you have facts, documentation, and the law on your side.

As a more viable alternative to a public review, you may wish to speak privately with anyone you know who is using this professional’s services and mention your concerns, along with facts and documentation regarding their unprofessional behavior.

Additionally, you may wish to consult the professional licensing or regulating body that issued the person’s professional credentials and present your facts to them, so that they can potentially take action regarding your complaint, or add your complaint to whatever list of existing complaints there may be against this person. Once a tipping-point of complaints is reached, there may be an investigation and the person may lose their standing or professional licence with the governing body.

Personally, unless this person was a potential danger to the lives of others with their behavior, I would not follow through with any action against them. I would just move on with my life.

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