Watching The Narcissist’s Playbook, directed by Mark Vincente and featuring notable professionals across the trauma recovery field, is an eye-opening experience. Having watched it twice now—both times with my mouth on the floor—I can confidently say it is one of the most insightful resources available for survivors of relational abuse.

As the founder of Healing Beyond Trauma, I routinely recommend this film to clients. Why? Because it breaks through the fog of confusion. It pulls back the curtain on the abuser's perspective, mapping out the insidious cycle of abuse—from initial idealization and love bombing to devaluation, intermittent reinforcement, smear campaigns, discard, and hoovering—in a way that makes the invisible suddenly visible.

This film hits a deeply personal chord for me. Early in my own journey, Richard Grannon was a long-time mentor, coach, and key influence whose work dramatically impacted my life. In many ways, his insight was the catalyst that set me on the path to becoming a coach and hypnotherapist as I resolved to heal my own wounds.

Watching the dynamic unfold on screen between Richard and Sam Vaknin was one thing, but truly understanding what I was seeing was another. I watched the real-time the idealization phase, their work together and the inevitable discard and subsequent smear campaign happen, followed by Richard stepping back and disappearing from the public eye for a time.

Seeing this play out from an outside perspective offered a sobering truth: no one is immune to these dynamics. When you see a seasoned expert navigating the exact push-and-pull tactics, public alienation, and systemic shock that everyday survivors face, it strips away the shame. It proves that falling victim to a strategic manipulator is not a character flaw or a sign of weakness—it is the natural human reaction to a calculated playbook.

While watching The Narcissist’s Playbook gives you the intellectual framework to understand what happened, true recovery requires moving that understanding from your head into your body.

​When you experience the discard phase or endure a public smear campaign, your nervous system is thrown into severe hypervigilance. The brain stays locked in a threat response long after the dynamic has ended. Recognizing the tactics is step one; rewiring the subconscious shame spirals and restoring physical safety is step two.

Going through narcissistic abuse is nothing short of hell's rollercoaster. To watch it happen to a trusted colleague—or navigate it alongside one—is even more devastating. For that reason, I admire and deeply appreciate the effort, dedication, bravery, and vulnerability it takes to create a documentary such as this one.

This film is not only a wonderful educational tool, but it is also a vital act of protection for others. I want to extend my sincerest thank you to:

Richard Grannon: Thank you for sharing your experience and speaking up for those who have been harmed. Your services, products, and YouTube channel deeply impacted my life and inspired my own journey of healing. Seeing your courage reinforces why I stepped into this work.

Mark Vincente: You have created a beautiful, captivating, and deeply raw experience for the viewer. I finally know what this dynamic looks like from the outside, and this perspective is one that I will be sharing with all of my clients on their healing journey.

Isla Traquair: Thank you for putting yourself in a dangerous situation as an investigative journalist to expose the truth, gain crucial insight, and stand up for survivors of narcissistic and Cluster B abuse by one of the most deceptive creatures on earth.

Thank you all for turning profound pain into a beacon of truth and protection for survivors everywhere.

If watching The Narcissist’s Playbook helped you realize the reality of what you experienced, you don't have to navigate the aftermath alone.

At Healing Beyond Trauma, I specialize in helping survivors step out of hypervigilance, clear the lingering distress of smear campaigns and discards, and rebuild an unshakeable sense of self.