The Conflict Expert

Expressing vulnerability and receiving it with empathy are two of the strongest and most human experiences that anybody can have. It builds trust, affirms who we are, deconstructs shame and helps us to cultivate intimacy in any relationship.

When we express something deeply personal about ourselves and it is disclosed to a third party against our wishes or it is used to exploit negative emotion, we may feel extremely wounded. Sometimes, beyond repair. This is how people are conned in romantic relationships or blackmailed into performing acts they wouldn’t have consented to otherwise. It’s emotional manipulation in it’s most vile form.