Overview

Recognize the Cadence: The Narcissist's Offensive Playbook is a guide for anyone who feels trapped in a relationship where the rules keep changing-and you keep getting blamed. Using a powerful football-themed framework, Dr. Tina R. Paone breaks narcissistic abuse down into 24 repeatable ""plays""-the tactics narcissists use to gain control, distort reality, avoid accountability, and keep you reacting instead of living. You'll learn to recognize the setup, identify the language (""snaps""), understand the psychological ""penalty,"" and name the real impact on your mind, body, and sense of self. This book is not about diagnosing people. It's about pattern recognition-because chaos feels personal until you can see the strategy behind it. Whether you're still in the relationship, newly out, navigating co-parenting, or healing from the aftermath, this playbook helps you name what's happening in real time-so confusion loses its grip and your instincts come back online. You don't have to read in order. Go straight to the play that matches what you're living right now. Even recognition alone can be grounding: it restores language, validates your experience, and affirms a critical truth-what you experienced was real. This is Book 1 of a companion set. Once you can recognize the cadence, the next step-how to respond, protect yourself, and rebuild-continues in the companion volume: The Invincible Defense: Counter to the Narcissist's Playbook. If you've ever thought, ""Why does every conversation end with me apologizing?"" or ""How did I become the problem in my own story?""-this book will help you see the field clearly again. Because the goal isn't to win against a narcissist.

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Dr. Paone is a licensed professional counselor, registered play therapist-supervisor, counselor educator, and tenured professor with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. Throughout her career, she has trained future therapists, leading social justice initiatives, and supported survivors of complex traumas reclaim their lives.Dr. Paone brings a rare dual lens to her work: deep clinical expertise paired with lived experience. In her forthcoming memoir, UNBROKEN: Healing from Narcissistic Abuse and Reclaiming Me (May 2026), she writes with clarity, authority, and deep compassion about surviving childhood grooming, emotional neglect, a coercive marriage, and post-separation abuse. This book is more than her story - it is a mirror for those still finding their voice. Her current clinical focus centers on supporting survivors of narcissistic abuse and trauma-entrenched family systems. She is also a sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator wholes work spaces therapy, education, and advocacy. Jennifer S. Gabriel is a writer, editor, and strategist with extensive experience shaping mission-driven narratives. She specializes in helping individuals and organizations translate their work into clear, accessible language without losing nuance, integrity, or emotional truth.Jennifer has served in senior leadership roles across the nonprofit, philanthropic, and higher-education sectors, including executive and board leadership positions. Her work spans strategic planning, storytelling, governance, and large-scale fundraising, with a particular focus on women's leadership, innovation, and social impact.

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