Dr. Peter Salerno
I’m Dr. Peter Salerno.
I hold a Doctor of Psychology degree (PsyD) and a Master of Science degree (MS) in Clinical Psychology.
I am a licensed psychotherapist (retired), personality disorder expert, and author. Throughout the course of my clinical career, I received specialized training in personality disorder assessment and treatment, family trauma, clinical and complex trauma, and I was trained to administer and score the Hare Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) which is the international standard for the clinical and forensic assessment of psychopathy.
I have chosen to retire from formal psychotherapy to dedicate my time to teaching, writing, presenting, and consulting worldwide for educational purposes.
For those who are seeking treatment for themselves, psychotherapy is a formal clinical process that establishes a therapeutic relationship and involves the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders.
Formal therapy is no longer a service I provide. Instead, I now dedicate my time to consulting remotely with people to help them make sense of the challenging relationship dynamics they are dealing with.
Clarifying relationship dynamics does not necessarily require a formal therapeutic intervention. My experience has taught me that most people who are dealing with pathological and manipulative people are looking for ways to make sense of what they are experiencing. Once clarity and understanding have been established, formal therapy can follow if you believe it would benefit you.
My unique specialty is working with people who have been or currently are dealing with pathological and manipulative people and feel lost, helpless, and hopeless in their relationship or situation. I have also written several books on this subject.
When it comes to pathological relationship abuse, unfortunately, misinformation can harm victims and survivors of abuse. It is all too common to seek advice from someone who cannot adequately educate you on the true nature of pathological relationship abuse, of the kind of relationship you are actually in, or of the kind of person you are truly dealing with.
My Unique Approach
This is where my personal experience and professional effectiveness may prove very helpful for you. My views on personality pathology, which are based on hard scientific data, differ significantly from the vast majority who claim to be experts on the subject.
If you are dealing with past or present relational trauma, post relationship abuse, or believe you are currently in a relationship with a pathologically manipulative and abusive person and are unsure what to do, trust me when I say that I can help you make sense of what you’re going through.