Welcome — I’m Dr. Peter Salerno.

I’m a retired licensed psychotherapist with a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Psychology. Over the course of my career, I’ve specialized in personality disorders, family trauma, complex trauma, and pathological abuse, and I was trained and qualified to administer the Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R)—the gold standard for identifying psychopathy in clinical and forensic settings. I’m also a featured expert in the docuseries Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil, streaming now on Hulu and Disney+. My work has always been driven by a passion for understanding the human mind and helping people make sense of some of its most challenging and misunderstood conditions.

Today, I use that expertise to help people around the world make sense of painful, confusing, and often manipulative relationship dynamics. While I no longer practice traditional therapy, I offer remote consultations focused on clarity, insight, and practical decision-making—not treatment.

If you're dealing with someone whose behavior feels abusive, controlling, toxic, or deeply disordered, you're likely not looking for therapy. You're looking for answers. You want to know what’s really going on—and what to do about it. That’s exactly what I help people do.

My Specialty

I work exclusively with people who are (or have been) involved with pathological personalities—those whose behavior is manipulative, emotionally destructive, or psychologically abusive. These individuals often leave others feeling powerless, confused, and blamed for things that were never their fault.

What sets my work apart is both the depth of my clinical background and my unflinching commitment to scientific accuracy. Much of what’s shared online about personality disorders and other disorders of psychological abuse is misleading—or outright wrong. That misinformation can retraumatize victims, delay healing, and keep people stuck in cycles of guilt and self-doubt. I’m here to offer something different: grounded insight, expert guidance, and practical steps forward.

Who I Help

I consult with individuals facing complex and often isolating situations, including:

• Partners or ex-partners of individuals with narcissistic, borderline, or psychopathic traits

• Parents of adult children with pathological personalities who have cut off contact or weaponized blame

• Parents of young children showing early signs of personality pathology

• Adult children who have a long history of emotional manipulation or abuse by parents or caregivers.

• Family members (e.g., siblings, in-laws, relatives) entangled in dysfunctional and damaging patterns

If you’ve been blamed, manipulated, cut off, or made to feel like you’re the problem—when deep down you know something else is going on—you’re in the right place.

There is a way to make sense of what you’re experiencing.
There are clear, grounded steps you can take.
And you don’t have to figure it out alone.