Episode Details

Some of the most damaging people you'll meet make a wonderful first impression, and that's exactly the problem. In this episode, Dr. George Simon, retired clinical psychologist of 40+ years and author of *In Sheep's Clothing* and *Character Disturbance*, joins Lisa to explain how manipulative people actually operate and how to recognize one before you're in too deep.

Dr. Simon describes the "charm alarm" that should go off when someone is working hard to look good, the two tells that matter most (never holding themselves accountable, and always playing the injured party), and why charm is a skill rather than proof of good character. He and Lisa also get honest about why conventional therapy so often fails with people who won't change, how to keep your composure when someone treats the courtroom as a stage, and the relief that comes from focusing only on what you can control.

This is strategic education, not legal or mental-health advice for your specific situation.

✅ WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
✅ The difference between character disturbance and ordinary insecurity or neurosis
✅ The "charm alarm": why a great first impression can be the first red flag
✅ The two tells that matter most: no accountability, and always playing the victim
✅ Why charm and impression management are skills, not signs of good character
✅ Why conventional therapy so often fails with people who won't change
✅ How to keep your composure when someone uses the courtroom as a stage
✅ Why focusing on what you can't control keeps you stuck, and what to do instead
✅ How to protect yourself while you still have a choice about who's in your life

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS (+1:00 for the bumper)
0:00 Intro
1:00 Why the most dangerous people make the best first impression
3:30 Character disturbance vs. the wounds we assume are underneath
5:38 How to actually spot a personality disorder
9:25 The "charm alarm" and doing your homework
14:34 Why a court order is often just a piece of paper to them
15:52 Composure and integrity when the system feels unfair
21:08 Why so much therapy fails, and the support that helps
28:01 Let go of what you can't control, act on what you can
31:15 Dr. Simon's books and where to find him

CTA (spoken): Dealing with someone like this? Book a free discovery call at beentheregotout.com.
Books: Been There Got Out — https://www.amazon.com/Been-There-Got-Relationships-Circumstances/dp/194627495X/ · When Your Ex Turns the Kids Against You — https://www.amazon.com/Been-There-Got-Out-Against/dp/1967674183
More from Dr. Simon: drgeorgesimon.com
Tags: character disturbance, manipulative people, in sheep's clothing, george simon, narcissistic abuse, impression management, red flags, why therapy fails, high conflict divorce