In this episode, Dr. Laura explores one of the eight personas a toxic boss can inhabit: the gaslighter. A gaslighting boss tends to be very covert in manipulative behavior. She defines gaslighting as manipulating another person into doubting their own perceptions, experiences, and understanding of events. Navigating a gaslighting boss erodes self-confidence and depletes energy as all time is spent trying to deliver to expectations that keep shifting. Dr. Laura explains how to identify one of these types of toxic bosses and how to survive their subtle tactics.

Gaslighting leaves us feeling exhausted and stressed. We doubt our own understanding and memory. We become increasingly dependent on validation from the gaslighter to verify what they tell us they said, instead of what we heard. And all this strain can spill over into our personal lives as well. Some steps can be taken to protect our recollection of facts, however, and Dr. Laura offers practical advice on documenting what we observe and are instructed to do. With every talk and video she shares about toxic bosses, she’s reaching out to those of us doubting ourselves and suffering to say that our mental health matters and that there is a way out.

“When you are gaslit, it can really erode your confidence, and it can make you feel like you're almost losing your mind. So again, it’s very important to seek a trusted therapist that you can talk through this with and work on recovery strategies. And in my upcoming book, I Wish I'd Quit Sooner, I do have a whole chapter all about the recovery process, because it is a form of trauma. When we work for a gaslighter and many other types of toxic bosses, it is trauma that we go through, and we need to recover our physical, emotional, and mental health after this experience.” - Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.

Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018. Her new book, I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss, releases in January 2026 and is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Resources:

“I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss” by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett - pre-order available now

Dr. Laura on LinkedIn

Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations:

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Pre-order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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The Brutal Behaviors of Toxic Bosses