The Dark Room is a survival guide for men trapped in relationships with narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. Dr. Johnathan Hines shows you the three predator types, their playbooks, and the five phase protocol to get out alive.
The Dark Room is a metaphor for being trapped in a manipulative relationship. A narcissist, sociopath, or psychopath locks you in a dark room and convinces you the door does not exist. You stop looking for the door. Not because it is not there. But because they convinced you it never existed.
The Dark Room is also a book by Dr. Johnathan Hines, a Christian coach with over 35,000 clinical hours, that teaches men how to identify predator types, break trauma bonds, and escape using a proven five phase protocol. It releases on April 16, 2026.
You are not crazy. You are not weak. You are in a room with a predator who controls the light switch. This book turns on the light and shows you the door was there all along.
Answer 10 questions. Get your results instantly. Find out if you are being manipulated by a narcissist, sociopath, or psychopath.
There are three types of predators that trap people in the dark room: narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths. Each operates differently, but they share the same goal: control. Understanding which type you are dealing with changes how you escape. The wrong exit strategy with the wrong predator can be dangerous.
A narcissist is a person who feeds on admiration and controls others through emotional manipulation, guilt, and shame to protect a fragile self-image.
They make everything about themselves. They weaponize your empathy. When you stop giving them what they want, they discard you or rage. They need the spotlight and will destroy anyone who threatens it.
A sociopath is a calculated manipulator who views people as tools to be used. They are charming on the surface, pathological liars, and feel no remorse.
They play the long game. They study you before they strike. They mirror your values and earn your trust, then systematically exploit it. By the time you see it, the damage is already done.
A psychopath operates with complete emotional detachment and is the most dangerous of the three predator types. They enjoy causing pain and cannot be reformed.
Cold. Strategic. Predatory. They do not lose sleep over what they have done to you. They are not broken people who can be fixed. They are wired differently. Your compassion is their weapon. Do not negotiate. Escape.
The Dark Room Protocol is a five phase escape plan for leaving a relationship with a narcissist, sociopath, or psychopath. Developed by Dr. Johnathan Hines from 35,000+ hours of clinical experience working with men trapped in manipulative systems. This is not therapy talk. This is an extraction plan.
See the predator for what they are. Name the manipulation.
Quietly gather evidence. Build your case before they know.
Secure finances, support, and your exit plan. Move in silence.
Leave. This is not a conversation. It is an extraction.
Seal the door. Boundaries. Faith. Never go back.
The Dark Room is a metaphor for being trapped in a manipulative relationship with a narcissist, sociopath, or psychopath. The predator convinces you the door does not exist. You stop looking for it. Not because it is not there, but because they convinced you it never existed. The Dark Room is also a book by Dr. Johnathan Hines that teaches you to find the door and escape.
Dr. Johnathan Hines, a Christian coach in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma with over 35,000 clinical hours helping men escape toxic systems and reclaim leadership. Learn more at drhinesinc.com.
The three predator types are: Type I, the Narcissist, who feeds on admiration and control through emotional manipulation. Type II, the Sociopath, a calculated manipulator who sees people as tools and plays the long game. Type III, the Psychopath, who operates with complete emotional detachment and is the most dangerous of the three. Each type requires a different escape strategy.
The Dark Room Protocol is a five phase escape plan: Recognition (seeing the predator clearly), Documentation (building evidence), Preparation (securing resources and support), Execution (making your exit), and Fortification (establishing boundaries so they can never pull you back in). Dr. Johnathan Hines details this complete protocol in The Dark Room.
A trauma bond forms when a victim becomes emotionally dependent on their abuser through cycles of abuse and intermittent reinforcement. The abuser alternates between cruelty and kindness, creating a chemical addiction to the relationship. This is why leaving feels impossible even when you know the relationship is destroying you. The Dark Room explains how to break trauma bonds using faith-based protocols and practical steps.
Dr. Johnathan Hines offers private coaching for men through Dr. Hines Inc. in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Schedule a consultation at drhinesinc.com. You can also take the free Stronghold Assessment at strongholdassessment.com to identify the patterns holding you captive.
Yes. The Dark Room is written from a Christian perspective by Dr. Johnathan Hines, a Christian coach. The book includes Scripture references and faith-based recovery protocols, including a chapter on the Romans Road. However, the predator identification and escape protocols are practical and applicable regardless of faith background.