Understanding Narcissism: From Healthy to Disordered

Course Overview

Narcissism has been described since antiquity, yet the mental health field still struggles with defining and treating it. Many scholars acknowledge that some degree of narcissism is healthy for children and adults. Children often exhibit narcissistic traits in response to doting, loving, and proud parents. Adults can experience some degree of narcissism in the form of healthy self-esteem or confidence. At what point healthy self-esteem turns into pathological narcissism is sometimes difficult to define. On the other end of the spectrum, there are countless examples of pathological narcissists who have caused suffering and torment for individuals and for entire societies. There is no question that narcissism can be problematic, at least for some people. How should mental health professionals navigate this complex field with their patients and clients?

This virtual conference brings together some of the foremost authorities in the field to try to bring some clarity to understanding and treating narcissism in clinical practice. Dimensional concepts of narcissism will be explored, ranging from healthy to pathological. Objective measures to assess how narcissism can affect people’s ability to function in life will be reviewed. Through the lens of social and organizational psychology, strategies for managing narcissistic employees and leaders in the workplace will be discussed. A wide variety of treatment options will be reviewed, including individual therapy using the models of Good Psychiatric Management, Transference-Focused Psychotherapy, and Mentalization-Based Treatment. Additionally, the more complex issues of couples and family therapies will be discussed as well.

Sessions will include interactive question and answer panels. We hope you will join us! 

Who Should Attend

• Physicians

• Psychologists 

• Nurse Practitioners 

• Nurses 

• Social Workers 

• Counselors  

• Physician Assistants 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Outline and define dimensional concepts of narcissism.
• Assess how narcissism can impact functioning in different people.
• Review the neuroscience of what is known about narcissism.
• Implement different treatment approaches for narcissism, including Good Psychiatric Management (GPM), Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP), and Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT).
• Discuss how narcissism can impact the work environment, including as it relates to social and organizational psychology.
• Outline approaches for addressing narcissism in couples and family therapies.