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CPD Credits
3.5
Event Type
Recorded Event
Location
Your TR Together account
Standard
£67.50
Trainee/NHS
£57.38
Working with Narcissistic Dynamics
With Nancy McWilliams, PhD & ABPP
The professional consensus is that narcissistic patients are difficult to treat. They often present with an internal emptiness and despair, envious aggression, incapacity to love, tendencies toward idealization and devaluation, and vulnerability to shame. Although narcissistic dynamics are universal and often benign, their excesses and enactments, for example narcissistic rage, can do significant interpersonal and social harm. The high interpersonal costs of narcissism make it an urgent clinical concern.
Dr McWilliams explores narcissistic dynamics using case examples, covering the range from normal to highly pathological versions of narcissistic psychology, including Kernberg’s “malignant narcissist”, Cooper’s “narcissistic-masochistic” character, and Shaw’s “traumatic narcissist”. She discusses highly arrogant clients as well as those who present with more hidden, covert manifestations of problematic narcissism.
The etiology of narcissistic dynamics will be explored, along with some reasons that narcissistically impelled clients are highly susceptible to feeling shamed. Such dynamics can make it challenging for clinicians to keep them engaged in therapy.
The first session offers an overview with the final two sessions devoted to treatment approaches to support clinicians working with this population
Programme
Introductions
Identifying Pathological Versions of Narcissism
This presentation will offer a view on the continuum from normal or “healthy” narcissism to malignant narcissism and psychopathy. Dr McWilliams will include arrogant versions of narcissism represented notably in the DSM’s Narcissistic Personality Disorder as well as converse presentations including covert, hypervigilant, or closet narcissism. Etiology will be discussed as well as the underlying pursuit of perfection often found in these clients.
Q&A
Break
Treating Pathological Narcissism 1
Citing both clinical and empirical literatures, Dr. McWilliams will review treatment possibilities for narcissistically impelled patients. Emphasizing the history of clinical controversy in this area, she will mention several competing understandings and recommendations for working with narcissistically driven individuals. Several practical strategies will be shared that she has found clinically effective in reducing narcissistic behavior, including ways to help the narcissistic person express normal dependency, remorse, and gratitude.
Q&A
Break
Treating Pathological Narcissism 2
In this third and final session Dr McWilliams will continue to offer treatment possibilities.
Q&A
End
Nancy McWilliams, PhD, ABPP
Nancy McWilliams is Visiting Professor Emerita at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology and practices in Lambertville, New Jersey. She is author of Psychoanalytic Diagnosis (1994, rev. ed. 2011), Psychoanalytic Case Formulation (1999), Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (2004), and Psychoanalytic Supervision (2021) and is associate editor of both editions of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM) (2006, 2017). A former president of Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) of the American Psychological Association, she has been featured in three APA videos of master clinicians. She is on the Board of Trustees of the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, MA. Her books are available in 20 languages, and she has taught in 30 countries.
- Psychotherapists
- Couple and Family Psychotherapists
- Psychoanalysts
- Psychologists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- GPs
- Counsellors
- Social workers
- Teachers/Educators
Learning Objectives:
- Discriminate descriptive and categorical psychiatric diagnoses from more inferential and categorical formulations.
- Conceptualize narcissistic pathology and personality organization along a continuum from relative health to extreme disturbance.
- Construe narcissistic psychologies in terms of underlying themes rather than observable, present-versus-absent traits.
- Describe two contrasting overall treatment approaches for narcissistic problems.
- Depict the “Emperor’s New Clothes” dilemma in making clinical choices.
- Adopt at least two practical clinical interventions for narcissistic patients.
Standard Registration: £67.50
Trainee/NHS staff: £57.38
Group Rates (for 4 or more): Contact [email protected] for customised pricing.
Trainee discount: To qualify for this offer you need to be taking a course which provides core practitioner training in counselling or psychotherapy that is at least 1 year full time or two years part time and recognised by the BACP or UKCP. TR Together reserve the right to ask to see evidence of training being undertaken. Please contact [email protected] to recieve the discount code.
Alumni: If you are a TR Alumni (TRAPC member) please email [email protected] for a discount code to add at checkout
Your CPD Certificate will be available to download from your TR Together account 48 hours after purchase.