Description
421: In Narcissism’s Path: Power, Control, and Manipulation – Treating the Family Affected
Amy Feigel, M.A.
Light Professional Christian Counseling Clinic
20564 B Timberlake Rd.
Lynchburg, VA 24502
Summary
An overall grandiosity in actions, extreme lack of empathy for other people, a constant need for admiration, arrogance, an inflated sense of entitlement, self-centeredness, and being demanding and manipulative are all traits that describe Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). With these traits, having a relationship with someone who is narcissistic can be difficult. The latest research shows the most common form of communication in narcissistic families is triangulation. From a systems perspective, triangulation is always ineffective, producing dysfunction and chaos. So how does someone live with or handle the narcissist who may be their father, husband, mother, wife, or one they love without losing their own sense of self in the process? In this workshop, we will discuss how to correctly identify/diagnose narcissism, possible causes, treatment strategies, and boundaries needing to be set to deal with NPD in the family. Several case studies involving actual clients in the path of narcissism will be presented and explored.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
• Outline epidemiology, comorbidity, and theories of etiology of NPD through analysis and recent research published in The Clinical Journal of Psychiatry, the American Journal of Psychiatry, Cambridge University Press, and others
• Identify those in the path of narcissism who can be affected and traumatized from the emotional abuse that occurs
• Develop techniques/strategies to help family members set boundaries, effectively communicate with the narcissist in his/her life, and break free from the mental turmoil they have experienced within sessions with a licensed mental health professional
