Narcissistic Clients
How to Work with Grandiosity, Arrogance, and Exaggerated Self Importance
NOW CLOSED
Friday 4 November 2022
A Live Webinar with Doris Brothers, Ilany Kogan and Dr Tamara Feldman
CE Credits: 3 hours
- Includes a subtitled recording of the event and a transcript, with access for a year (14 days post the event)
- Bookings close at 4.00am EDT Tuesday 1 November 2022
Working psychotherapeutically with the grandiose is not easy. In this conference we’ll look at clinical and fictional examples of grandiosity, what lies beneath this characterological structure, and how someone with these tendencies can be helped.
READ MORE...Characteristics that mark grandiosity – in contrast to healthy self-esteem – include arrogance, exaggerated self-importance, oblivion of impact on others… being entitled, reactive and demanding. Grandiose people may often devalue others to support their self-esteem, demand gratification, be unrealistic about ways in which the world will serve them, and aggressive when challenged.
As it is difficult for a grandiose narcissistic to realistically perceive their limitations, or their need for help, they will typically only enter therapy after they encounter a serious breakdown in their relationship with the world of other people. Once in therapy, however, they may quickly restore the defensive strategies of grandiosity as a means of self-protection and be particularly challenging to stay connected to.
From Kohut and Kernberg, to Gabbard and Symington, there is a rich psychoanalytical literature on aetiology and treatment of grandiosity. Our speakers will pick up this discussion, considering what underlies this tendency, how it functions to both protect and limit the self, its roots in childhood and how it can be most effectively worked with to bring that person towards acceptance of their limitations and human vulnerability.
FULL PROGRAMME
10.00 EDT
Introductions
10.05
Ilany Kogan
Grandiosity and the struggle against mourning
This presentation examines the grandiosity of protagonists from film and fiction, and the impact it has on the audience. We will focus on the fantasy of the omnipotence of the self, a predominantly narcissistic desire to be a god-like, omnipotent, immortal figure. This wish may stem from the difficulty of integrating the narcissistic blow of the loss of one’s omnipotence, which occurs throughout the stages in which the individual develops a sense of reality. The exploration of this wish may support the therapist in helping the patient to mourn the limitations of life, like castration, separation and death.
10:45
Q&A
11.00
Break
11.15
Dr Tamara Feldman
Narcissism as an Intentional Choice: Exploring the Work of Neville Symington
This presentation will explore Symington’s compelling theory of narcissism. Symington proposes that neither a nature nor nurture theory adequately accounts for narcissism as both fail to apprehend the volitional nature of the narcissistic condition. In particular, Symington argues that narcissism is the position that an individual actively chooses, typically in infancy, in response to childhood trauma. Symington embraces an intricate object relations theory, involving internal objects such as “the life giver” and “the terrible tyrant” to account for the battle waged within the narcissist’s personality. This presentation will also explore Symington’s rather bold treatment approach. After exploring these ideas, we will apply them to a couple featured in the BBC show Couple Therapy, to illuminate key features of Symington’s thesis.
12.00
Q&A
12.15
Break
12.30
Doris Brothers, Ph.D.
When traumatic experience leads to grandiosity
The experience of uncertainty is often found to be unbearable in the aftermath of trauma. At such times, the need to simplify experience to create a sense of certainty may become compelling. When traumas occur in early life, the form taken by such simplifications is a tendency to become highly self-centered; focusing on others and on the connectedness to others may require a toleration for uncertainty that is unavailable. Some self-centered individuals are perceived as grandiose. Grandiosity may take many forms. Some grandiose individuals feel grievously injured when their specialness is not recognized by others. Others become convinced that their views are the only correct ones. In this presentation, Doris will offer several clinical examples of grandiosity with an emphasis on its embodiment within the therapeutic relationship. She will also suggest ways to form healing relationships with those patients.
13.15
Q&A
13.30
Q&A With all speakers
14.00
End
FEES (USD)
Bookings close at 4:00am EDT Tuesday 1 November 2022
Live Webinar:
$96 (Member $48)
(Click here to become a member)
Includes a recording of the event
CE
This event is accredited by:
- NBCC
Certificates of attendance for 3 hours will be provided.
To receive the full CE credits, you are required to attend 100% of the live event. No partial credit will be given.
This event is NOT accredited by the following organisations:
- ASWB
- NYSED (Psychology)
- NYSED (Psychoanalysis)
- NYSED (Social Workers)
Please note that if you are unable to attend all of the live event, you will need to undertake our event specific test in order to receive the CE certification. This will be made available soon after the live event has taken place.
Please contact events@conferonline.org for any further questions.
Confer has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7136. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Confer is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
VENUE
This is a live online webinar using Zoom software. Zoom is free to download and use.
For more information about Zoom click here.
To download Zoom free of charge click here.
For special accommodations for individuals with disabilities see our FAQs.
SCHEDULE
Friday
10.00 EDT Introductions
10.05 Ilany Kogan
10.45 Q&A
11.00 Break
11.15 Dr Tamara Feldman
12.00 Q&A
12.15 Break
12.30 Doris Brothers, Ph.D.
13.15 Q&A
13.30 Q&A With all speakers
14.00 End
CONTENT LEVEL
- Intermediate
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Discuss two main concepts in Symington’s theories on narcissism and freedom and how they relate to the theory of development and technique.
- Give examples of grandiosity with an emphasis on its embodiment within the therapeutic relationship
- Develop new ideas to form healing relationships with those patients deemed grandiose.
- Appraise developmental trajectories leading to grandiosity.
TARGET
AUDIENCE
- Psychologists
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychotherapists
- Addiction Professionals
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Psychiatrists
- Other related mental health professions.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
Regrettably, refunds cannot be given in any circumstances except as follows:
- You cancel in writing to info@conferonline.org 60 days before the first date of the event you have booked, in which case you will be entitled to a 100% refund.
- You cancel in writing to info@conferonline.org 30 days before the first date of the event you have booked, in which case you will be entitled to a 50% refund.
This does not apply to parts of an event such as a seminar within a series but only to a whole event or complete series. You may give your place to another person if you let us know that person's name at least 24 hours before the event begins.
We reserve the right to change a speaker at one of our conferences without offering a refund. However, if a solo presenter cancels we will offer a full refund OR transfer of your fee to another Confer event. If the entire event is canceled we will offer you a full refund.
We reserve the right to change our prices at any time. Regrettably, discounts offered after you made your booking cannot be claimed or applied retrospectively.