Working with Narcissistic Abuse: Addressing the Impact of High-Conflict Personality Styles

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Speaker

Ramani Durvasula, PhD, LCP Related seminars and products

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Dr. Ramani Durvasula is a licensed clinical psychologist, Professor of Psychology at California State University, Los Angeles, and the Founder and CEO of LUNA Education, Training & Consulting, a company that offers a range of programs focused on educating survivors, clinicians, coaches and businesses on the impacts of narcissism on health, wellness and functioning. She’s the author of Don’t You Know Who I Am: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility, Should I Stay or Should I Go: Surviving a Relationship With A Narcissist. Dr. Ramani also has a popular YouTube channel that focuses on narcissism and difficult relationships, mental health, and societal expectations. Her work has been featured at SxSW, TEDx and on a wide range of media platforms including, Red Table Talk, the Today Show, Oxygen, Investigation Discovery and Bravo. She is also a featured expert on the digital media mental health platform MedCircle. Dr. Durvasula’s research on personality disorders has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and she is a Consulting Editor of the scientific journal Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Durvasula is a brutally honest voice on the struggles raised by narcissism in the US and globally.  

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Ramani Durvasula is the founder and CEO of LUNA Education, Training, and Consulting. She maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with the California State University Los Angeles and the University of Johannesburg. Ramani Durvasula receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Ramani Durvasula is an associate editor for Behavioral Medicine and a consulting editor for Psychology of Women Quarterly and Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Mental Health. She is an ad hoc reviewer for the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, AIDS and Behavior, and Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. Ramani Durvasula is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science Society for Behavioral Medicine, and the International Association of Applied Psychology.

Objectives

1. Outline a holistic view of the dynamics of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder, and “narcissism-adjacent” personality styles, using a framework that captures the range of antagonistic personality styles.
2. Outline a clinical understanding of the phenomenon of narcissistic abuse, the manner in which it is manifested, the impact on individuals, and the overlapping patterns that affect clients.
3. Develop an actionable framework and treatment plan for working with clients experiencing narcissistic abuse for use in clinical practice.
4. Analyze specific challenges in working with individuals with antagonistic personality styles and/or those who are experiencing narcissistic-adjacent relational stress.
5. Categorize the dynamics of narcissistic and other narcissistic-adjacent relationships.

Outline

• Formulate a holistic view of the dynamics of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder, and “narcissism-adjacent” personality styles, using a framework that captures the range of antagonistic personality styles.
  • Review the diagnosis of NPD
  • Broaden the understanding using a combination of the alternative model for personality disorders from the DSM-5, a discussion of personality dynamics that overlap with narcissism
  • Review of co-occurring diagnostic patterns
     
• Formulate a clinical understanding of the phenomenon of narcissistic abuse, the manner in which it is manifested, the impact on individuals, and the overlapping patterns that affect clients
  • Define what is meant by narcissistic abuse and the putative behavioral, cognitive and emotional patterns associated with this pattern
  • Discussion of other patterns from which NA needs to be distinguished
  • Risk factors for narcissistic abuse
• Provide an actionable framework for working with clients experiencing narcissistic abuse
  • Review of a systematic plan that is designed to assess for and address narcissistic abuse
  • Discussion of how to integrate this psychoeducational and treatment approach into existing theoretical frameworks
  • Review adjunctive and consultative considerations when working with clients experiencing NA
  • Review risks and limitations

Target Audience

• Psychologists
• Physicians
• Addiction Counselors
• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Art Therapists
• Nurses
• Other Behavioral Health Professionals

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