Pathological Narcissism: Effective Treatment with Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)

This podcast discusses narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), focusing on mentalization-based therapy (MBT) as a treatment approach. The panel, comprised of experts in the field, explains the difference between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, explores challenges in mentalizing (e.g., alexithymia, overconfidence in perspective-taking), and details MBT techniques for addressing these challenges. A key takeaway is the importance of a "not-knowing stance" in therapy, where clinicians initially validate the patient's perspective before gently introducing nuance and uncertainty. The discussion highlights the co-constructed nature of the therapeutic relationship and the role of the clinician's self-awareness in treating NPD.