Attachment and the Narcissistic Self

Course overview

This continuing education course explores the intersection between narcissistic personality features and attachment dynamics, integrating psychodynamic, attachment-based, and compassion-focused perspectives. Participants will examine how early caregiving patterns influence the development of narcissistic defenses, including grandiosity, shame, and emotional dysregulation. Through an evidence-informed synthesis of theory and practice, clinicians will learn to recognize the dual faces of narcissism, grandiose and vulnerable, and their corresponding attachment strategies. Emphasis is placed on therapeutic attunement, boundary clarity, and empathic containment as foundations for effective treatment.