Narcissism Beyond the Label

How to help narcissistic clients, and even whether you can make meaningful progress with them, is one of the hottest and most misunderstood topics in psychotherapy today. And it’s bumping up against a massive cultural movement that aims to shed light on the dynamics of narcissistic abuse. 

No one has been more focused on this survivor-focused movement than Ramani Durvasula, who in many ways has led the charge on introducing narcissistic abuse into our cultural lexicon. With almost 40 years of clinical experience, several New York Times bestselling books, and countless media appearances—from TEDx and SxSW to YouTube and Instagram, where her videos have accumulated tens of millions of views—she’s changed the way we view the effects of narcissism on others. 

Joining her this keynote conversation is world-renowned therapist Craig Malkin, who specializes in the challenging work of treating narcissists, covert and grandiose alike. A Harvard Medical School lecturer and a New York Times bestselling author, whose book Rethinking Narcissism was twice named by the Oprah Winfrey Network as one of the most important books on narcissism, he’s added deep insight and necessary nuance to what we think we know about this antagonistic personality style. In calling attention to the "narcissism epidemic," he’s helped us ground narcissism in universal human motives and recognize the value of “healthy” narcissism. 

As they meet for the first time in this can’t-miss clinical discussion, they’ll share how their work overlaps and where their views diverge. You’ll discover why dynamics matter more than diagnosis, how to understand narcissism on a spectrum of self-enhancement, and why many abusive people are unlikely to change and what this means for their partners.