Weekly Insights: Healing Without a Therapist

Weekly Insights: Healing Without a Therapist

Author: Mark Ettensohn, Psy.D. May 27, 2025 Duration: 11:29
In this Weekly Insight, Dr. Ettensohn shares an adapted preview from his upcoming video on narcissism at the neurotic level of personality organization. He reflects on what it means to move toward psychological integration, emotional complexity, and the capacity for self-reflection - especially for those doing this work without a therapist. Drawing from clinical understanding and developmental theory, Dr. Ettensohn discusses how self-acceptance, mindfulness, and the capacity to tolerate imperfection are crucial aspects of healing. He emphasizes the importance of allowing history to be real, recognizing and managing splitting, and loosening rigid self-perceptions that often emerge from narcissistic defenses. Using metaphor, lived experience, and grounded strategies, he shows how healing becomes possible even outside the therapeutic relationship when we begin to relate to ourselves differently.

In each episode of Heal NPD, clinical psychologist Mark Ettensohn, Psy.D., offers a grounded and compassionate look at narcissism, moving beyond the stereotypes that dominate casual conversation. Drawing from his professional practice, Dr. Ettensohn unpacks the complexities of narcissistic personality disorder and related patterns, providing clarity on their underlying mechanisms and impacts. This isn't about labeling or blame; it's a space for genuine understanding, whether you're a person seeking growth, a partner, a family member, or a professional in the field. You'll hear discussions that blend psychological science with practical insights, exploring pathways toward healing, setting boundaries, and fostering healthier relationships. The tone is educational yet accessible, demystifying a topic often shrouded in confusion and stigma. By tuning into this podcast, you gain a nuanced perspective from a specialist who approaches the subject with both clinical expertise and deep humanity. Dr. Ettensohn's thoughtful commentary aims to equip you with knowledge that is both intellectually sound and emotionally resonant, making Heal NPD a unique resource in the landscape of mental health dialogue.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 62

Heal NPD
Podcast Episodes
What Narcissism Isn't: Clearing Up the Confusion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:46
In this Weekly Insight, Dr. Ettensohn addresses widespread misconceptions about narcissism by clarifying what the term does not mean. Drawing on clinical examples and years of engagement with public discourse, he explore…
Live with Dr. Ettensohn 6-12-25 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:04
Join Dr. Mark Ettensohn from Heal NPD for a live broadcast answering questions and responding to viewer comments.
Do Narcissists *Really* Lack Empathy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:29
What does it mean to say that narcissists lack empathy? In this Weekly Insight, Dr. Ettensohn challenges the common assumption that low empathy is a fixed trait in narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). Drawing from ps…
Weekly Insights: Is Narcissism the New Moral Panic? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:15
In this Weekly Insight, Dr. Ettensohn examines the rise of moral panic within contemporary discourse about narcissism, particularly how popular online narratives have transformed psychological terms into tools of moral j…
The Birth of Sorrow | Part 1: Crossing into Neurotic-Level Narcissism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:07
Link to episode 1 in this series, on psychotic-level NPD: https://youtu.be/IoxUCbNUJUE Link to episode 2 in this series, on borderline-level NPD: https://youtu.be/Oz-C503q_9Y This is the third episode of a four-episode s…
Weekly Insights: The Myth of Hardwired Narcissism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:17
In this video, Dr. Ettensohn examines the growing claim that Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is almost entirely genetic, offering a critical, clinically grounded reflection on what the current science actually su…
Weekly Insights: It Feels Real...But It's Not - Grandiosity in NPD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:00
In this Weekly Insight, Dr. Ettensohn explores the nature of grandiosity in pathological narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), emphasizing that grandiose self-states are distortions that mask underlying…
Weekly Insights: The Hidden Fear Behind NPD - Being Ordinary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:26
In this Weekly Insight, Dr. Ettensohn explores the deep existential conflict at the heart of pathological narcissism and NPD: the fear of being ordinary. Drawing from a recent presentation by psychiatrist and psychoanaly…
Weekly Insight: Do Narcissists Seek Therapy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:27
In this weekly insight, Dr. Ettensohn addresses the common misconception that individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) never seek therapy—and the even more misleading idea that simply wondering whether yo…