Seminar Series 3: Beyond Traits - The Relational roots of NPD

Seminar Series 3: Beyond Traits - The Relational roots of NPD

Author: Mark Ettensohn, Psy.D. November 7, 2025 Duration: 53:25
This episode continues the Heal NPD Seminar Series, featuring Dr. Mark Ettensohn and his associates, Deanna Young, Psy.D., and Danté Spencer, M.A. In this session, the group discusses Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Progress in Understanding and Treatment by Igor Weinberg, Ph.D., and Elsa Ronningstam, Ph.D. The conversation examines recent advances in how clinicians conceptualize and treat narcissistic personality disorder, moving beyond fixed trait models toward a dynamic, relational understanding of the self and its development. Themes include the interplay between grandiose and vulnerable self-states, the interdependence of self-esteem regulation, affect, cognition, empathy, and interpersonal functioning, and the recognition that narcissistic pathology evolves through cumulative disruptions in early attunement and relational safety. The discussion also explores how developmental misattunements - whether through neglect, overindulgence, or inconsistency - shape defensive adaptations and contribute to the oscillation between self-inflation and shame. Throughout the seminar, the team reflects on the therapeutic process of working with narcissistic patients, emphasizing empathy, reflective capacity, and the slow, relational work of rupture and repair that makes genuine transformation possible. This series is designed for clinicians, students, and anyone interested in a nuanced, compassionate understanding of narcissism, personality, and psychological change. To learn more about our work, visit www.HealNPD.org Additional Resources: Newsletter: https://healnpd.substack.com Assessment and therapy inquiries: https://healnpd.org/contact Purchase Unmasking Narcissism: A Guide to Understanding the Narcissist in Your Life here: https://amzn.to/3nG9FgH SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://rb.gy/kbhusf LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://rb.gy/cklpum LISTEN ON GOOGLE PODCASTS: https://rb.gy/fotpca LISTEN ON AMAZON MUSIC: https://rb.gy/g4yzh8 BECOME A MEMBER: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHeT5kujD1JqHRAi-x8xD-w/join Citation for the article discussed: Weinberg I, Ronningstam E. Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Progress in Understanding and Treatment. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2022 Oct;20(4):368-377. doi: 10.1176/appi.focus.20220052. Epub 2022 Oct 25. PMID: 37200887; PMCID: PMC10187400. Full text of the article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10187400/

In Heal NPD, clinical psychologist Mark Ettensohn, Psy.D., offers a nuanced and compassionate exploration of narcissism, moving beyond simplistic labels to examine the underlying psychological structures. This podcast delves into the complexities of narcissistic personality disorder and related traits, providing clarity for those who recognize these patterns in themselves or in their relationships. Dr. Ettensohn draws from his specialized therapeutic practice to discuss the origins of narcissistic adaptations, the impact on interpersonal dynamics, and the realistic pathways toward change and healing. Episodes often break down clinical concepts into accessible language, featuring discussions on empathy, identity, shame, and the challenging process of building healthier self-esteem and relational skills. The tone is educational yet deeply human, aiming to reduce stigma and foster understanding. Whether you are a mental health professional, someone personally affected by NPD, or simply curious about personality psychology, this series provides a rare, expert-guided look into a frequently misunderstood area of human behavior. Tune in for a thoughtful perspective that prioritizes psychological science and the possibility of growth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Heal NPD
Podcast Episodes
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: Healing Without a Therapist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 integrati…
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…