Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a mental health disorder characterised by a life-long pattern of exaggerated feelings of self-importance, an excessive need for admiration from others, difficulties empathising with other people’s feelings and a tendency to exploit others for self-gain.

Narcissistic personality disorder tends to surface in early adulthood and may persist for very long periods or even throughout the lifespan.

Whilst there are no standardised treatments for NPD, psychotherapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Psychoanalysis are frequently used (see below).

It is unusual for NPD sufferers to seek out therapy because they generally perceive that their behaviours are consistent with what they believe about themselves.

In most cases, it is the pressure from those who live or associate with a narcissist that drives them to consult for help.

This is often problematic because the desire to make changes (to be motivated to change) is a key outcome predictor in psychotherapy.

Man with Narcissistic Personality Disorder on the beach

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Symptoms

The main symptoms associated with Narcissistic Personality Disorder are:

An inflated sense of self-importance.
A preoccupation with fantasies of power, unlimited success, personal brilliance or beauty.
Beliefs that they are so special that they can only be understood by people with equal specialness or status.
A need to be excessively admired by others.
A sense of entitlement or that they should receive special consideration or treatment.
Exploitative behaviours for their own gain.
A lack of empathy and a failure to take other people’s feeling into consideration.
A beliefs that other people evny them.
A highly arrogant attitude.

A diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder requires that at least five of these nine sysmptoms occur concurrently.

Whilst many of these traits or behaviours can be seen within any population, it is the degree and severity of the symptoms that indicates the presence of NPD.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder diagnosis banner

Diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Technically, only a psychiatrist can diagnose a Narcissistic Personality Disorder, but in the UK general practitioners have tended to diagnose mental health problems by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

The DSM lists specific symptoms against a range of disorders and whenever a person meets this criteria, they are said to be suffering from that disorder.

Diagnostic procedures do NOT make use of medical testing (for example blood tests) in order to produce a diagnosis, but rather is an opinion based on the observation of certain behaviours in the person who is suffering.

Because of this lack of verifiable medical testing, diagnosis remains a controversial subject, particularly within the psychological (non-medical) community.

However, in the UK access to support services is often contingent on receiving a diagnosis, so in this sense, a formal diagnosis may be useful.

Getting a Mental Health Diagnosis

Please be aware that Tranceform Psychology do not diagnose mental health disorders.

Our psychological counselling services do not require you to have been formally diagnosed but should you wish to obtain a formal mental health diagnosis, then please contact your GP who can arrange it for you.

CBT for Narcissistic Personality Disorder

If you’re committed to overcoming your Narcissistic Personality Disorder then we highly recommend following our Tranceformental CBT 10 session programme.

The Tranceformental programme is a highly successful & pragmatic course of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) run over 10 sessions, that will teach you everything you need to know to understand the psychological aspects of your problem.

It can also help you to identify any unhelpful thinking styles or limiting beliefs that might be reinforcing the issue.

The programme is also available as an online self-help CBT programme. if you prefer not to consult a therapist directly.

CBT is an empirically supported approach used by mental health practitioners around the World.

Free Initial Consultations for Narcissistic Personality Disorder

We offer all prospective clients a FREE initial consultation to discuss your Narcissistic Personality Disorder prior to commencing any treatment plans.

The consultation is free and lasts around 50 minutes.

During this consultation we will discuss the various therapy options that are available to you and make a considered recommendation based on your individual personal circumstances.

Initial consultations are also available as part of our online therapy service.

At Tranceform Psychology we recognise the importance of the therapeutic relationship in helping people to bring about effective change, so its important to be able to ‘meet’ to discuss any therapy treatments BEFORE proceeding.

Our policy is to help people make a fully balanced & considered decision about undertaking work with us, including both the financial and personal implications.

Tranceformental CBT course for Narcissistic Personality Disorder on a PC screen

Manage Narcissistic Personality Disorder with our online CBT Course

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is clinically proven to be effective.

Using an online learning platform, it is available with 2, 5 or 10 sessions of clinical support either face-to-face in the Wombourne offices, or using Zoom video facilities.

It can also be taken as a self help CBT course that will teach you the fundamental tools and techniques used throughout the mental health profession.