The Challenges of Couples Therapy with A Narcissist
By: Brian Murray LMHC, NCC Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition that manifests in an overinflated sense of self-importance. Roughly 70% of those who have the disorder are men. In the United States, it is estimated that roughly 6% of the general population has the disorder. NPD in a clinical setting is typically rated on a spectrum from mild to severe. In order to be diagnosed with NPD, a person must meet the required number of symptoms as indicated in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual version 5 (DSM-5). This manual is a reference published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that lists diagnosable mental health conditions along with the criteria needed to meet the diagnosis. The best way to interact with a narcissist is to focus on their behavior rather than on their words. Pay attention to what they are doing and look for patterns. If you focus only on what they are saying you stand a good chance of being gaslighted. Gaslighting is w