Can Narcissism Be Successfully Treated in Counseling?

By: Brian Murray, LMHC Is it possible to treat narcissism? It really depends on the counselor you ask. Some say yes while many are likely to say no. There are a lot of counselors out there who feel this condition is next to impossible to treat. Treating narcissism is a very difficult and time-consuming effort on behalf of the therapist, even for the most qualified. Treatment can be equally frustrating for the client. Most narcissistic clients end up feeling defeated through lack of change and quit prematurely usually within the first 1-6 months. This is partly due to high expectation due to the general condition of narcissism and perhaps a therapist who is not used to treating narcissism. Treating narcissism requires a therapist who is experienced and has equipped themselves to take on these personality types. Self-reflection and forming internal resolutions with the client are very common in counseling, however, these same processes have led to the narcissist bu...