Transference-Focused Psychotherapy and Narcissism: understanding the grandiose self structure in clinical practice with Tyson Davis, PsyD
Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) is a manualized object relations treatment developed by Otto Kernberg and his workgroup to treat a broad spectrum of personality pathology. Originally developed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder, TFP has since been adapted to treat those suffering with various types of narcissistic pathology. In this presentation, Dr. Davis will provide an overview of the TFP treatment model as a whole and its use in working with those with narcissistic pathology in particular. Central to narcissistic pathology is the operation of the grandiose self. He will provide a theoretical overview of the concept of the grandiose self and how it fits within the context of Kernberg’s object relations theory. Dr. Davis will then offer clinical illustrations of the grandiose self as it appears in treatment and offer a few clinical examples of how to intervene from a TFP perspective when indications of narcissistic grandiosity are present.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending the program in its entirety, attendees will be able to:
- Describe the structure and functioning of the grandiose self as it relates to personality organization.
- Recognize typical transference/countertransference constellations when working with narcissistic patients.
- Identify strategies for intervention based on some typical narcissistic dynamics.
PRESENTER
Tyson Davis, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice in Austin, TX. Tyson works from a contemporary relational psychoanalytic perspective. He completed his doctorate at Biola University, his Certificate in Adult Psychoanalysis from the Institute of Relational Psychoanalysis of Philadelphia (IRPP), and a Certificate in Transference-Focused Psychotherapy from Columbia University. He offers individual and group psychodynamic training/consultation for clinicians. Tyson maintains active interests in the integration of object relations and relational thinking. He serves on the Board of Austin Psychoanalytic and as teaching faculty for the Newport Psychoanalytic Institute in Newport Beach, CA.
REFERENCES
Diamond, D., Yeoman, F. & Keefe, J.R. (2021) Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Pathological Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (TFP-N). Psychodynamic Psychiatry, 49:244-272.
Diamond, D., Yeomans, F. E., Stern, B. L., & Kernberg, O. F. (2021). Treating Pathological Narcissism with Transference-Focused Psychotherapy. Guilford Press.
DISCLOSURES
Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Austin Psychoanalytic is approved by the Texas State Board of Social Workers Examiners (Provider # 5501) to provide continuing education for social workers and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider #1138). We also meet the requirements to provide continuing education for the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 1.5 continuing education credits. Division 39 is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. Division 39 is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest. Participants will be informed of the utility/validity of the content/approach discussed (including the basis for the statements about validity/utility), as well as the limitations of the approach and most common (and severe) risks, if any, associated with the program’s content.