Working with Narcissistically Vulnerable Clients Through the Lens of Contemporary Self Psychology
What does it mean to be empathically attuned to a client's psychological needs? How do you navigate a therapeutic impasse, repair an empathic failure, or offer an interpretation without inducing shame? What does it suggest when you find yourself chronically bored with a client? What does it mean to function as a selfobject, and how do you recognize when you are experienced in the transference as a mirroring selfobject rather than an idealized selfobject? What are vertical and horizontal splits, and how do they shape the clinical process?
In this three-part seminar, participants will explore the core concepts of Kohut's Self Psychology and its application to a wide range of challenging clinical situations. The instructor will discuss how therapists can respond to these dilemmas while maintaining an empathic, developmentally informed therapeutic stance. Participants will become familiar with the foundational principles of Self Psychology and the developments that have emerged since Kohut's original contributions.
Before each seminar, participants will receive approximately 20 pages of optional reading by email. Drawing on case material from psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, the instructor will illustrate the clinical application of Self Psychological and Intersubjective perspectives. Time will also be devoted to discussing participants' own clinical vignettes and questions.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be able to list the central tenets of Self Psychology, as originally conceived by Kohut.
- Participants will be able to describe and distinguish Kohut’s views on the “bipolar self,” the “vertical and horizontal split,” and three narcissistic or “selfobject” transferences.
- Participants will be able to characterize Kohut’s views on: empathy; disruption and repair; optimal frustration and responsiveness; transmuting internalization; and vicarious introspection.
Instructor and Credentials: Don Schimmel, PhD
Speaker Bio: Don Schimmel is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. He is a former Senior Faculty Member of the Seattle Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, where he taught seminars on a broad range of psychoanalytic theory and technique. Dr. Schimmel has over 50 years of clinical experience treating adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families.
Fees: $120 for Members and $150 for non-members
Location: Zoom | Max Capacity 10 Attendees
Cancellation Policy:
If you need to cancel your purchase, please do so before by Monday, September 28, 2026 by emailing admin@nwaps.org to request a refund minus a 30% cancellation fee. We are unable to process or offer any refund for cancellations made after September 28, 2026. Allow 2-4 weeks to process your refund request. Note that participation in the entire event is required to obtain CE credits.
