THE WOUNDED SELF
THE USED CHILD, The Narcissistic Experience
How to work with NARCISSISTIC INJURY
This workshop will concentrate on healing the narcissistic wounds of the used child, exploring different theories, methods and techniques that can help heal the narcissistic injury.
The narcissistic wound is a deep injury to the experience of the real self. True self expression, in response to early injuries, is replaced by a highly developed, compensatory false self. The child is used in as much as she/he is told:
“Don’t be who you are, be what I need you to be.
Who you are disappoints me, threatens me, angers me, over- stimulates me.
Be what I want you to be and I will love you.”
By being aware of our own narcissistic wounds, we can remain spacious and not react to the clients’ defences. We can then hear the depth and content of the clients’ pains and fears so often defended by denial and grandiosity.
The workshop will enable you to:
- Identify narcissistic wounding and understand narcissistic behaviour
- Understand the developmental origins of narcissistic injury
- Work with narcissistic defences and the false self
- Be aware of the transference and counter transference issues
- Help the real self to emerge within the therapeutic relationship