Navigating Intimacy in Relationships with Narcissistic or Antagonistic Personalities in Therapy
- Speaker:
- Ramani Durvasula, PhD, LCP
- Duration:
- 1 Hour 06 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
Nov 18, 2025
- Product Code:
- POS150261
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
Clients in intimate relationships impacted by narcissistic or antagonistic personalities often face some of the most complex and emotionally charged dynamics in therapy. These cases involve betrayal trauma, relational trauma, and trauma bonding, as well as challenges like coercive control, post-separation abuse, and the multifaceted difficulties of co-parenting and divorce.
Join Dr. Ramani Durvasula—renowned psychologist, New York Times best-selling author, and leading expert on narcissistic abuse—for this transformative training.
Blending academic rigor with real-world application, Dr. Ramani equips you with essential tools to navigate narcissistic relationship dynamics and support survivors in their healing journey. In this session, you’ll learn to:
- Address legal and ethical complexities, including confidentiality, record-keeping, custody evaluations, and cultural considerations
- Identify key elements of the narcissistic relationship cycle and how they manifest in various dynamics
- Define and assess coercive control within intimate relationships.
- Enhance cultural competence when working with clients in narcissistic or antagonistic intimate relationships
With a focus on both individuals and couples, this training highlights the pitfalls and unique challenges of working with narcissistic relationships, emphasizing trauma-informed approaches and practical tools. Combining case examples with empirical insights, this session will empower you to provide safe, ethical, and effective support for this vulnerable population.
Credit
Handouts/Brochure
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - Navigating Intimacy in Relationships (687.8 KB) | 20 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Navigating Intimacy in Relationships with Narcissistics (131.6 KB) | 25 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Speaker
Ramani Durvasula, PhD, LCP Related seminars and products
Ramani Durvasula, PhD is a psychologist in California, the founder and CEO of LUNA Education, Training and Consulting, and professor emerita of psychology at California State University Los Angeles. She is The New York Times bestselling author of It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People. She is also the author of multiple other books including ”Don’t You Know Who I Am”: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility and Should I Stay or Should I Go: Surviving a Relationship with a Narcissist. She has lectured and trained therapists around the world on best practices on working with clients experiencing narcissistic abuse and has developed a 36 hour virtual training and certification program in conjunction with PESI to train clinicians on how to use an antagonism-informed approach with clients experiencing narcissistic relationships.
Dr. Durvasula hosts a popular YouTube channel with over 2 million subscribers, maintains a program offering support and education to thousands of survivors, and is a featured expert on the digital media platform MedCircle. She also maintains an engaged online network called the Dr. Ramani Network. She has also been widely involved in the governance of the American Psychological Association, including the APA Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology and the APA Minority Fellowship Program. Dr. Durvasula received her MA and PhD degrees in clinical psychology from UCLA and completed her internship and post-doctoral training at the UCLA Department of Psychiatry. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, with a minor in sociology in 1988 at the University of Connecticut. She resides in Los Angeles, CA.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Ramani Durvasula is the founder and CEO of LUNA Education, Training, and Consulting and has an employment relationship with the University of Johannesburg. Ramani Durvasula receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Ramani Durvasula is an associate editor for Behavioral Medicine. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science Society for Behavioral Medicine, and the International Association of Applied Psychology.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page at www.pesi.com/faq or contact us at www.pesi.com/info
Objectives
- Identify the elements of the narcissistic relationship cycle and the different ways this can play out in relationships.
- Identify at least five tactics used in coercive control.
- Analyze how cultural norms influence perceptions of narcissistic abuse and coercive control.
Outline
- Different ways that the classical relationship can show up in narcissistic relationships
- Different types of issues that are raised when working with individuals in narcissistic relationships versus couples
- Betrayal trauma and why is it so common in narcissistic relationships
- Getting clarity on trauma bonding and how that can contribute to ambivalence in narcissistic relationships
- Coercive control and why is it so important to understand this when you are working with clients experiencing narcissistic relationships
- A brief introduction to key ethical and legal issues raised by cases of narcissistic/antagonistic relational stress
- Being a culturally competent counselor when working with clients in narcissistic intimate relationships
- Handouts to illustrate these issues and to keep as a reference, as well as suggestions for further reading
- Risks and Limitations
Target Audience
- Case Managers
- Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Physicians
Reviews
Satisfaction Guarantee
Your satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. Concerns should be addressed to: PO Box 1000, Eau Claire, WI 54702-1000 or call 1-800-844-8260.
ADA Needs
We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our Customer Service Department for more information at 1-800-844-8260.
PESI Mobile App
Access CE trainings on your phone or tablet through our free mobile app. Choose video or audio-only versions of online courses from the world’s best instructors, and complete your CE requirements anywhere, anytime, at your own pace.
Please wait ...



