This time of year often brings a mix of emotions. Excitement for festive gatherings, nostalgia for past celebrations, and perhaps a touch of anxiety about navigating family dynamics. It also offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the importance of communication, positivity, and the enduring power of family bonds.

How does someone break free of an internalized system of beliefs, feelings, reactions, and expectations that were created and deeply rooted in early parent-child interactions?

A working definition of narcissism begins by inviting people to pause, and think about narcissism as a condition of vulnerability or injury, rather than thinking about narcissism as a “diagnosis.”