Challenging Personalities: Understanding Borderline & Narcissism with Robert Drozek (307)

Borderline and narcissism are often misunderstood—this episode separates myth from science.

Robert Drozek explores the science behind borderline and narcissistic personality disorders, separating common myths from current research. Together, he and Sue discuss attachment, trauma, genetics, parenting, evidence-based treatments, and why understanding these often misunderstood conditions can bring greater compassion, hope, and healthier relationships.

“Borderline is driven by a need to reconnect.” – Robert P. Drozek, LICSW Time Stamps for Challenging Personalities: Understanding Borderline & Narcissism with Robert Drozek (307)

04:14 Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
09:25 Exploring narcissism: Definitions and types
13:29 Vulnerable vs. grandiose narcissism
18:56 The Role of Trauma in Personality Disorders
22:25 Parenting styles and their impact on narcissism
27:14 Identifying narcissism in relationships
33:34 Treatment approaches for Borderline Personality Disorder
36:45 Challenges in treating Narcissistic Personality Disorder
45:26 Navigating relationships with narcissistic individuals

About our Guest – Robert P. Drozek, LICSW

Robert P. Drozek, LICSW is the clinical director of the Mentalization-Based Treatment Clinic at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. He is a teaching associate in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, specializing in the treatment of
borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. He is author of the new book, Mentalization: Utilizing reflection to heal from borderline personality disorder—the first book for the general public about
mentalization-based treatment.

Resources for Challenging Personalities: Understanding Borderline & Narcissism with Robert Drozek (307)

Download page – Free worksheets and handouts from the book

Mentalization Coach App – The first mobile app for mentalization and MBT,
adapted from my new book

Mentalization-based Treatment for Pathological Narcissism – Handbook

Mentalization-based Treatment for Personality Disorders– A practical guide

Cambridge Guide to Mentalization-based Treatment

Anna Freud Centre – The worldwide training hub for mentalization-based
treatment (MBT)

NPD Basic – A free guide to narcissistic personality disorder

MBT Boston – An organization that Robert co-founded that offers training and supervision to clinicians across the world in MBT

MBT USA – A consortium of MBT providers and organizations in the United

Robert’s faculty page at McLean Hospital

Instagram: @RobertDrozek

Mentalization book – Facebook page

Get your copy of Mentalization: Utilizing Reflection to Heal from Borderline Personality Disorder here! Please support our sponsors – they keep our podcast free and accessible to all!

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