Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Counseling Middle School Students
This paper examines narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), a personality disorder characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, lack of empathy, and an intense need for admiration rooted in fragile self-esteem. The paper outlines the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, reviews the prevalence of NPD in the U.S. general and clinical populations, and discusses its higher rates among men. It then presents structured four-session individual and group counseling plans for middle school students with NPD, incorporating self-psychology, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy to build self-awareness, improve relational skills, and replace maladaptive thought patterns.
- Introduction to Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Defines NPD and its core characteristics
- Diagnostic Criteria and Prevalence of NPD: DSM-5 criteria, symptoms, and U.S. prevalence data
- Individual Counseling for a Middle School Student with NPD: Four-session individual therapy plan and approaches
- Group Counseling for a Middle School Student with NPD: Four-session group therapy goals and techniques
- Conclusion: Summary of NPD and counseling recommendations
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper moves logically from clinical definition and diagnosis to practical intervention, grounding counseling recommendations in established diagnostic criteria (DSM-5).
- Prevalence statistics from peer-reviewed research (Stinson et al., 2008) add credibility and contextualize the disorder's real-world impact across gender and demographic groups.
- Concrete, session-by-session counseling plans make the paper actionable and demonstrate applied clinical thinking rather than purely theoretical discussion.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates applied clinical reasoning by connecting diagnostic knowledge directly to treatment planning. Rather than treating theory and practice as separate, it explicitly justifies each counseling approach—self-psychology, psychodynamic therapy, and CBT—in terms of the specific symptoms and needs of NPD, showing how theoretical frameworks translate into structured therapeutic sessions.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a general introduction to NPD, then deepens the clinical picture through DSM-5 criteria and U.S. prevalence data. The two central sections each present a four-session counseling plan—first for individual therapy, then for group therapy—specifying goals, approaches, and techniques for each session. A brief conclusion synthesizes the key points. This structure moves from knowledge to application in a clear, readable arc.
Introduction to Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition that causes an individual to have an exaggerated sense of their own importance, a lack of empathy for others, and an intense need for admiration. This mental disorder is characterized by inflated self-confidence that is, in reality, rooted in a fragile self-esteem which is highly susceptible to even the smallest amount of criticism. As a result of this fragile self-esteem and an inaccurate sense of importance, NPD is associated with numerous problems in significant areas of life. Given the impact of this mental disorder on an individual's lifestyle, it is important to diagnose and treat the condition at an early stage.
References
Ambardar, S. & Bienenfeld, D. (2016, May 9). Narcissistic personality disorder. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1519417-overview
Counseling Directory. (n.d.). Narcissistic personality disorder. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/narcissistic.html
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, November 18). Narcissistic personality disorder. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20025568
Stinson, F. S., Dawson, D. A., Goldstein, R. B., Chou, S. P., Huang, B., Smith, S. M., … Grant, B. F. (2008, July). Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV narcissistic personality disorder: Results from the Wave 2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 69(7), 1033–1045.
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