Date/Time
2/20/2026 - 2/23/2026
Check flyer and link for details
Event Type(s)
Institutional Member Events
Event Description

Beneath the Surface: Configurations and Treatment of Narcissism, A Somatic Intersubjective Self Psychological Approach

 

A weekend conference (in person or live-streamed) for those who work with survivors of developmental trauma (often diagnosed with a personality disorder).
Integrating a psychodynamic approach with somatic, affective and developmental-relationship yearning.

Clients presenting with archaic narcissistic needs are often experienced as “difficult”, and branded as BPD, personality disorder or some other DSM label.
They are the ones who drain us, bore us, humiliate us, idolise us, infuriate us, regularly disappear, and eventually make us feel useless.

A nuanced understanding of their healthy developmental strivings and hopes for relational repair can help us sidestep the otherwise inevitable relational re-traumatisation.

The 2026 CRSPC conference will present an understanding of difficult, narcissistic presentations, offering six innovative configurations of narcissistic dynamics emerging from analysis of childhood developmental trauma. Combining self-psychological perspectives with somatic, affective and developmental understanding of relational dynamics, these ‘difficult’ clients are treatable.

Presentations will explore clinical case material to illustrate the challenges of treatment, as well as the complex interplay between developmental history, selfobject functions, affective expression, bodily experience, and relational contexts to offer new pathways for clinical intervention.

A tribute to Dr. Ron Lee one of Australia’s key practitioners and teachers of Self Psychology will also be held during the conference.

Conference Keynote Speaker: Daniel Perlitz MD, Psychoanalyst, Canada
Board of directors and faculty of IASP, IAPSP
Adjunct Lecturer Uni Toronto Supervisor, Psychiatry Dept, St Joseph’s Hospital 

Conference Organiser: Sandra Lauffenburger MSc. Psychotherapist,  Australia
Council Member IAPSP Co-director, SISP, Canberra Clinical Supervisor PACFA

To register, please go to:  www.canberraselfpsychology.org and www.selfnmotion.com.au
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Event Documents/Images
2026 CRSPC Conference Info and CPD Details
Canberra Conference Flyer


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