The Fifty Shades of Pathological Narcissism: An In-Depth Study of the Person and the Problem
Ross Rosenberg has been clear about this for years. He did not set out to become an expert on narcissists. He wanted to be good at helping the people narcissists harm, which is a different job. But the questions kept coming back to the same subject, and eventually he decided that if everyone wanted to understand the perpetrator, he had better give them something thorough.
This is that, at eighteen hours. It is the longest course in his catalogue and among the longest anywhere in this library, and the length is the point. Pathological narcissism, in his framing, is not one diagnosis but an overlapping territory: narcissistic, borderline and antisocial personality disorders and the subtypes that sit between them. Sorting that out properly takes time, and most treatments of the subject do not take it.
The course moves through three things. Who these individuals are, clinically and in detail. What narcissistic abuse actually consists of, named form by form, from gaslighting and hoovering to the induced conversation and dozens more. And then, in the final part, what to teach a client so they can protect themselves, drawn from the treatment programme he built for exactly that. He also spends real time on why the bond is so difficult to leave, which is the question clinicians ask most often and the one that frustrates them most.
You’ll walk away with
- Pathological narcissism mapped as overlapping territory across narcissistic, borderline and antisocial presentations, with the subtypes distinguished
- Covert and malignant narcissism, and why the covert presentation is the one most often missed
- Narcissistic abuse syndrome and its manifestations, described as a pattern rather than a list of behaviours
- Every named form of the abuse: gaslighting, hoovering, induced conversation, the human magnet dynamic, and many more
- Why the bond is so hard to break, and what makes leaving different from leaving other bad relationships
- The type of person most likely to be targeted, and his Self-Love Deficit Disorder account of why
- Where this shows up beyond intimate relationships: family, friendships and the workplace
- Strategies and techniques you can teach a client to protect themselves, from his treatment programme
- The clinical judgment of when exposing a narcissist is unsafe for the client
- Enough depth to hold a case that does not resolve quickly, which is most of them
Watch the course trailer
CPD Information For Mental Health Professionals
Enjoy complete flexibility with 100% self-paced learning you can access anytime, anywhere, and on any device. This course is included with your Tatra Training membership, along with every other course in the library.
Where this sits: this is the full-length treatment of pathological narcissism. A shorter six-hour version of this material is also available.
Course Duration: 18 learning hours
Certificate and CPD hours: On completion you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion to support your CPD records. Your certificates are yours to keep.
Assessment: Complete a short quiz at the end (80% pass mark), which you can resit as many times as needed.
Revisit Anytime: Come back to the course as often as you like while your membership is active, whenever you want a refresher for practice.
CPD Eligibility: This program may be suitable for CPD for professionals such as:
- Psychologists
- Counsellors and Psychotherapists
- Social Workers
- Community Workers
- Mental Health Nurses
- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Occupational Therapists
CPD requirements vary between professional bodies, so please check with your association or credentialing body to confirm you can claim CPD hours/OPD points for this program and what evidence they require.
Course Content
Meet Your Instructor
Individuals trapped in destructive relationships with narcissists - and the practitioners trying to help them break free from what seems like magnetic attraction to toxic partners - may need more than traditional codependency treatment to understand and heal the deeper patterns that keep them stuck. Ross Rosenberg has spent over 35 years developing groundbreaking theories about what he calls "The Human Magnet Syndrome," becoming one of the world's leading experts in narcissistic abuse recovery and the pioneer of "Self-Love Deficit Disorder™" as a revolutionary replacement for outdated codependency concepts.
As CEO/Owner of Self-Love Recovery Institute and bestselling author of The Human Magnet Syndrome (200,000+ copies sold in 12 languages, Amazon bestseller since 2013), Rosenberg brings unique expertise that combines clinical excellence with massive global reach. His 34+ million YouTube views, 310,000+ subscribers, and top 2% globally-ranked Self-Love Recovery Podcast demonstrate his exceptional ability to make complex psychological concepts accessible to millions worldwide. His latest work, The Codependency Revolution: Fixing What Was Always Broken, introduces his revolutionary Self-Love Deficit Disorder™ concept, fundamentally reshaping how we understand and treat codependent patterns.
Rosenberg's expertise spans codependency (Self-Love Deficit Disorder™), narcissistic abuse recovery, pathological narcissism, trauma treatment, gaslighting recovery, and what he describes as helping people break free from their "magnetic" attraction to partners who hurt them. His approach recognises that traditional codependency treatment often fails because it doesn't address the deeper self-love deficits that create vulnerability to narcissistic partners. He specialises in helping survivors of narcissistic abuse understand why they repeatedly choose harmful partners, develop the self-love necessary to break these patterns, and recover from the complex trauma that narcissistic relationships create.
What sets his training apart is theoretical innovation combined with authentic vulnerability. Rosenberg doesn't just teach recovery techniques - he shows practitioners and clients how to understand the unconscious "magnetic" dynamics that draw codependent individuals to narcissistic partners. His willingness to share his own recovery journey creates the authentic connection that facilitates deep healing in both professional and personal contexts.
For your practice, expect to gain specific techniques for treating narcissistic abuse trauma, tools for helping clients develop genuine self-love, and frameworks for understanding the complex dynamics that keep people trapped in toxic relationships. His approach particularly benefits practitioners working with domestic abuse survivors, those treating complex trauma presentations, or clinicians wanting to develop expertise in narcissistic abuse recovery.
Quick Win: Rosenberg's "Observe Don't Absorb" technique helps clients to create emotional boundaries with narcissistic partners - sometimes providing the first sense of personal power they've experienced in years while building the foundation for deeper recovery work.
Qualifications
- M.Ed., Counseling Psychology, Boston University, 1988
- B.A., Psychology, Towson University, Maryland, 1987
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Illinois
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
- Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT)
- 35+ years clinical experience (practicing since 1988)
Authored Books & Publications
- The Codependency Revolution: Fixing What Was Always Broken (2024, introduces Self-Love Deficit Disorder™ concept)
- The Human Magnet Syndrome: The Codependent Narcissist Trap (2018, Morgan James Publishing, complete rewrite)
- The Human Magnet Syndrome: Why We Love People Who Hurt Us (2013, Premier Publishing & Media, 200,000+ copies sold in 12 languages, Amazon bestseller since 2013)
- The Codependency Cure™ (treatment methodology book)
Media & Global Reach
- 34+ million YouTube views with 310,000+ subscribers
- Self-Love Recovery Podcast: Top 2% globally ranked, 245,000+ downloads
- Featured on: ABC Late Night, Fox News, WGN News, UT-San Diego News
- Regular contributor: Huffington Post, PsychCentral.com
- Featured in: Chicago Tribune, Publisher Weekly
- Hundreds of podcast guest appearances
Professional Experience & Leadership
- CEO/Owner, Self-Love Recovery Institute, Pensacola, FL, September 2013–present
- Owner, Clinical Care Consultants, Arlington Heights, IL, 2012–current
- Expert Witness, Narcissistic Abuse cases, current
- Owner, Advanced Clinical Trainers (professional training company)
Clinical Specialties
- Narcissistic abuse recovery and complex trauma treatment
- Self-Love Deficit Disorder™ (codependency) treatment
- Pathological narcissism and personality disorders
- Gaslighting recovery and psychological manipulation
- Sex and love addiction therapy
- Expert witness work in narcissistic abuse cases
Ready to help clients break free from their magnetic attraction to toxic partners and develop genuine self-love? Discover how Ross Rosenberg's revolutionary Self-Love Deficit Disorder™ methods can transform your understanding of codependency while giving you the tools to help survivors of narcissistic abuse create healthy, loving relationships for the first time.
Feedback & Reviews
This course includes:
- Lessons 12
- Topics 0
- Duration 18 hours
- Quizzes 2
- Language English