Unleash Your Inner Social Worker: Master the SWES Human Behavior Exam 2026!

Responding to a client with narcissistic personality disorder requires a nuanced approach to effectively address their feelings while fostering healthier interpersonal dynamics. Achieving a balance between empathic mirroring and understanding the fiancé's perspective is key because it validates the client's feelings of being undervalued while also promoting the development of empathy and perspective-taking.

By reflecting the client’s emotions, the therapist helps the individual recognize their own experiences and emotions, which can often feel invalidated due to their narcissistic tendencies. This process can also encourage the client to explore their feelings more deeply without becoming defensive. Furthermore, integrating an understanding of the fiancé's perspective teaches the client to consider others' viewpoints, which is an essential skill in fostering healthier and more reciprocal relationships.

The selected response aligns with therapeutic goals by cultivating emotional intelligence and promoting resilience in the client, rather than reinforcing their narcissistic tendencies through dismissal, aggression, or sole focus on self-esteem. This balanced approach helps the client learn more constructive ways to navigate conflicts and relationships moving forward.