Live webinar air date: November 4, 2026, 1–2:30 p.m., Eastern time
Paid Promotion
Date
CE credits
1.5
Enrollment limit
1,000
Description
Presenter disclaimer: Karen Jacob and Brandon Unruh have working relationships with McLean Hospital and therefore have both a financial and an intellectual interest in the presentation content. The purpose of this program is to provide a balanced view on diagnosis and evidence-based treatment of borderline and narcissistic personality disorders.
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This presentation is offered by the APA Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP) and paid for by McLean Hospital. The presentation has been reviewed and approved by the APA CEP Office to offer CE credits for psychologists. The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the program.
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a growing mental health concern, yet despite its prevalence, NPD is frequently missed by clinicians and inadequately treated. This workshop will introduce the alternative model for personality disorders and explore effective interventions from mentalization-based therapy.
The presentation is only offered live—no on-demand versions will be made available.
Learning objectives
- Identify four core components of NPD.
- Use dimensional diagnostic concepts to describe several areas of impairment in NPD.
- Discuss mentalization-based strategies that strengthen self-awareness, relational mutuality, flexible thinking, and self-esteem.
Paid for by
This topical webinar for APA members is paid for by McLean Hospital. The content was created by Mclean Hospitalopens in new window and does not reflect the views of APA or its editorial staff. Email Advertising to learn more. McLean Hospital is a top-ranked, free-standing psychiatric hospital; a leader in psychiatric care, research, and education; and the largest psychiatric hospital of Harvard Medical School.
Presenters
Brandon Unruh, MD
Brandon Unruh is the medical director of the Gunderson Residence at McLean Hospital, an intensive, specialized residential program for women with severe personality disorders. His clinical approach is anchored in the integration of evidence-based treatments such as dialectical behavior therapy, mentalization-based treatment, and general psychiatric management. Unruh’s interests in literature and philosophy, as well as science, led him to a career in psychiatry and psychotherapy. He has published on a variety of topics including medical ethics, general hospital psychiatry, and literature and medicine. His academic interests also include the examination of philosophical and spiritual issues from psychiatric and psychoanalytic perspectives.
Karen L. Jacob, PhD
Karen L. Jacob is the program director of the Gunderson Residence at McLean Hospital, a treatment program for individuals struggling with borderline personality disorder. Her clinical interests include cognitive behavioral therapy for patients struggling with mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, as well as mindfulness, mentalization, dialectical behavior, and biofeedback therapies. Her research interests include the effectiveness of empirically supported treatments in clinical contexts and in elucidating mechanisms of change in treatment. Jacob has a particular interest in understanding the relative impact of different components of treatment on outcome, as measured by both symptom and functional improvement. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Clark University and completed her postdoctoral training at Cambridge Health Alliance at Harvard Medical School.
