Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast Devaluation, Transference, Narcissism with Diana Diamond
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Oct 24, 2025 Clinical psychologist Diana Diamond, an expert in transference-focused psychotherapy, delves into the intricacies of narcissism and treatment. She unpacks the complex dynamics of devaluation, often manifested as patients undermining their therapists. Diamond discusses the impact of attachment styles on therapy, revealing how different patterns transform treatment interactions. The conversation also touches on the Narcissus myth, exploring its themes of trauma and self-destructiveness, while emphasizing the importance of acknowledging therapists' fallibility to foster genuine connections.
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Managing The Therapist’s Temptation To Devalue
- The hardest task treating narcissistic patients is not to devalue them in return.
- Therapists must hold the patient's devaluation and use it clinically rather than reactively.
Musician Who Refused Credit For Therapy
- A musician patient regained functioning but insisted her progress had nothing to do with therapy.
- Her devaluation revealed envy, narcissistic injury, and an internalized superior-inferior object relation.
Clarify Before Labeling Alternatives As Devaluation
- Ask patients what about other relationships is helpful before assuming devaluation.
- Use clarification to understand whether a friend, trainer, or medication is genuinely aiding progress.
