When Your Adult Child is a Covert Narcissist: A Parent’s Dilemma with Dr. Mazzella

In this powerful Part Two of the two-part series with Dr. Anthony Mazzella and Renee Swanson, we shift perspectives. In part one, we discussed the adult child uncovering a covert narcissistic parent, and this is featured on The Narcissism Decoder. Now we shift to the parent who realizes their adult child exhibits covert narcissistic behaviors.

Dr. Mazzella, a seasoned psychotherapist and psychoanalyst, brings his expertise in to explore the emotional turmoil, self-doubt, and painful realities parents face when confronted with this harsh truth. Together, we unpack the deep-seated psychological mechanisms that drive covert narcissism, the role of early relationship failures, and how unresolved emotional wounds shape an insatiable need for validation.

This episode offers a compassionate yet realistic discussion on:
🔹 The emotional toll on parents who recognize covert narcissistic traits in their adult children
🔹 How early relational patterns influence a child’s ability to give and receive care
🔹 The internal struggles of a covert narcissist and their unrelenting need for external validation
🔹 Strategies for parents navigating this painful dynamic—when to help, when to set boundaries, and when to step back

If you’ve struggled with feelings of guilt, confusion, or helplessness in your relationship with an emotionally manipulative adult child, this episode provides the clarity and support you need.

You can find part one on The Narcissism Decoder - https://www.drmazzella.com/the-narcissism-decoder-podcast/