Beneath the Surface: Configurations & Treatment of Narcissism

About This Event

Beneath the Surface: Configurations & Treatment of Narcissism:
A somatic intersubjective Self Psychological approach

Where Theory Meets Practice — And Clinical Work Comes Alive

A rare conference for psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, and clinicians who want more than buzzwords and bullet points.

There are plenty of conferences, but very few like this one. In Australasia, there’s a striking absence of psychotherapy events that truly centre clinical practice — especially those that bring real case material into live conversation with theory. Even fewer offer space to reflect together on concepts that saturate our work yet often go unexamined. This conference offers what so many of us have been craving:

• Clinically rich case presentations that don’t just tell, but show
• Lively discussion that integrates theoretical frameworks with therapeutic process
• A deeper exploration of narcissism — as it appears in patients, in culture, and in the consulting room
• A rare opportunity to gather with peers for thoughtful, grounded, clinical dialogue

Featuring keynote presentation and responses to cases by Dr. Dan Perlitz of Toronto, Canada.  He will be speaking on Before Empathy and Selfobject Experience: The Traits and Attitudes of the Analyst.

Theory and Case Presentations will be offered by Stephen Tang, Karen Stewart, Holllie Wildethorn, Susi West, Matt Hynes & Sandra Lauffenburger.

Why focus on narcissism?

Because we use the term constantly. But what do we really mean by it?

This conference offers a chance to look again — and look deeper — at what narcissism signifies in developmental, relational, and psychoanalytic contexts. Not just pathology, not just personality — but something more complex, more human, and more clinically urgent.

Who is this for?

• Psychotherapists and psychoanalysts
• Early career to senior clinicians
• Anyone tired of surface-level discussion and hungry for clinical depth

Don’t miss this.

Conferences like this don’t come often — and they don’t stay small for long. Join us in making space for serious clinical thought, shared learning, and the kind of conversation that sustains our work.

If you have questions

Contact Conference Convener Sandra Lauffenburger HERE 

Other information

Fifteen (15) hours of PACFA CPD credit available 

Conference will be live-streamed and recorded for attendees unable to come to Canberra.  Recorded sessions will be available for viewing, but not downloading, for one month (March 24, 2026).

Conference begins on Friday evening, and ends on Sunday afternoon.

Attendance at the Monday sessions is optional.