Overt and Covert Narcissism: Turning Points and Mutative Elements in Two Psychotherapies

Two patients, one with an overt and the other with a covert narcis‐sistic disorder, are followed through five years of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. A number of important turning points in the therapies are closely evaluated in order to discover possible mutative elements. Special attention is paid to the patients’ self‐sufficiency. The attachment process to the therapist and the patients’ gradual acceptance of healthy dependency are described. The theoretical framework is selfpsychological.