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In this interview with Dr Ron Siegel, we look at the complexities of narcissism, its psychological roots, and the broad spectrum of behaviours it can cover. Ron is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, a long-standing clinical psychologist and a leading voice in mindfulness-based psychotherapy. He’s known for his ability to bridge solid academic thinking with warm, practical wisdom, and he brings real clarity, care and decades of clinical experience to this topic.

We discuss everything from overt grandiosity to the quieter, more subtle forms of self-preoccupation that often go unnoticed or misunderstood. Narcissism is frequently stigmatised, but Ron offers a grounded, compassionate way of understanding these traits, exploring how they often stem from attempts to manage deep feelings of inadequacy.

We talk about the challenges therapists can face when supporting people with narcissistic traits, especially around motivation, defensiveness and genuine engagement in therapy and Ron highlights the importance of fostering self-awareness, empathy and the transformative power of self-compassion.

Through personal stories and examples, we also look at how narcissism affects relationships and wellbeing, as well as the cultural and evolutionary factors that shape these patterns. The conversation ends on a hopeful note, encouraging viewers to pursue real connection, curiosity and self-compassion as meaningful pathways to healthier relationships and personal growth.

📹 More videos like this in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbzuc1SEOTxh_yMaPLgYA_4aNE-9xp9OM

If you find this helpful, it would mean a lot if you could like the video, subscribe to the channel, or share it with someone who might benefit. It really helps the channel grow and supports me in making more conversations like this. Thank you!

📚 Ron Siegel’s website: (https://drronsiegel.com)

🎙️ My podcast ‘This Trusted Place’: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk/podcast)
🌐 My website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

✅ If you're thinking about exploring therapy generally, I’d love to hear from you and you’re very welcome to get in touch with me via my website (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk) to find out more or to arrange an initial conversation.

🎯 1:1 Mentoring & Consultancy
Thinking about changing career to become a therapist? Already qualified and wanting to start up a private therapy practice? In private practice and looking to grow? Or maybe you're curious about sharing your voice on YouTube? I offer supportive, one-to-one mentoring on career change and becoming a therapist, starting and building a private practice, and creating meaningful content on YouTube. All the details are on my website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

🎁 My FREE personal development course 'Life Unlimited: 10 Steps to Real Change' is now available on this channel in a playlist on the homepage.
Whether you’re looking to move through anxiety, stress, depression, chronic anger, addictive behaviour, co-dependency, narcissism, low self-esteem/confidence, relationship problems, feeling stuck, lost or lacking in purpose – or simply want to experience more happiness, contentment and fulfilment – this course is carefully designed to help you do just that.

‘Life Unlimited’ Course testimonials include: "The course is packed with valuable content, yet John-Paul's warm, non-judgemental style makes it feel more as if a frien

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

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What if Snow White wasn’t just a fairy tale but a potential mirror for our own inner journey? In this episode, I explore how Disney’s remake of Snow White reveals powerful lessons about overcoming narcissism and finding true inner integration. I’ll look at how the film’s archetypes and characters can guide us from grandiosity and self-protection towards self-acceptance and alignment and what that means for healing the split between our inner feminine and masculine.

By understanding the parts of ourselves we often push away, like anger, the heart, and the shadow, we can move toward authenticity, balance, and a more grounded sense of wholeness. Stay till the end for practical insights on how to work with these inner dynamics in your own life and relationships.

✅ If you're thinking about exploring therapy generally, I’d love to hear from you and you’re very welcome to get in touch with me via my website (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk) to find out more or to arrange an initial conversation.

🎯 **1:1 Mentoring & Consultancy**
Thinking about changing career to become a therapist? Already qualified and wanting to start up a private therapy practice? In private practice and looking to grow? Or maybe you’re curious about sharing your voice on YouTube? I offer supportive, one-to-one mentoring on career change and becoming a therapist, starting and building a private practice, and creating meaningful content on YouTube. All the details are on my website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

🎁 **My FREE personal development course 'Life Unlimited: 10 Steps to Real Change' is now available on this channel in a playlist on the homepage.**
Whether you’re looking to move through anxiety, stress, depression, chronic anger, addictive behaviour, co-dependency, narcissism, low self-esteem/confidence, relationship problems, feeling stuck, lost or lacking in purpose – or simply want to experience more happiness, contentment and fulfilment in your life – this course is carefully designed to help you do just that.

‘Life Unlimited’ Course testimonials include:
"John-Paul's course Life Unlimited more than lives up to its promise as a practical and accessible guide to making meaningful, positive changes in your life. He takes you on a clear path towards self-awareness and self-acceptance, helping you to set healthy boundaries in your relationships with others."
"The course is packed with valuable content, yet John-Paul's warm, non-judgemental style makes it feel more as if a friend is sharing some wonderful wisdom. 100% recommend."

📹 For more videos on narcissism, here's my playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbzuc1SEOTxh_yMaPLgYA_4aNE-9xp9OM

**Fair Use/Fair Dealing Notice:**
This video contains brief clips from Disney’s Snow White remake used under the principles of fair dealing (UK) / fair use (US) for the purposes of commentary, analysis, and education. All clips are used transformatively to illustrate psychological and symbolic ideas being discussed, and do not substitute for or compete with the original work.

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

Send us a text

Being a therapist is really enjoyable, meaningful work, but it can also come with some surprises. In this video, I share 5 things that have been hard on my journey as a therapist: the unexpected challenges, the moments of learning, and the human realities that perhaps don’t often get talked about.

I talk about:

* The general lack of oversight and accountability.
* The questionable ‘empathy’ I occasionally see in other therapists.
* The relative silence on the lack of male therapists.
* How deeply relational this work really is.
* And the occasional sense of being ‘discarded’ by clients.

These are honest reflections from my own experience and I’d love to hear your thoughts, whether you’re a therapist yourself, thinking of becoming one, or simply curious about what really goes on behind the scenes in this profession.

🎯 **1:1 Mentoring & Consultancy**

Thinking about changing career to become a therapist? Already qualified and wanting to start up a private therapy practice? In private practice and looking to grow? Or maybe you're curious about sharing your voice on YouTube? I offer supportive, one-to-one mentoring on career change and becoming a therapist, starting and building a private practice, and creating meaningful content on YouTube. All the details are on my website: (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk)

✅ If you're thinking about exploring therapy generally, I’d love to hear from you and you’re very welcome to get in touch with me via my website (https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk) to find out more or to arrange an initial conversation.

🎁 **My FREE personal development course 'Life Unlimited: 10 Steps to Real Change' is now available on this channel in a playlist on the homepage.**

Whether you’re looking to move through anxiety, stress, depression, chronic anger, addictive behaviour, co-dependency, narcissism, low self-esteem/confidence, relationship problems, feeling stuck, lost or lacking in purpose – or simply want to experience more happiness, contentment and fulfilment in your life – this course is carefully designed to help you do just that.

**‘Life Unlimited’ Course testimonials include:**

"John-Paul's course Life Unlimited more than lives up to its promise as a practical and accessible guide to making meaningful, positive changes in your life. He takes you on a clear path towards self-awareness and self-acceptance, helping you to set healthy boundaries in your relationships with others."

"The course is packed with valuable content, yet John-Paul's warm, non-judgemental style makes it feel more as if a friend is sharing some wonderful wisdom. 100% recommend."

**📹 More videos just like this:**
(https://youtu.be/bv5sDWM-7TI)
(https://youtu.be/qvUrvcXjwno)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0FT3jEKjXI)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j84cmhWOFN0)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUCQ481nYP0)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVnUo3BFoq8)

If anything in this video resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below — and if you’d like to see more videos like this, please do like, share, and subscribe. It really helps more people find the channel, and I so appreciate your support.

Support the show

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about John-Paul and how he might be able to help you, please do contact him via his website www.thistrustedplace.co.uk