Conditions and Diagnoses

The word narcissist has become one of the most common labels in everyday conversation, usually aimed at someone selfish or vain. But the psychoanalytic picture is far more nuanced. Narcissism is not simply a character flaw or a diagnosis. It is a dimension of human personality that everyone possesses, present in healthy and unhealthy forms…

The word borderline is widely used and widely misunderstood. In everyday speech it has become shorthand for emotional instability, but in psychoanalysis it names something more precise and more useful. The psychoanalyst Otto Kernberg developed the concept of borderline personality organization to describe not a single disorder but an underlying level of personality structure, one…

Every child struggles sometimes. Tears, defiance, worry, and withdrawal are part of growing up, and most of the time they pass. So how do you know when a child’s difficulty is ordinary and when it signals something that deserves professional attention? If you have found yourself asking does my child need therapy, that question usually…

Few terms in psychology carry as much weight, or as much confusion, as malignant narcissism. It sits at the far end of the narcissistic spectrum, where grandiosity fuses with aggression, suspicion, and a striking absence of remorse. The concept did not begin as a diagnostic label. It began as a clinical observation about how the…

Some people seem, again and again, to arrive at the doorstep of success or closeness only to turn away from it. They decline the promotion, sabotage the steady relationship, or convert a kindness into an occasion for guilt. Self-defeating personality disorder is the name once given to this enduring pattern of turning against one’s own…

Please Note: Educational content only. This post does not reflect services currently offered by our clinic. To learn more about our current services or to inquire about care, please visit our Services page. Understanding compulsive personalities offers valuable insights into patterns of emotional constriction and rigid behavioral control. This comprehensive guide explores the nature, origins, and effective…

The phenomenon of mania presents one of psychology’s most fascinating and challenging conditions. Understanding its origins, manifestations, and psychological meaning provides crucial insights for both clinical work and personal understanding. The Psychological Dynamics of Mania Sigmund Freud’s observations about mania offer a compelling framework for understanding this complex condition. The Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute Treatment Center…

The transition to motherhood brings profound physical and emotional changes that can affect mental health. Understanding maternal affective disorders provides crucial knowledge for supporting women during this vulnerable period. The Vulnerability of Pregnancy and Postpartum Pregnancy and the postpartum period represent times of heightened vulnerability to emotional challenges. The Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute Treatment Center specializes…

Please Note: Educational content only. This post does not reflect services currently offered by our clinic. To learn more about our current services or to inquire about care, please visit our Services page. Schizophrenia represents one of the most extensively studied and complex conditions in the field of mental health. Understanding its nature, symptoms, and treatment approaches…