Narcissistic Process, Shame and Vulnerability in Vertical Development

^{Hosted by Simon Cavicchia}

Vertical development offers a detailed map to guide and inform adult learning experience and practice. As perspectives expand, individuals undergo significant shifts in perspective and meaning making and this extends into the domain of identity.

In this workshop we will consider the nature of narcissistic process as an ordinary and inevitable (as opposed to pathological) dimension of human experience, rooted in the early development and structure of the human personality.

The processes of vertical development inevitably involve deconstructing and expanding beyond existing mental content with which an individual is identified. The extent of identification is the extent to which this deconstruction can be experienced as a threat to psychological integrity. Furthermore, to the extent that we take ourselves to be our thoughts, perspectives and positions, is the extent to which any questioning of those thoughts and perspectives can feel like a threat to our very existence.

When mental content and personality structures that have afforded a sense of integrity and identity begin to reveal themselves to be less solid than we might have once experienced or believed them to be, individuals can experience vulnerability and shame in the face of no longer “knowing” as much as they once felt or believed they did. This can be seen in the context of Vertical Leadership Development where leaders have often constructed identity on the basis of self-images of being knowledgeable and competent and whose careers and successes have depended on these qualities and attributes.

Understanding narcissistic processes, shame and vulnerability offer a way of thinking about the disorientation that individuals can feel as their perspectives expand as well as the confusion and vulnerability they experience in the face of disorienting dilemmas where they are yet to experience the shifts in perspective to enable them to better navigate novel challenges.

Having a map for thinking about narcissistic processes can also illuminate the comparison to others and competitive striving that can be activated in ourselves, our clients and their systems as a result of working overtly in the territory of vertical development.

In order to “let come” more expanded perspectives, there also needs to be a “letting go” of the identification with constructs and self-images that have hitherto conferred a sense of identity.

In this workshop you will:

• Learn a theoretical map for understanding narcissistic processes, shame the experience of vulnerability.
• Explore and understand the relevance of narcissistic process, shame and vulnerability in the context of vertical development and adult learning in general.
• Engage in a number or experiential experiments to explore the embodied nature of narcissistic process and shame experience.
• Explore and learn perspectives and strategies for working with narcissistic processes in ourselves and when facilitating learning in others.
• Identify resources for reducing shame experience in self and other.

Simon Cavicchia practices as a Gestalt Psychotherapist, Executive Coach, Supervisor and Leadership Development Consultant. He is on the Faculty of the Ashridge Masters in Executive Coaching in the UK. He has published a number of papers on aspects of the coaching relationship, executive coaching as leadership development, the experience of shame and vulnerability in coaching and organisational life and in 2018 with Maria Gilbert “The Theory and Practice of Relational Coaching – Complexity, Paradox and Integration” published by Routledge. 

DATES:  8 and 15 November

TIME: 1330 - 1730 UK

COST:  £280 + VAT