Lance M. Dodes, M.D.

Hi Dr. Dodes
I am an experienced addiction counselor and a current grad student studying clinical counseling and am very interested in the roots of addiction. I was wondering, could a therapist treat a client with symptoms severe enough to be diagnosed as Narcissistic or Antisocial Personality Disorder who is substance dependent using the methods outlined in your books, or are their behaviors too subconscious and ingrained to have the level of insight and control that someone would need to seek healing?

People with narcissistic personalities are very treatable in psychodynamic therapy, whether or not they have addictions. Sociopathy is a much more severe diagnosis which may not be treatable with or without addiction.