Two Therapy Sessions with a Cheating Narcissist (Role Play) Part 1 2022

One of the most common questions therapist Patrick Teahan, MSW, receives is: "Can you see my narcissistic partner/parent?" In this video, he answers that question by showing rather than telling — through two role-played therapy sessions with a fictional client displaying narcissistic personality disorder.

The scenario follows a man whose wife caught him cheating and recommended he see a therapist. Across two sessions, Patrick demonstrates the hallmarks of narcissistic pathology in a clinical setting: deflection, image management, blame-shifting, minimization, and a fundamental inability to take genuine accountability. In session one, the client reframes infidelity as his wife's fault, positions himself as the real victim, and tests the therapist's boundaries. By session two, the mask slips further as the client grows increasingly hostile toward the therapeutic process itself.

Patrick asks viewers to watch with the concept of "image" in mind — the narcissist's obsession with how they are perceived by others. This role play illustrates why therapy typically doesn't work for true NPD: the client isn't there to change, but to manage perception. A companion clinical analysis video breaks down the pathology in real time. This video is especially valuable for anyone struggling with the inner child wound of wanting to believe a narcissistic person can change.