Emerging From the "Dark Night of the Soul": Healing the False Self in a Narcissistically Vulnerable Minister

Predisposing narcissistic personality factors and the unique demands of the ministry may combine to create an emotional and spiritual crisis in some members of the clergy. This article examines (a) the concept of selective or inadequate mirroring that can contribute to Ihe development of a false self in narcissistically vulnerable clergy, (b) the unique demands of the ministry that can reinforce the narcissistic minister's sense of falseness, and (c) the importance of the concept of empathic mirroring in the treatment of these patients. A case report describes psychotherapy with a minister ivhose underlying narcissistic disorder resulted from inadequate mirroring during childhood which set the stage for later disillusionment and despair. The patient's eventual response to empathic selfobjects led not only to a more integrated sense of self but also to a restoration of his faith in a more benign and accepting God. The humanizing effect of psychotherapy is poignantly reflected in his emergence from emotional desolation, his spiritual transformation, and his growing concern for others.