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Meet Anthony Mazzella, Ph.D.
Psychotherapist And Psychoanalyst In New York City With Close To 20 Years Of Experience.
Anthony Mazzella, Ph.D., is a psychoanalyst and psychotherapist in private practice on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He is a training analyst and full member at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training & Research (IPTAR), as well as being a current member of The International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA). Membership in the IPA is restricted to psychoanalysts who fulfill the most rigorous and recognized international standards for psychoanalytic training in the world. Dr. Mazzella is both a Fellow of the IPA and at IPTAR. Dr. Mazzella is on faculty and is a supervisor at IPTAR and the Metropolitan Institute for Training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (MITPP). He is also recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education.
“My mission is to build a trusting relationship that will allow you to gain insight into your inner life and behaviors so you can make more deliberate choices and therefore lead a more fulfilling life…”
- Dr. Mazzella
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Welcome to the Narcissism Decoder, where we dive into the intriguing world of narcissism! These videos are the perfect solution for those who want to grasp the essence of narcissistic dynamics without committing to a longer podcast episode. Join me on this journey as we decode narcissism together!
Why Choose Dr. Mazzella?
Dr. Mazzella is an NYC-based psychotherapist and psychoanalyst with over 20 years of clinical experience. He trained at the renowned Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research (IPTAR) with continued involvement with the organization to this day. He believes psychodynamic therapy to be an essential component of psychological work, benefiting individuals from all walks of life.
Dr. Mazzella believes that psychodynamic psychotherapy is effective for those dealing with overwhelming emotions. One of the benefits of his approach is that it helps to create a safe and trusting relationship, which is particularly helpful for learning new coping skills and strategies to manage your problems. By exploring your thoughts and feelings, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what might be causing your problems. As you work through these emotions in a supported environment, you’ll feel more able to tackle them on your own.
Dr. Mazzella works with a wide range of individuals (e.g., adolescents, adults, and couples) to address a variety of emotional difficulties, such as interpersonal problems, self-esteem issues, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. Dr. Mazzella’s approach focuses on insight-oriented psychodynamic therapy, emphasizing exploration of past and present experiences. For a deeper understanding of how Dr. Mazzella thinks about psychology and works with his patients, please click on any of his latest articles below.
If you’re looking for a compassionate and skilled therapist to help you navigate life’s challenges, please contact Dr. Anthony Mazzella. His years of experience and superb training have equipped him to be a leading psychotherapist and psychoanalyst.
Please click here to get in contact with Dr. Mazzella and see how his practice may benefit you.
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Understanding Emotional Vulnerability in Narcissistic Relationships
Narcissistic vs Borderline Shutdown: Understanding Emotional Withdrawal in Relationships
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Panic Signals a Failure of Containment
In borderline organization, distress reflects a breakdown in the ability to self-soothe, reassure oneself, or hold comforting memories.
Dr. Anthony Mazzella highlights how panic, fear of annihilation, and rapid emotional escalation emerge when containment collapses.
In these moments, emotions surge while thinking and reflection sharply decline — leading to rapid dysregulation.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast: www.drmazzella.com/the-narcissism-decoder-podcast
#panicresponse #borderlinedynamics #annihilationanxiety #mentalhealthinsight #therapycontent #clinicaleducation #selfunderstanding #psychology #emotionalcollapse #traumarecovery
Acting to Feel Alive Again
When annihilation anxiety takes hold, behavior often shifts from reflection to action.
Dr. Anthony Mazzella explains that frantic efforts to cling, control, or even self-harm are attempts to feel affectively alive again when the inner world feels dead, empty, or uncontained.
This is not anger-driven withdrawal — it is a desperate response to internal collapse.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast: www.drmazzella.com/the-narcissism-decoder-podcast
#affectregulation #emotionalcollapse #borderlinepsychology #mentalhealthinsight #therapyeducation #clinicalpractice #selfreflection #psychology #attachmentdynamics #healing
Angry Disengagement, Not Panic
A crucial distinction Dr. Anthony Mazzella emphasizes is the absence of panic.
This shutdown is not marked by heightened arousal, terror, or fear of annihilation. There is no urgent need for reassurance or containment. Instead, the affect is cooler, quieter, and more controlled — an angry disengagement.
This emotional tone matters. It signals a very different internal experience than what we see in borderline decompensation.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast: www.drmazzella.com/the-narcissism-decoder-podcast
#angrywithdrawal #emotionalregulation #psychodynamicdiagnosis #mentalhealthprofessionals #clinicalpsychology #therapyeducation #personalitypatterns #selfunderstanding #psychology #insight
Withdrawal as Relational Punishment
In this scene, Dr. Anthony Mazzella points out an important relational function of shutdown: punishment through absence.
He felt left alone when his wife’s attention shifted.
So now, he leaves her alone in return.
By withdrawing, he forces her to manage the children and the in-laws on her own. The anger is communicated not through confrontation, but through disengagement — a quiet retaliation that mirrors the injury he experienced.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast: www.drmazzella.com/the-narcissism-decoder-podcast
#relationshippatterns #emotionalinjury #withdrawalbehavior #psychodynamictherapy #mentalhealthawareness #relationalpsychology #therapyinsight #attachmentdynamics #clinicalthinking #selfunderstanding
