Borderline Personality Disorder

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

BPD is a personality disorder marked by unstable emotions, relationships, and sense of self. I hear clients speak about having fast-cycling, big emotions, which feel overwhelming and exhausting. They often have black and white/up and down thinking where they feel a certain way about something one moment and then feel the opposite a moment later. There can certainly be issues with anger, self-harm (ex., cutting, over- or under- eating, abusing substances, etc.) and/or suicidal thoughts. BPD is a very tough disorder to live with, but there is hope.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

While Registered Counselling Therapists are unable to offer a diagnosis, I do work with clients who have been previously diagnosed with BPD or who feel they are struggling with some or all of the symptoms of BPD. I use Dialectical Behaviour Therapy as a framework to conceptualize the sensitive nature and needs of my clients and to teach valuable skills, such as: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness.

SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

I also offer help to those affected by someone in their life who is living with BPD. It can be tricky to maintain healthy boundaries while expressing care for a person with BPD. Many family members and friends feel drained by their relationship and are looking for alternatives to simply cutting the person out of their life. For these clients, I provide psychoeducation and help support them in making lasting changes to their high-conflict relationship.