Treatment for borderline personality disorder
If you or your loved one has borderline personality disorder, the most important step you can take is to seek professional help.
At Wesley Hospital Ashfield and Wesley Hospital Kogarah we provide effective and caring treatment for individuals with a borderline personality disorder. Our therapeutic approach uses dialectical behaviour therapy. This extensively researched therapy was specifically developed to treat people who have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, who often struggle with self-harm or suicidal urges.
Day patient dialectical behaviour therapy program
Our dialectical behaviour therapy programs for borderline personality disorder include the following group sessions and homework:
- a supportive skills-training day program, held weekly for a maximum of 12 months
- between-session phone coaching to help support the use of skills in daily life
- homework review group, in which participants review diary cards completed during the week to help monitor emotions, urges and behaviours as well as the use of skills learned
- experiential group, focusing on the practical reinforcement of skills, including exercises
- mindfulness practice, in which a variety of mindfulness exercises are taught throughout the program to help participants develop a variety of other skills.
Our treatment programs for borderline personality disorder also include a skills training group, focusing on the following skills modules:
- Emotion regulation
This set of skills helps participants to identify and understand the function of emotions, particularly before they spiral out of control. The skills module helps identify different emotions and the factors that can lead to vulnerability to certain emotions, teaching ways to tolerate the discomfort of negative emotions and create positive emotions. The skills learned can be used in daily life to help manage and live with emotions.
- Distress tolerance
This skills group teaches participants how to cope in a crisis, providing management skills that can be used in daily life.
- Mindfulness
Mindfulness skills help participants apply other skills learned in therapy. Mindfulness helps increase awareness, to be present in the moment, a focus which helps participants make decisions based on judgement rather than emotion.
- Interpersonal effectiveness
This skills group helps participants identify priorities in their interpersonal interactions, in order to improve their relationships and increase a sense of self-respect.
