Which Therapy Is Helpful For BPD?
Symptoms of borderline personality disorder
- Paranoia
- A lack of connection with reality
- Impulsive behavior or self-destructive behavior, including self-harm
- Mood swings
- Inappropriate behaviors or anger
- Suicidal threats or attempts for suicide
- Unstable relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text 988 to talk to someone over SMS. Support is available 24/7.
What causes BPD?
- Heredity/genetics
- Differences in brain development
- Stress or trauma in childhood
Can borderline personality disorder be cured with therapy?
According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, receiving a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is generally seen as lifelong. While it’s not typically thought of as “curable”, research suggests that symptoms can be improved, and various types of therapeutic treatments have demonstrated effectiveness in helping treat borderline personality disorder. From group psychotherapy to online therapy to one-on-one sessions with mental health professionals, there are several psychotherapy options available to people living with BPD.
What is an effective treatment for borderline personality disorder?
In mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is a well-studied type of psychodynamic psychotherapy that can effectively treat BPD. MBT, also referred to as transference-focused counseling or transference-focused psychotherapy, emphasizes how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of the individual may affect those of others. It’s a socially focused therapy that helps the person tune into the impacts of the choices they make. Since symptoms of BPD often have the potential to negatively impact others, mentalization-based therapy can help a person learn to better manage their behaviors. This can lead to improved relationships with family members and other loved ones; improved social skills; and an overall bettered quality of life. Mentalization-based therapy is an excellent method for assisting persons with BPD in understanding themselves and becoming sensitive to the feelings of others.
Systems Training For Emotional Predictability And Problem-Solving, known as STEPPS, is an adjunct therapy option that combines cognitive behavioral therapy, skills training, and elements from systems therapy. It is typically offered as a 20-week group outpatient program, and can effectively improve symptoms of borderline personality disorder as well as improve depression related to BPD.
Medication to treat borderline personality disorder
Certain medications may be an important component of treatment for someone with borderline personality disorder. It may help them manage symptoms, prevent symptoms from worsening, and treat co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or eating disorders. Their effects may also help a person adhere to their psychotherapy treatment, which can be integral for long-term success. The most common types of medications prescribed for BPD include antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and/or mood stabilizers. A psychiatrist can evaluate a person’s specific situation and make recommendations accordingly for the right treatment and good psychiatric management of medications.
In-person counseling sessions have traditionally been the norm for treating a variety of mental health disorders. However, online therapy is becoming an increasingly popular option for those who prefer to connect with a therapist from the comfort of their home. It’s a more available format for people who can’t travel to a provider’s office regularly or who have trouble locating a provider in their area. It’s also typically more cost-effective since virtual providers have fewer overhead costs.
Research from 2022 suggests that online psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for personality disorders. Other studies have suggested that it can be as effective as in-person sessions for a variety of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, which can coexist with borderline personality disorder. If you’re interested in pursuing online therapy, you might consider a platform like BetterHelp. You’ll be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire about your needs and preferences and will then be matched with a licensed provider accordingly. You can speak with them via phone or video call and exchange in-app messages between sessions as needed. They can evaluate you and your situation and help you address the challenges you may be facing. See below for client reviews of BetterHelp counselors.
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Takeaway
People with BPD can benefit from certain types of treatment, which may include different forms of talk therapy potentially in conjunction with medication. Counseling options include individual and group therapy, phone coaching, and online therapy; popular modalities for BPD include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), transference-focused therapy (TFP), mentalization-based therapy (MBT), and more. Consulting with a mental health professional in person or online may be a helpful first step toward managing this disorder.
Below are frequently asked questions on this topic to discuss with your therapist.
- What counseling is most helpful for borderline personality disorder?
- What are five borderline personality disorder treatment options?
- What is the gold standard treatment for borderline personality disorder?
- Can borderline personality disorder be cured with counseling?
- What is first-line borderline personality disorder treatment?
- What is the most effective borderline personality disorder mood stabilizer?
- How do you fix borderline personality disorder without counseling?
- What kind of counseling would be best for me?
- How can I find a psychotherapist?
- What are the best jobs for someone with BPD?
- Why is borderline personality so difficult to treat?
- Does BPD go away with age?
- How serious is borderline personality disorder?
- Can I live a normal life with a borderline personality disorder?
- Can a person with borderline personality disorder be successful?
- Is BPD caused by trauma?
- Is BPD a chemical imbalance?
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