Borderline Personality Disorder Psychologists Perth

Psychological therapy is the main form of treatment for the management of BPD. Our BPD team, have clinical experience and training in techniques of Dialectical Behavioural Training (DBT) to help with these skills and management as well as the necessary involvement by a psychiatrist.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

BPD is often misunderstood. Symptoms that individuals with this disorder may experience include pervasive patterns of intense, uncontrollable emotions, distorted views of the self, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, and difficulties with impulse control. This can often cause self-destructive and risk-taking behaviours, as well as periods of paranoia or dissociation, particularly during stressful events. It may also become quite difficult to relate to others and the world around them, which can become particularly distressing for the person and their loved ones.

What are the symptoms of BPD?

There are various symptoms that someone from BPD may experience, including:

• Low self-esteem
• Strong, overwhelming emotions and feelings
• Feelings of self-loathing or self-hatred
• Self-harm
• Alternating between idealising and devaluing other people
• Intense mood swings, particularly in outbursts of anger, anxiety, and depression
• Paranoia or emotional detachment
• Suicidal ideation
• Difficulties with self-image, identity, and sense of self
• Black and white thinking, or difficulty compromising
• Impulsive or risk-taking behaviours such as drug use, unsafe sexual behaviours, gambling, over-eating, reckless driving, or impulse spending
• Feeling out of touch with reality

How common is BPD?

Contrary to popular belief, BPD is actually quite common. In fact, between 1% and 4% of Australians are impacted by BPD at some stage in their lives. Symptoms consistent with BPD will usually appear in mid to late teens or in early adulthood and women are three times more likely to be diagnosed with BPD than men.

How can BPD be treated and managed?

The most important factor in the management of BPD is to establish a safe and secure relationship with a therapist who is skilled in the treatment of BPD. Changing the underlying causes of BPD is a long term process and can only happen within a safe therapeutic relationship. Learning skills to manage immediate distress, emotional dysregulation and interpersonal dysregulation are another important component of treatment.

How to book with us?

When you call to make a booking with one of our  Our BPD Psychology team, please inform reception about whether or not you have had any hospitalisations and if you are under the care of a psychiatrist so we can match you with the team member that has the right level of experience and availability to provide care at the practice!