Personality disorders

Long-standing relational patterns that cause distress — and respond well to specialized therapy.

What it is

Personality disorders describe long-standing, inflexible patterns in how someone relates to themselves and others that cause real distress or difficulty — not a character flaw, and not the same as having a strong personality.

Good to know

Borderline personality disorder in particular has one of the best-evidenced specific treatments in all of mental health (dialectical behaviour therapy, or DBT — see below) — this is a genuinely treatable condition, not a life sentence, despite how it's sometimes talked about.

What helps

Specialized, structured therapy approaches, DBT among them, that focus on emotional regulation and relationship skills tend to outperform general talk therapy for these specific patterns.

When to seek help

If relationship patterns, emotional intensity, or a shaky sense of self have been a long-running theme rather than a phase, ask a counsellor specifically about DBT or similar specialized approaches.

Before you call

What to expect at your first counselling sessionNervous about a first session? It's mostly just talking, at your pace. Here's what usually happens — and what won't.

Services that can help

See all related services in NL