Borderline Personality and Emotion Dysregulation
Comprehensive DBT treatment to build emotional resilience and create a life worth living.
Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often means navigating intense emotions, turbulent relationships, and a persistent sense of emptiness or identity confusion. The emotional pain can feel overwhelming, and patterns of behavior that once helped you cope may now create more problems. At Summit Psychotherapy Center, we understand BPD from both a clinical and compassionate perspective. Our doctoral-level clinicians are extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – the gold-standard treatment for BPD – through Stanford University’s Comprehensive DBT Program. We don’t see BPD as a life sentence. With the right treatment, you can learn to regulate your emotions, improve your relationships, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and build a life that feels meaningful and worth living.
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental health condition characterized by difficulties with emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and impulsive behaviors. BPD often develops in the context of invalidating environments, trauma, or biological vulnerabilities. It’s not your fault, and it doesn’t define who you are – it’s a pattern of coping that can change with effective treatment.
Emotional Intensity
Emotions that feel overwhelming, rapid mood shifts, difficulty calming down
Relationships
Fear of abandonment, intense and unstable relationships, difficulty trusting others
Self-Image
Uncertainty about who you are, feelings of emptiness, shifting goals and values
Impulsive Behaviors
Self-harm, substance use, risky behaviors, spending, binge eating
Signs and Symptoms
BPD symptoms can vary, but commonly include:
Intense fear of abandonment or rejection
Pattern of unstable, intense relationships
Unstable self-image or sense of identity
Impulsive, self-destructive behaviors
Evidence-Based DBT Treatment
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is the most effective evidence-based treatment for BPD. Our team brings Stanford-level DBT expertise:
Comprehensive DBT
Multi-modal treatment including individual therapy, skills group, phone coaching, and consultation team
DBT Skills Training
Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness
Individual DBT Therapy
One-on-one sessions focused on your specific goals and challenges
DBT-PE (Prolonged Exposure)
For BPD with co-occurring trauma and PTSD
DBT for Complex PTSD
Integrated treatment addressing both BPD and trauma
Trauma-Informed DBT
Understanding how past experiences shape current struggles
Acceptance and Change
Balancing validation with active skill-building
Therapist Consultation Team -
Ensuring treatment quality and therapist support for best outcomes
What to Expect in DBT Treatment
Your Path to Building a Life Worth Living
Comprehensive Assessment
We start by understanding your unique challenges, goals, and treatment history. This collaborative assessment helps us create a personalized DBT treatment plan.
DBT Skills Training
You’ll learn practical skills in four key areas: mindfulness (being present), distress tolerance (surviving crises), emotion regulation (managing feelings), and interpersonal effectiveness (improving relationships). These skills become tools you use daily.
Individual DBT Therapy
Weekly individual sessions help you apply DBT skills to your specific life challenges, reduce harmful behaviors, and work toward your goals. Your therapist becomes your coach in building the life you want.
Building a Life Worth Living
DBT isn’t just about reducing symptoms – it’s about creating a life that feels meaningful, fulfilling, and worth living. We help you identify your values and take steps toward what matters most to you.
Ready to Build a Life Worth Living?
DBT can change your life. Our specialized team is here to support you in learning skills, reducing suffering, and creating the meaningful life you deserve. You don’t have to do this alone.