Photo of The Capitol Hill Center for Individual and Family, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in Washington, DC
The Capitol Hill Center for Individual and Family
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
Verified Verified
Washington, DC 20003
Why do we cling to dysfunctional relationship patterns or engage in self-defeating behaviors, perpetuating these ways of living despite the suffering involved? The work we do addresses these concerns in the lives of adults, adolescents, and children.
Why do we cling to dysfunctional relationship patterns or engage in self-defeating behaviors, perpetuating these ways of living despite the suffering involved? The work we do addresses these concerns in the lives of adults, adolescents, and children.
(202) 999-3598 View (202) 999-3598
Photo of Rosebud Counseling, LLC, Licensed Professional Counselor in Washington, DC
Rosebud Counseling, LLC
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, CEAP, NCC
Verified Verified
Washington, DC 20006
I'm Donna Inman, a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Employee Assistance Professional, and a Nationally Certified Counselor working in downtown Washington DC... With 25 plus years in the mental health field, I've developed a very practical approach to life and the difficulties it can sometimes bring. I use short-term solution focused approaches and I try and assist people with setting and meeting goals. I firmly believe that most answers we seek are already within us, and I believe counseling can sometimes help bring those answers to the surface. Feel free to email me to schedule an appointment.
I'm Donna Inman, a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Employee Assistance Professional, and a Nationally Certified Counselor working in downtown Washington DC... With 25 plus years in the mental health field, I've developed a very practical approach to life and the difficulties it can sometimes bring. I use short-term solution focused approaches and I try and assist people with setting and meeting goals. I firmly believe that most answers we seek are already within us, and I believe counseling can sometimes help bring those answers to the surface. Feel free to email me to schedule an appointment.
(202) 946-5399 View (202) 946-5399
Borderline Personality (BPD) Therapists

What is the most successful approach to treating borderline personality disorder?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is considered the gold standard of treatment for borderline personality disorder. An evidence-based treatment, it addresses the extreme emotional reactivity, the relationship difficulties, and the acts of self-harm that create so much distress for BPD patients. DBT is a comprehensive program that includes both regular individual psychotherapy sessions and weekly group sessions of skills training.

What happens in treatment of borderline personality disorder?

Treatment typically consists of weekly individual therapy sessions that last an hour and group skill-focused instructional sessions that may last up to two hours. Patients are typically given homework “assignments” in which they are asked to practice in their daily life the skills they acquire in therapy. Patients also keep a diary tracking their emotions and impulses as a way to know which situations are most problematic and to help them gain control over their own behavior. Difficult situations and feelings are typically reviewed in therapy sessions and more constructive solutions found.

What kinds of problems does BPD treatment help with?

DBT was initially developed to dampen the self-destructive impulses of chronically suicidal patients. It is now the treatment of choice for borderline personality disorder, a serious condition marked by extreme emotional reactivity, relationship instability, and self-injurious behaviors. Treatment of BPD helps patients tolerate the flux of emotions without acting on them, often with a specific focus on tolerating negative emotions. DBT addresses the core problems of BPD—fear of abandonment, low self-esteem, and impulsivity.

What is the goal of treatment in borderline personality disorder?

The goal of treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) is to relieve the extreme emotional distress that patients experience—to curb their emotional reactivity, to minimize their inclination to self-harm, and to reduce their impulsivity. Toward these ends, patients are not only taught an array of new coping skills and techniques for emotional regulation, they are given opportunities to practice them. Another major goal of treatment is interpersonal effectiveness; patients learn and problem-solve ways to effectively communicate in relationships, especially how to ask for what they need as a way to minimize hurt feelings.