Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Project Transition has a long history of working with people that have this diagnosis. It describes patterns of dysregulation associated with behaviors, emotions, and relationships, as well as a diffused sense of self. A person with BPD may also have other psychiatric or substance abuse difficulties.

A Dialectical Perspective

Our approach to helping persons with BPD shares many features of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) model. Rather than focusing exclusively on maintaining a stable, consistent environment, we help he or she to tolerate, navigate, and manage the types of change that he or she finds to be overwhelming and have previously led to self-destructive behavior. Our approach promotes positive relationships, the learning of versatile coping skills, and the daily practice of self-management.

We use a variety of DBT-based validation techniques, skill development approaches, and change strategies. These elements are also practiced within our therapeutic communities. We provide weekly group therapy and skill workshops sessions specifically for our members with BPD. Also, many of our staff members participate in clinical supervision that reflects a dialectical perspective.

To learn more about the concepts of DBT and their relevance at Project Transition, visit our DBT page.

Self-management: A Cornerstone of Project Transition

For some members of PT, acute episodes of emotional distress are characterized by relapse. While it’s natural to hope that it will not happen again, experience has shown us that a self-management approach helps the person develop confidence and self-direction, even in highly stressful situations. It also tends to reduce the frequency and severity of relapse.

The path toward self-management relies upon self-acceptance, which includes a practical understanding of ones’ vulnerabilities, as well as his or her coping strengths. This sets the stage for the learning and practice of skills, sustained relationships, and a sense of belonging. These elements are reinforced throughout Project Transition, where belief in self-management is “in the air”. It may be discussed in the flow of daily problem-solving, addressed in therapy, and talked about in community meetings. Self-management is a core theme in our relapse prevention training, which is taught in workshops and therapy. It’s also discussed a lot among staff, PT members, and family members.

Mastery in self-management includes:

  • Understanding the nature, symptoms, and pattern of one’s psychiatric disability
  • Identifying the stages and signs of relapse
  • Developing helpful, accessible supports such as peers and staff, friends, family members, mental health services, and preferred medications
  • Practicing ways to forecast, modify, and manage stressors and tension
  • Applying pro-active, adaptive coping responses to stress and emergent symptoms
  • Learning from relapses that do occur by identifying what new coping strategies and supports are needed, then practicing them.

To get a feel for what a typical week at Project Transition is like, visit our Program page.