Treating personality disorders is no one-way fix; however multiple services are available to help. Finding the treatment option that best works for you, in partnership with your GP, is a promising way to manage personality disorders and find peace in the chaos. Talking therapies are a method that could help you navigate through your emotions and feelings, to provide stability and help you regain control. 

Talking therapy is a positive and effective way to begin secure treatment for personality disorders. It will guide you through every step of the way to handle your emotions and thought processes and come out with a shifted way of thinking that benefits your well-being. Talking therapies which include psychotherapy and counselling methods, are there for you to communicate through any of your personal challenges and struggles in a comfortable manner, to break free from negative beliefs and to know that you are never facing this alone. 

Read on to discover the various categories of talking therapies available for you to receive and understand their extent of effectiveness in treating personality disorders. Whether you are personally affected by personality disorders, friends, family or simply out of curiosity, uncover how this therapeutic approach could bring valuable differences to the lives of anyone facing personality disorders. 

What is talking therapy? 

As the name suggests, talking therapy involves communicating with a therapist to help manage and understand your thinking patterns.¹ It consists of psychotherapy and counselling methods to assist you in figuring out how and why you would feel certain emotions and react in certain ways.¹ Building a relationship with your therapist, GP, or psychiatrist will comfortably bring to the surface the factors that may be severely affecting your emotional and mental health; hence, appropriate management mechanisms can be put into action.^1,2 

No matter how extreme your thoughts and behaviours may feel, a therapist will guide you every step of the way to dissect these thoughts and help you shift towards a better way of thinking.¹ While it is best to receive therapy from a specialised therapist, even talking with trusted friends and family is a great start and can also provide strong support and advice.¹ 

Talking therapy can be conducted online, over the phone, or in person, based on what suits you best to discuss anything that is causing distress in your mind.¹ If one-on-one talks seem quite intimidating, group therapy options are also available, or you could try a combination of the two.¹ Therapeutic communities are also a great option to support each other’s journey to recovery.² 

If you are unsure whether you have a personality disorder, your doctor or a healthcare professional will guide you through the relevant examinations required for diagnosis.³ Common symptoms for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), include fear of abandonment, severe mood swings and self-destructive behaviours.⁴ 

What are the different forms of talking therapy?

Here are some main talking therapy types that you may consider:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): another talking therapy method involving fragmenting ‘hard-wired’ negative thoughts into manageable chunks to eventually improve your daily way of thinking and behaving^5,6
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT): designed using CBT, specifically catered to treat borderline personality disorder. Utilises both individual and group therapy sessions to increase awareness and mindfulness of your thoughts and emotions whilst accepting who you are as a person^3,6 
• Mentalisation-based therapy (MBT): helpful for those experiencing severe emotional distress affecting themselves and their environment⁸ 
• Schema therapy (ST): assists in altering negative thought patterns³
• Cognitive analytical therapy (CAT): investigates your childhood relationships to learn more about unhealthy relationships that could have caused difficulty in dealing with current emotions¹ 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), recommends DBT and MBT to be the most effective talking therapy methods for treating personality disorders.² Family intervention is also a common method to have further understanding of your situation if preferred.¹

What can I expect from my talking therapy sessions?

Therapy sessions vary depending on the type of talking therapy you receive; however, a general guideline is sessions occur once a week or every two weeks, typically lasting up to an hour.⁵

Your therapist will support you in discussing your current problems, analyse your thought patterns, and assist you in altering these thoughts gradually using practices tailored to each session.⁵ To help understand the link between what affects your mood is through a method known as Behavioural Activation, which will be commonly used in these sessions.¹

Medications

No specific medication has been discovered to directly treat any personality disorder; however, they can be used in conjunction with other treatment methods, including talking therapy, to manage symptoms.³ Any discussions about medications should be done with your GP.³ 

Benefits of talking therapy

Whilst it may seem difficult to reach out for help or feel as though you can handle it on your own, taking the initiative to try talking therapy can bring significant improvements to your daily life.¹ 

While medication alone may provide temporary relief, combining it with talking therapy to rewire your thoughts and emotions could provide long-term benefits to your well-being.⁵ Hence, this dual approach could assist you towards a more sustainable future regarding mental health improvements.² However, always discuss this with a healthcare professional before making your final decision.² 

Potential disadvantages of talking therapy

Whilst talking therapy is highly beneficial, not every treatment plan is suitable for everyone. It is essential to have the patience to find the right therapist and type of session that best suits your needs.² Furthermore, having your own say during talking therapy sessions is equally as important as attending to ensure successful and useful appointments.² 

Commitment is a key part of acknowledging the benefits of talking therapy.⁵ For those with learning difficulties or additional disorders, talking therapy alone may be challenging.⁵ 

Some talking therapies, like CBT, focus on discussing current problems. Hence long-standing issues such as childhood may not be fully addressed in these short sessions.⁵ However, healthcare professionals will provide any required guidance, such as recommending cognitive analytical therapy (CAT).¹

Accessibility is another common issue with talking therapies. While free NHS sessions are available, long waiting times may be present due to high demand and strain on services.² You can seek private sessions as an alternative, but it may be costly.^2,5 Nevertheless, investing in a set number of sessions could be worthwhile, and lower prices may also be available for those who are financially struggling.⁵ 

Additional methods to support your mental health

If accessing talking therapy is difficult due to extensive waiting time, incorporating some self-help methods whilst you wait for your appointment can be highly beneficial. Self-help is a great way to start feeling in control over your own thoughts and is a constant reminder to be gentle to yourself, especially during difficult times.⁷ 

Keeping track of your mood and any fluctuations ignited through various situations is a great way to perceive common trends that could be avoided in the future.⁷

Keeping yourself busy with the things you love, whether they are hobbies, volunteering, physical activity, or scrapbooking.^7,9

Meditation practices are one of the best ways to remove distracting and potentially harmful thoughts.⁴ There are various practices, including focusing on the breath, mindful walks in nature, guided meditations, and utilising affirmations or mantras to bring you back to the present.^4,7 For those with borderline personality disorder (BPD), meditation allows clarity over your thoughts, improving emotional responses and behaviours, and overall reducing impulsiveness in stressful situations.⁴ This practice takes a lot of patience, and whilst you might not see an instant improvement, keep an open mind to the benefits you may receive.^4,7

Summary

Changing your personality is not impossible. Your thoughts, beliefs and experiences shape you into the person you are today. Working through the root of certain thoughts and beliefs can help you rewire your mind towards more positive thinking, leading to daily improvements in your life. Talking therapy is a strong start to reaching out for professional help and addressing any deep-rooted issues that may be causing you mental and emotional distress. Acceptance and patience towards yourself are just as key to ensuring sustainable improvements to your well-being.

FAQs

Is talking therapy the only method to treat personality disorders?

No, while your GP may recommend talking therapy as a treatment approach, certain medications may be paired with your personalised management plan. In some cases, hospitalisation is a safer option^].³  

Is talking therapy effective?

When approached with an open mind, talking therapy can indeed be effective. Whilst this may depend on the number of sessions and the connection that you build with your therapist, accepting change is the first big step. Hence, pairing your recovery with professional guidance can help you work in partnership through your thoughts and emotions to lead to overall improvements in your mental health.