What We Treat / Personality Disorders
Personality Disorder Treatment.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) treatment built around dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) — structured PHP and IOP for emotion dysregulation, self-harm risk, and relationship instability.
Admissions answers when you call.
A real person — never a call center.
Levels of care
PHP & IOP
Core modality
DBT-informed
Psychiatry
On staff
Length
Clinical need
What BPD treatment looks like here
Patterns that touch every relationship.
The question isn’t whether you need support. It’s whether the support you have matches the weight you’re carrying.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a diagnosable pattern in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. People with BPD describe intense emotions, fear of abandonment, unstable interpersonal relationships, and thoughts and feelings that surge fast — including quiet BPD presentations that look high-functioning from the outside.
At High Tide, treatment for BPD centers dialectical behavior therapy (behavior therapy DBT) skills inside PHP or IOP: individual therapy, skills groups, and psychiatry for co-occurring mental health conditions when needed. DBT skills are our core approach for emotion dysregulation and personality patterns inside PHP and IOP. No medication is approved for core BPD traits alone — therapy is the primary treatment.
Daily DBT-informed skills are often part of that plan, but the clinical focus here is pattern recognition and interruption. For how skills modules, chain analysis, and coaching mechanics work day to day, see our DBT therapy page at /treatment-approach/dbt.
Who it's for
For diagnosis-level patterns that need structured outpatient care.
Personality disorder treatment here fits when cluster B or C traits — borderline, narcissistic, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive patterns — are driving crises, relationship rupture, or chronic instability.
This level of care fits when
- You carry a personality disorder diagnosis (or clinicians have named enduring trait patterns) and symptoms outpace weekly therapy.
- Relationship cycles repeat — idealization, devaluation, abandonment panic, or chronic conflict — despite insight.
- Identity, self-image, or interpersonal boundaries feel unstable in ways that affect work and family.
- Impulsive or self-destructive behaviors follow emotional spikes tied to personality patterns, not isolated mood episodes.
- You need PHP or IOP structure to stabilize patterns before stepping down — not just a modality overview.
A different level may fit better when
- You’re in active suicidal crisis with intent — inpatient stabilization comes first.
- Symptoms are mild and weekly DBT skills group with a therapist is sufficient.
- You need 24/7 supervision.
- Primary concern is psychosis without mood stabilization.
What we treat here
Personality disorder presentations we treat.
We focus on patterns and skills — not labels. Most clients with personality disorder traits benefit from DBT-informed structure.
01
Borderline patterns
Emotional intensity, fear of abandonment, identity instability, and self-harm behaviors.
- Emotion dysregulation
- Self-harm
- Relationship instability
- Identity confusion
02
Other cluster B
Narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial traits when the client is motivated for change.
- Interpersonal patterns
- Impulsivity
- Emotional volatility
- Relationship conflict
03
Cluster C patterns
Avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality traits causing functional impairment.
- Social avoidance
- Dependency patterns
- Perfectionism
- Rigidity
04
Overlapping concerns
Personality patterns rarely exist alone.
- Trauma history
- Substance use
- Eating patterns
- Mood instability
A personality disorder diagnosis is not a life sentence. DBT skills change outcomes — but they require practice, coaching, and structure.
See everything we treatWhat to expect
Programming hours and weekly groups.
Here is how PHP and IOP are structured — plus the group types offered every week. Condition- and modality-specific work (individual therapy, psychiatry, and targeted skills) is scheduled inside these PHP and IOP hours — not as a fixed minute-by-minute sample day.
Our groups aim for a holistic, clinically excellent, and human approach to healing. Programs address the whole self — brain, mind, and body — with a wide range of perspectives and ways to engage in treatment. Individual therapy and psychiatry are scheduled inside PHP or IOP; the weekly mix shifts with your plan.
PHP
9 AM – 4 PM
Full-day programming five days a week — individual therapy, group work, psychiatry, and holistic practices in one integrated day.
IOP
Morning & afternoon tracks
Part-day sessions several days per week. Morning and afternoon tracks are offered so you can keep work, school, or family routines while staying anchored in treatment.
Group
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT focus)
Dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Group
Therapeutic Process Groups
Small-group therapy where emotional triggers, relationship patterns, and recovery challenges surface and get worked in real time.
Group
Relationships / Family Based Groups (IFS/ACT Focus)
Internal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy lenses on attachment, family dynamics, and values-aligned connection — including family therapy themes when clinically useful.
Group
Physical Movement Groups
Body-based sessions that support regulation, energy, and the physical side of recovery — part of the clinical week, not optional fluff.
Group
Recovery (SUD & MH track focus)
Integrated recovery groups with substance use and mental health tracks — cravings, relapse prevention, and the mental health drivers underneath both.
Group
Somatic Healing Groups
Breathwork, sound bowls, and mindfulness exploration for nervous-system regulation and trauma-informed body awareness.
Group
Art-Based Expression / Music-Based Process Groups
Creative process groups for clients who access emotion and insight more readily through art and music than talk alone.
Group
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT focus)
Cognitive behavioral therapy for thought patterns, behaviors, and the loops that keep depression, anxiety, and related symptoms going.
Group
Aftercare Planning Groups
Discharge and aftercare planning so outpatient therapy, medication, recovery support, and home structure are mapped before you leave.
Group
Adventure
Experiential outdoor and adventure-based groups that practice regulation, trust, and peer connection outside the therapy room.
What's included
Treatment tools for personality disorders.
DBT-informed care is the core — supplemented by modalities that address trauma and attachment wounds underneath.
01
DBT skills training
All four modules — mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness.
02
Individual skills coaching
Chain analysis of self-destructive behaviors and real-time skills application.
03
Trauma processing
EMDR or trauma-focused work for the invalidation and abuse that shaped patterns.
04
Psychiatry
Medication support for mood instability, impulsivity, and comorbid conditions.
05
Family sessions
DBT family skills for loved ones — validation, boundaries, and communication.
06
Phone coaching mindset
Between-session skills use encouraged — your therapist reviews what worked and what didn’t.
What changes
What structured personality disorder treatment changes.
The goal is fewer pattern-driven crises, more stable identity and relationships, and a clear step-down path.
Daily
Pattern tracking and skills practice in PHP — not insight without behavior change.
Team
Individual therapy and psychiatry scheduled inside your programming week.
Planned
Aftercare with outpatient DBT therapist or skills group referral.
6–12 wks
Typical IOP length for personality disorder work — longer than mood-only treatment.
Not sure PHP is the right level?
PHP and IOP, side by side.
Personality disorder patterns need daily skills practice and coaching — PHP delivers that frequency; IOP continues skills work when crises have cooled but structure still matters. Here’s how the levels differ.
PHP
This program- Time commitment
- 9 AM – 4 PM, 5 days a week
- Best for
- Acute symptoms, stepping down from inpatient, medication changes
- Psychiatry
- Multiple check-ins weekly with close monitoring
- Work & school
- Usually paused or reduced during the program
- Length
- Follows clinical need
IOP
The step down- Time commitment
- Part-day sessions, several days a week
- Best for
- Moderate symptoms, stepping down from PHP, working or in school
- Psychiatry
- Weekly or as-needed appointments
- Work & school
- Designed to run alongside your regular schedule
- Length
- Follows clinical need
How to start
From first call to first day — usually within a week.
Admissions is one phone call, not a paperwork gauntlet. Here’s the whole process.
01
Call or verify online
A confidential conversation with our admissions team — what’s going on, what you’re looking for, and whether personality disorder treatment is the right fit. We verify your insurance the same day, usually while you’re still on the phone.
02
Symptom & diagnosis mapping
Your assessment maps how symptoms show up in sleep, relationships, work, and safety — not just the diagnosis on paper. That picture drives which modalities and which level of care (PHP or IOP) actually fit.
03
Structured start
Within days you’re in daily programming with psychiatry and therapy aligned to your condition — medication questions answered early, skills introduced in week one, and the team adjusting the plan as your symptoms respond.
Most PPO plans cover this program. Verification is free, confidential, and usually same-day.
Common questions
Answers before you have to ask.
Can't find your question? Call us — a real person answers, and there's never pressure to commit.
Will insurance cover personality disorder treatment?
Most PPO plans cover PHP and IOP for mental health, and California parity law requires insurers to cover mental health care at the same level as physical health care. We verify your exact benefits before you commit — free, confidential, and usually same-day. Start at /insurance or read /mental-health-guides/does-insurance-cover-php-iop.
Can I keep working during treatment?
DBT-informed personality work benefits from daily skills practice — PHP is often the right intensity when crises are frequent. IOP continues skills coaching when emotional storms have cooled but patterns still need structure.
How long will treatment last?
Personality disorder treatment is skills-heavy. Many clients need enough weeks across PHP and IOP step-down to solidify regulation and interpersonal skills — length tracks skill use, not a calendar package.
What if I’m coming from out of town?
Many clients travel for specialized condition care. We can help arrange optional supportive housing nearby — but PHP and IOP do not require living on campus; most people spend evenings at home or a hotel. Orange County families often start at /mental-health-treatment-orange-county.
Is this the same as being hospitalized?
No. Condition treatment here is outpatient PHP or IOP — structured clinical days without overnight stay, locked units, or hospital corridors. You return home (or optional housing) each evening.
What happens after I finish?
Aftercare emphasizes DBT skills maintenance — outpatient DBT skills group, individual coaching referrals, and safety planning for interpersonal triggers.
What is borderline personality disorder?
BPD is a personality disorder marked by emotion dysregulation, unstable relationships, identity disturbance, and impulsivity. Primary treatment is psychotherapy — especially DBT — not a single medication for the diagnosis itself.
How effective is DBT for treating BPD?
Dialectical behavior therapy has the strongest evidence base for BPD and self-harm reduction. At High Tide, DBT skills run through the clinical week in PHP or IOP so practice happens daily, not only in a weekly outpatient group.
Are medications always part of BPD treatment?
No. Medications may help co-occurring depression, anxiety, or impulsivity, but they are not a cure for core BPD features. Your psychiatrist and therapist coordinate so meds support — not replace — skills work.