Living with borderline personality disorder (BPD) can make it difficult to regulate emotions, maintain stable relationships, develop a consistent sense of self, or cope with everyday stress. At Pillars Health Group, we provide compassionate, evidence-based borderline personality disorder treatment that helps adults build healthier coping skills, improve emotional regulation, and reduce behaviors that interfere with daily life. Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed or have been struggling with BPD symptoms for years, our experienced team is here to help you create lasting emotional stability and meaningful recovery.
Treating Borderline Personality Disorder in Tewksbury & South Portland
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by intense emotions, difficulty regulating mood, unstable relationships, fear of abandonment, and impulsive behaviors. Individuals living with BPD often experience rapid emotional shifts, challenges with self-image, and difficulty managing interpersonal relationships, all of which can significantly impact work, school, family life, and overall well-being.
At Pillars Health Group, we provide comprehensive outpatient treatment for adults living with borderline personality disorder. Our clinical team develops individualized treatment plans that combine evidence-based therapy, psychiatric care, medication management when appropriate, and practical coping skills to help individuals better manage symptoms and build healthier, more fulfilling lives.
Our borderline personality disorder treatment program is designed for individuals who:
- Experience intense or rapidly changing emotions
- Struggle with unstable or conflict-filled relationships
- Have difficulty managing impulsive behaviors
- Experience fear of abandonment or rejection
- Need more support than traditional weekly therapy provides
- Are transitioning from a higher level of care or seeking structured outpatient treatment
Do You Need Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment?
Many individuals living with borderline personality disorder struggle for years before receiving an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms are often misunderstood or mistaken for other mental health conditions. Professional treatment can provide the structure, support, and skills needed to improve emotional regulation and quality of life.
You may benefit from borderline personality disorder treatment if you experience:
- Intense mood swings
- Difficulty regulating emotions
- Fear of abandonment
- Unstable or intense relationships
- Impulsive or risky behaviors
- Chronic feelings of emptiness
- Unstable self-image or identity
- Frequent anger or irritability
- Self-destructive behaviors
- Difficulty trusting others
- Episodes of emotional overwhelm
- Symptoms that interfere with work, school, or relationships
If these symptoms have been present for an extended period and continue to impact your daily life, it may be time to seek professional evaluation and treatment.
Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms We Treat
Borderline personality disorder affects every individual differently. Our clinicians work with adults experiencing a wide range of symptoms associated with BPD.
Emotional Dysregulation
Individuals with BPD often experience emotions that feel overwhelming or difficult to control. They may quickly shift between sadness, anger, anxiety, or frustration and have difficulty returning to an emotional baseline.
Relationship Difficulties
Many people with BPD experience unstable relationships characterized by intense attachment, fear of abandonment, conflict, or rapidly changing feelings toward others.
Impulsivity
Impulsive behaviors may include reckless spending, unsafe sexual behavior, substance use, binge eating, reckless driving, or other actions taken without fully considering the consequences.
Identity Disturbance
Individuals may struggle with an unstable sense of self, changing goals, values, or self-image, making it difficult to maintain confidence and consistency in daily life.
Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts
Some individuals with BPD engage in self-harming behaviors or experience recurring suicidal thoughts, particularly during periods of emotional distress. Our team provides compassionate, evidence-based care focused on improving safety, emotional regulation, and long-term recovery.
How Our Borderline Personality Disorder Program Works
Every person’s experience with borderline personality disorder is unique, which is why treatment begins with a comprehensive clinical assessment.
During your assessment, our team will evaluate:
- Your symptoms
- Mental health history
- Medical history
- Current functioning
- Treatment goals
- Any co-occurring mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, or substance use disorders
Based on your assessment, we’ll recommend the outpatient program that best fits your needs.
Some individuals benefit from our Full-Day Outpatient Treatment Program, while others are appropriate for our Half-Day Outpatient Treatment Program. Throughout treatment, your care plan is regularly reviewed and adjusted as you make progress.
Our Treatment Approach for Borderline Personality Disorder
Our multidisciplinary team utilizes evidence-based treatment strategies that help individuals regulate emotions, strengthen relationships, improve distress tolerance, and build healthier coping skills for long-term recovery.
Treatment may include:
Evidence-Based Therapies
Our clinicians utilize therapies supported by research, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based interventions, emotion regulation training, distress tolerance skills, and interpersonal effectiveness training.
Psychiatry
Our psychiatric providers conduct comprehensive evaluations and collaborate closely with therapists to provide coordinated, individualized care.
Medication Management
While there is no medication specifically approved to treat borderline personality disorder, medications may help manage co-occurring symptoms such as anxiety, depression, mood instability, or sleep disturbances. Our psychiatric providers carefully evaluate whether medication may be beneficial and monitor progress throughout treatment.
Group Therapy
Group therapy provides opportunities to practice DBT skills, improve communication, build healthier relationships, and connect with others facing similar challenges in a supportive environment.
Family Support
When appropriate, family members may participate in education and support services that improve communication, strengthen relationships, and help loved ones better understand borderline personality disorder.
Other Clinical Services
Depending on individual needs, treatment may also include psychoeducation, stress management, relapse prevention for co-occurring substance use disorders, crisis planning, mindfulness training, and coordination with outside providers.
Our Levels of Care for Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment
Pillars Health Group offers flexible outpatient programs that allow individuals to receive structured treatment while continuing to live at home. During your assessment, our admissions team will recommend the level of care that best fits your needs.
Full-Day Outpatient Treatment (PHP)
Our Full-Day Outpatient Treatment Program (Partial Hospitalization Program) provides several hours of structured treatment each day, up to five days per week. This level of care is ideal for individuals who need intensive support without inpatient hospitalization.
Example of Full-Day Schedule for Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00 am | Check-In and Goal Setting |
| 09:45 am | Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 10:45 am | Group Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch Break |
| 01:00 pm | Journaling |
| 01:30 pm | Psychoeducation, Clinical Skills Development |
| 02:45 pm | Wrap-Up |
| 03:30 pm | Check-Out |
Half-Day Outpatient Treatment (IOP)
Our Half-Day Outpatient Treatment Program (Intensive Outpatient Program) provides several hours of treatment per day while allowing participants to maintain work, school, or family responsibilities. Half-Day Treatment takes place between three to five days per week, depending on each client’s unique needs.
Example of Half-Day Schedule for Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment
Morning Program
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00 am | Check-In and Goal Setting |
| 09:45 am | Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 10:45 am | Group Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) |
| 12:30 pm | Check-Out |
Evening Program
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 05:30 pm | Check-In and Goal Setting |
| 06:30 pm | Group Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) |
| 07:30 pm | Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 09:00 pm | Check-Out |
