Personality Disorders

I specialize in helping people recover from narcissistic relationships. Together, we will: process the relationship and emotional trauma, explore emotional triggers, recognize healthy and unhealthy relationships, set boundaries, prioritize your needs, and build a healthy support system.

It can be difficult when diagnosed with a personality disorder to know where to turn. I have worked with numerous clients to understand their diagnosis and to help them learn to connect with their environment.

I work with a wide variety of individuals ranging from 14 to 74, some of which struggle with symptoms of Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Avoidant, and Dependent Personality Disorders. These individuals have stories revealing a great deal of pain from wounds that did not heal properly or completely and manifest in patterns throughout their lives. Together we will uncover and process through experiences while establishing a safe and healthy therapeutic relationship towards hope and healing.

Dialectical behavior therapy is considered the best treatment for individuals who have been diagnosed with personality disorders. I am well trained in DBT and use it with all of my clients. I also am very knowledgeable about highly emotional people and trauma - and how both of these factors are often present with individuals with personality disorders.

When a trauma occurs, our brain tries to cope by getting our needs met in ways that others don’t understand. Those behaviors are often grouped together and labeled as a personality disorder. I work to take the shame and invalidation from these disorders and help clients learn coping skills and resolve trauma so that our brains don’t need to work so aggressively to get our needs met.

My professional expertise is to use the term “Personality Adaptations” instead of Personality Disorders, in order to emphasize the difficulties have their origin as child survival adaptations to difficult childhood situations. My basic position is that Disorganized Personality organization began as emotional survival adaptations to get one’s needs met in an unhealthy childhood environment. Disorders of Self reflect an insecure attachment/separation and Object system of Trauma responses.

I work closely with abuse victims and family members of personality disordered individuals, especially cluster B (Borderline, Narcissistic, and Histrionic Personality).

I have extensive experience treating personality disorders and truly enjoy working with the brilliant and creative individuals who often receive this label. If you have a PD diagnosis, I know that you have likely experienced a great deal of pain and fear in this life. You may been feeling alone or rejected because relationships are not your strong suit. If you are ready to practice vulnerability and learn a new way of connecting to yourself and others, I can help.

During my time in private practice, and prior to my experiences with VA and DOD, I worked in an acute care facility, where I focused largely on the effects and healing from personality disorders. It takes a nuanced approach and deep clinical understanding to be able to align with someone dealing with a personality disorder without judgement or biased. We all deserve to have a fulfilling life and solid relationships, which is often the distressing fallout of these disorders.

I specialize in helping identify patterns of coping and behavior that may no longer serve you well. Through compassionate curiosity, I can help you find healthier, happier ways of relating to yourself and others.

I specialize in the treatment of borderline personality disorder and the whole spectrum of personality disorders. I am also skilled in treating suicidal behaviors, non-suicidal self injury, suicidal ideation and any self harm behaviors.

As a clinician, I have came across individuals from all walks of life. Many variables, from genetics to chaotic upbringings, can impact the onset and prevalence of personality disorders. The effects can be burdening on mental, physical, and interpersonal levels, yet, these disorders are treatable. I work to help people embrace their situations from a healthier, developed mindset through strategic skill building. With the proper treatment and care, increased quality of life is achievable.

I have worked for 5 years with over 50 clients experiencing some type of personality disorder and with co-occurring diagnoses. I strive to support those I work with to help normalize the experience of the symptoms of personality disorder, work through stuck points, and provide alternate methods of therapy to help tackle their challenges from different ways. It is very important to me to change the stigma that has historically been put on personality disorders and offer validation and support.

BPD is my passion because I have extensive clinical experience in working with clients who have this condition. I have witnessed the challenges and the strengths of people with BPD, and I have learned to appreciate their resilience and courage. I have also seen the positive outcomes of using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to assist my clients with BPD.

Experiencing chronic emotional distress and dysregulation can leave us feeling isolated and alone, and like we can't get connected to ourselves. I have worked extensively with people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Borderline Traits for years with empathic validation and effective Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Many of my clients utilize DBT skills to soothe distress, regulate emotions, and truly build a life that's worth living.

I am formally trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through Behavioral Tech - Marsha Linehan's training foundation. I have both residential and outpatient experience treating symptoms common in personality disorders such as suicidality, self-harm, and interpersonal struggles.

Some of my clients feel understood for the first time in their lives when they receive a personality disorder diagnosis. Others have strong negative feelings about it. No matter how you feel about it, the recurrent depression, feelings of emptiness, feeling outside of life, having a hard time building really satisfying relationships with others, and chaotic feeling that can come with BPD or NPD is painful. You deserve help that can ease your suffering and help you live a more satisfying life.

I have years of experience in working with clients with Borderline Personality traits-I use DBT but also other modalties as well since not everyone connects or likes DBT!

Struggling with chronic emotion dysregulation and distress can feel isolating and demoralizing. With DBT I help clients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder or Borderline traits build skills to soothe emotional distress, regulate and focus the mind, and build a true life worth living. I have extensive training in DBT and its applications, and have offered DBT in all levels of care and settings.