Personality Disorders

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 trained to work with the entire spectrum of personality disorders. My practice utilizes evidenced based treatments to treat and manage personality traits that get in the way of living a fulfilling life including DBT, Radically Open DBT, and Mentalization based treatment. My approach tend to be honest, down to earth, and direct.

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.

I specialize in working with Borderline personality Disorder in particular, with having experience and success with helping this population improve their emotional regulation skills and ability, and improve their inter-personal relationships. I am also working on becoming certified in DBT to help this population as well.

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 specialize in clients diagnosed with personality disorders. I will support you in working towards your ideal life, managing symptoms, and understanding the diagnosis.

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.

Tami’s initial training in master’s level clinical work began at Pacifica Graduate Institute. This individual focused training emphasizes psychological forces such as feelings and emotions that influence behaviors. In essence, asking how our pasts effects our present. Tami’s ongoing training consists of specializations in treating Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I welcome working with people who have previously been diagnosed with a personality disorder (most often borderline personality disorder). I conceptualize these "personality disorders" as typically being the result of complex developmental traumas. If we can treat the traumatic reactions we can begin to help change behaviors that are no longer adaptive or useful to you.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD), avoidant personality disorder, and dependent personality disorder can cause extreme emotional distress. I provide solutions for personality disorders that allow you to attain awareness without engaging in patterns of self-judgment. I utilize a combination of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and emotionally focused therapy (EFT) to allow you to engage in distress tolerance skills with a full understanding of the emotions that drive you.

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.

Sometimes it is hard to find support when dealing with a chronic condition. We can support your recovery from chronic personality issues and encourage engagement in therapeutic groups to supplement your recovery journey.

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.

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.