Borderline personality disorder residential treatment centers new york

The Borderline Personality Disorder Institute and Resource Center diagnoses and treats patients with severe personality disorders, and studies these conditions. The resource center promotes borderline personality disorder education, and connects patients and their families to mental health professionals, inpatient and outpatient treatment programs and other support services and resources. 

DBT Residential Treatment and Day Treatment for Adults with Borderline Personality Disorder

Our most intensive level of care for adult clients with a primary mood, thought or anxiety disorder and co-occurring borderline personality disorder (BPD) is our 90-day intensive dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) program that begins with our DBT residential treatment program or our DBT day treatment program. Clients who admit to our residential DBT program may step-down to our nonresidential day treatment and intensive outpatient programs as their skills improve.

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is one of the most researched treatments for borderline personality disorder and diagnoses involving emotional disregulation. It has been shown to be significantly effective in reducing suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors common to those diagnosed with BPD, as well as improving a client’s ability to resist acting impulsively in stressful situations.

DBT is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which has been used effectively for many years to treat individuals with mood and anxiety disorders. CBT is not effective for everyone - particularly for people who engage in self-injury, attempt suicide frequently, or struggle with intense emotions. Dr. Marsha Linehan adapted traditional CBT by adding therapeutic work focused on validation, acceptance and dialectics to meet the unique needs of these patients.

The overall goal of DBT is to help clients create a “life worth living.” Clients are encouraged to define what a "life worth living" looks like for them, and it varies from client to client. Clients then work toward addressing problem behaviors that are barriers to accessing that life.

4 Differences Between DBT and CBT

DBT is a more specific form of CBT that focuses on helping people who tend to have extreme emotional reactions interact with the environment around them in a less emotional, healthier way. Learn about the differences between CBT and DBT.

Foundational DBT Skills

The 90-day residential DBT treatment program for adults at Skyland Trail addresses stage 1 of DBT therapy, which focuses on attaining foundational skills and capacity to manage suicidal behaviors, therapy-interfering behaviors, major quality-of-life-interfering behaviors, and deficits in behavioral skills. Dr. Marsha Linehan, creator of DBT, describes the goal of stage 1 as, "moving from being out of control of one's behavior to being in control."

The goal of DBT treatment at Skyland Trail is to help clients develop practical strategies to cope with intense emotions so that they can prevent repeat hospitalizations, practice healthy coping skills, and build trusting relationships with therapists.

Once they have learned the shared language and framework of DBT, and can use DBT skills to effectively participate in therapy and supportive social relationships, clients are prepared to continue therapeutic work on an outpatient basis in the community while living independently.

Andrea's Story

Andrea F completed the DBT treatment program at Skyland Trail. Andrea is now better able to manage her emotions as well as relationships with her family.

Using DBT to Confront Black and White Thinking

From time to time, we all experience black-and-white thinking or fall into an all-or-nothing frame of mind. For some people, a pattern of black-and-white thinking over time may reinforce a recurring automatic negative thought.

Borderline Personality Disorder and Alcohol or Substance Use

For adults with borderline personality disorder as well as an alcohol use, substance abuse, or addiction problem, Skyland Trail offers a dual diagnosis treatment program. Clients receive specialized psychiatric care focused on their personality disorder, but also participate in one-on-one and group therapy focused on preventing relapse maintaining sobriety.

Clients have access to 12-step programs on campus and in the community. And they receive unique education and support on how to manage both the symptoms of their thought disorder as well as the cravings and triggers of a substance use disorder.

Borderline Personality Disorder and Trauma

Although many clients in our DBT program are learning to cope with trauma, the focus of stage 1 of DBT therapy does not involve working directly on post-traumatic stress. Skyland Trail practices trauma-informed mental health care. Trauma-informed care allows trauma survivors to first address the symptoms of a diagnosed mental illness like borderline personality disorder before processing their trauma.

Throughout treatment, care providers acknowledge that the client has experienced trauma and validate the emotions arising from that experience. But the treatment team does not ask the client to describe or re-live the trauma in any way. Treatment strategies are focused on helping the client develop skills to handle difficult emotions and stressful situations in healthy ways.

Completing trauma-informed psychiatric treatment for borderline personality disorder allows clients to develop insight, adopt skills, and build a strong foundation for a life worth living. Clients who are trauma survivors  are then better prepared and equipped to pursue formal trauma treatment with a specialized mental health provider.

Help for Young Adults with Borderline Personality Disorder

"I am more than my diagnosis. I am intelligent, driven, and funny. I am a wife, a sister, a friend. I am beautiful."

Aina's Story >>

Can you be institutionalized for BPD?

What is the gold standard treatment for borderline personality disorder?

What is the most successful treatment approach for borderline personality disorder?

What percentage of borderlines recover?