Photo of Rachel Steinhardt, Licensed Professional Counselor in New York
Rachel Steinhardt
Licensed Professional Counselor, LMHC, MS Ed, BA
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Brooklyn, NY 11210  (Online Only)
Whether you have been feeling down, overwhelmed, lost, spiritually broken, hurt, confused, stressed, going through a major life transition or maybe you're just looking for something more, you have come to the right place. When you are suffering from depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, relationship issues or a lack of self-esteem, it can feel like your whole world is crumbling down and you just have nothing left to give. In a safe, caring, and judgement-free environment, we will uncover your greatest strengths and learn to manage your hardest struggles. You don't have to suffer alone.
Whether you have been feeling down, overwhelmed, lost, spiritually broken, hurt, confused, stressed, going through a major life transition or maybe you're just looking for something more, you have come to the right place. When you are suffering from depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, relationship issues or a lack of self-esteem, it can feel like your whole world is crumbling down and you just have nothing left to give. In a safe, caring, and judgement-free environment, we will uncover your greatest strengths and learn to manage your hardest struggles. You don't have to suffer alone.
(718) 550-7165 View (718) 550-7165
Photo of Lisa Wessan Consulting, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in New York
Lisa Wessan Consulting
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW, CLYL, RM
Verified Verified
8 Endorsed
White Plains, NY 10601
People often ask me, "What is the purpose of therapy?" I believe there are a few answers to that question. First, you come to therapy to defrost grief, unexpressed rage and other negative feelings, e.g. traumas, losses, betrayals. You also learn to re-parent yourself. Second, you come to have a better transition in your work or love life, or to improve your performance and personal relations. Finally, you get to share your dreams and goals in a safe environment, with no judgment, and to produce amazing action plans to manifest your best life ever.
People often ask me, "What is the purpose of therapy?" I believe there are a few answers to that question. First, you come to therapy to defrost grief, unexpressed rage and other negative feelings, e.g. traumas, losses, betrayals. You also learn to re-parent yourself. Second, you come to have a better transition in your work or love life, or to improve your performance and personal relations. Finally, you get to share your dreams and goals in a safe environment, with no judgment, and to produce amazing action plans to manifest your best life ever.
(978) 631-0349 View (978) 631-0349
Borderline Personality (BPD) Therapists

What is the most successful approach to treating borderline personality disorder?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is considered the gold standard of treatment for borderline personality disorder. An evidence-based treatment, it addresses the extreme emotional reactivity, the relationship difficulties, and the acts of self-harm that create so much distress for BPD patients. DBT is a comprehensive program that includes both regular individual psychotherapy sessions and weekly group sessions of skills training.

What happens in treatment of borderline personality disorder?

Treatment typically consists of weekly individual therapy sessions that last an hour and group skill-focused instructional sessions that may last up to two hours. Patients are typically given homework “assignments” in which they are asked to practice in their daily life the skills they acquire in therapy. Patients also keep a diary tracking their emotions and impulses as a way to know which situations are most problematic and to help them gain control over their own behavior. Difficult situations and feelings are typically reviewed in therapy sessions and more constructive solutions found.

What kinds of problems does BPD treatment help with?

DBT was initially developed to dampen the self-destructive impulses of chronically suicidal patients. It is now the treatment of choice for borderline personality disorder, a serious condition marked by extreme emotional reactivity, relationship instability, and self-injurious behaviors. Treatment of BPD helps patients tolerate the flux of emotions without acting on them, often with a specific focus on tolerating negative emotions. DBT addresses the core problems of BPD—fear of abandonment, low self-esteem, and impulsivity.

What is the goal of treatment in borderline personality disorder?

The goal of treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) is to relieve the extreme emotional distress that patients experience—to curb their emotional reactivity, to minimize their inclination to self-harm, and to reduce their impulsivity. Toward these ends, patients are not only taught an array of new coping skills and techniques for emotional regulation, they are given opportunities to practice them. Another major goal of treatment is interpersonal effectiveness; patients learn and problem-solve ways to effectively communicate in relationships, especially how to ask for what they need as a way to minimize hurt feelings.