Find a Treatment Center
There are different levels of treatment care for Borderline Personality Disorder. The level of care needed will depend on your, or your loved ones, immediate needs. It can be confusing– and the care should always be determined by an in-person assessment with a qualified medical or counseling therapist. People with BPD may experience a variety of levels of care during their treatment. Here is some information that may be helpful to you when you are looking for treatment.
Levels of Treatment Care that could be used when treating BPD
Questions to Ask when you are looking for a BPD treatment center
Treatment Center Locators available on the web.
Residential Treatment Centers that treat BPD.
Levels of Treatment Care
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment involves seeing a mental health professional for ongoing counseling and support on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Outpatient treatment allows the person with BPD to to maintain their regular activities of life. They have the ability to go home after a daytime or evening therapy session and don’t need to have prolonged absences from friends, co-workers, or family members. The benefit of outpatient programs is that they can provide a support network for patients in the form of individual counseling, official support groups, or family counseling.
Inpatient Hospitalization
This intensive level of treatment requires 24-hour care in a safe and secure unit of a hospital. Inpatient treatment is necessary for those who need 24-hour supervision. Because of the short-term nature of inpatient treatment, a major focus is to stabilize symptoms and develop a plan for continued treatment of the illness outside the inpatient program.
Partial Hospitalization (Day Treatment)
This level of care is designed for individuals who need structured programming but do not need 24-hour supervision. Partial hospitalization or a day treatment program allows the individual to gain support in a safe environment during the day and return home in the evening. In times of increased stress or difficulty coping with specific situations, this type of treatment may be more appropriate than full inpatient hospitalization. Patients participate in therapeutic groups, structured activities and discharge planning similar to those offered in the inpatient and residential programs. Many patients who have been in an inpatient or residential program can “step down” to this level of care because it continues to provide a high amount of structure and support.
Residential Treatment
Often, patients who have attempted outpatient treatment programs but ultimately need a more structured environment or have found outpatient programs difficult to complete, achieve success in a residential program.
Residential treatment centers offer an intensive and structured treatment program similar to hospital inpatient units, but in a more home-like environment. Individuals in residential treatment centers benefit from 24-hour supervision and treatment. Patients also find support from a community of patients within the residential treatment program. This community can encourage each other to stay on task. Listing of Residential Treatment Centers that treat BPD.
Questions to ask when looking for a Treatment Center
Licensing
Is the center licensed as a mental health facility?
• Who are they licensed by-state, county, etc.
• For what purpose are they licensed
• Date of most recent licensing
How many years has the agency been actively treating persons with BPD?
Therapy
What treatment approach for BPD do they use?
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Psychoanalytic Treatment
• Psychodynamic
• Mentalization (MBT)
• Transference Focused Therapy (TFP)
• General Psychiatric Management
• Medication Management
• Other
What forms of therapy offered?
• individual therapy
• group
• family,
• residential
• medication
How often is each form of therapy offered per week?
Staff
What kind of training has the staff had to specifically treat persons with BPD?
• By whom
What is the maximum number of clients in program(s)?
What is the number of staff and their disciplines and level of education?
What is the client/staff ratio?
Facilities and Services
What are the criteria for admission to the program?
Who provides the referral information?
What happens when a person enters the facility?
What is the intake evaluation process?
What would be the anticipated length of stay?
What are the program expectations for outpatients concerning absences?
What are the program expectations for inpatients concerning visiting hours?
What kind of family involvement is there, e.g., sessions, family groups, contact with staff?
Are there any community support groups in the area?
Is there contact with most previous provider (e.g., community psychiatrist)?
When does planning for discharge start and who is included in the discussion?
Does the agency identify or recommend possible aftercare options?
If someone signs themselves out of the program, who is notified?
Financial
What are the cost factors?
How often will we be billed?
What are the terms of payment?
What funding is accepted: Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, self-pay?
Is an agency financial counselor available to explain charges and billing procedures?
Do you advise regarding potential Social Security benefits?
Source: National Education Alliance for BPD
