While we continue to learn more about Borderline Personality Disorder, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: not everyone experiences BPD in the same way. Because of that, forms of treatment may vary from person to person, or even a combination of borderline personality disorder treatment options could be necessary. Residential treatment centers for Borderline Personality Disorder provide comprehensive treatment and can allow people living with BPD to have productive and fruitful lives. You may have a number of questions about residential treatment, so we’ve prepared a small primer that might help you decide if this treatment is the right fit for you.
What is Residential Treatment?
A residential treatment center is a live-in health care facility providing therapy for substance use disorders, mental illness, or other behavioral problems. The help provided is intensive and while receiving residential treatment, patients temporarily live outside of their homes and in a facility where they can be supervised and monitored by trained staff.
What Type of Treatment is offered at these facilities to those living with Borderline Personality Disorder?
It varies from facility to facility, but the range of mental health treatments typically includes behavioral and cognitive therapies (such as DBT) either done individually, with a group, or with the family. Some facilities are licensed to administer pharmaceuticals to aid with BPD symptoms. In addition to these, facilities can offer supplemental treatments such as mindfulness groups, sober activities, musical therapy, and even yoga.
So, it’s just sleep and therapy?
Not at all, in addition to the treatment options, residential treatment facilities will offer educational opportunities and may come equipped with exercise rooms, libraries, computer labs, and outdoor activities. Some facilities even offer art and music classes
How long is a typical stay for BPD at a residential treatment center?
There are many factors determining the length of stay at a treatment center, depending on the level of treatment required, and the length of the treatment program facilities provide, but a stay at a residential treatment center commonly ranges from 30 days to 90 days, but there is no catch-all estimation for how long residential treatment should last.
What is the difference between inpatient and residential treatment?
Inpatient treatment is the most intensive level of treatment, offering around-the-clock care in a secure unit of a treatment facility or hospital. The main goal of inpatient treatment is to stabilize symptoms, and the stays are generally short-term, usually ranging from a few days to a week.
Residential treatment is less intensive than inpatient treatment. While there is still schedules and treatment routines, as well as some monitoring to treatment, the big difference between residential and inpatient treatment involves where the treatment is happening. Residential treatment is usually carried out in a home-like environment, while inpatient treatment generally occurs in a hospital.
How much does residential treatment cost?
Cost for residential treatment can vary broadly, depending on the level of care and amenities provided at any given facility. However, for ease of exploration and research, we’ve put together a list of treatment centers in the U.S, broken down by geographical location, some of which mention they treat Borderline Personality Disorder and/or use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in their treatment program. If residential treatment is something you or your loved ones have been considering, hopefully, this list can provide some additional guidance
