Foundations Counseling provides personality disorder counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor. Our therapists use time-tested, proven methods to prevent personality disorders from interfering with an individual’s ability to lead a happy, productive life.
A pervasive and chronic condition, a personality disorder can greatly affect a person’s life. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and tend to be worse during times of increased stress or external pressures (from work, family, a new relationship, etc.). Individuals with a personality disorder frequently experience disturbances in self-image, an inability to engage in successful interpersonal relationships, and difficulty with impulse control. Not surprisingly, they often experience conflicts with others.
What You Can Expect with Personality Disorder Counseling
Treatment for a personality disorder typically utilizes Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which focuses on four key areas: distress tolerance, emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, and mindfulness. At Foundations Counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor, our therapists work with you to develop a personality disorder treatment plan that will help you mitigate stress and external pressures to keep the symptoms under control.
When to Ask for Help
According to an extensive study by the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in four U.S. adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year and almost one in five has a personality disorder that interferes with everyday life. Potentially caused by a combination of parental upbringing, personality, and social development – as well as genetic and biological factors – personality disorders include problems such as obsessive or compulsive tendencies, paranoid thoughts and actions, and anti-social behaviors that can sometimes lead to violence.
There are 10 primary personality disorders, grouped into 3 clusters:
Cluster A (odd or eccentric personality disorders)
Paranoid: characterized by irrational suspicions and mistrust of others
Schizoid: lack of interest in social relationships, seeing no point in sharing time with others, introspection
Schizotypal: characterized by odd behavior or thinking
Cluster B (dramatic, emotional, or erratic personality disorders)
Antisocial: pervasive disregard for the law and the rights of others
Borderline: extreme “black and white” thinking, instability in relationships, self-image, identity, and behavior
Histrionic: pervasive attention-seeking behavior, including inappropriate sexual seductiveness and shallow or exaggerated emotions
Narcissistic: a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy
Cluster C (anxious or fearful personality disorders)
Avoidant: social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation and avoidance of social interaction
Dependent: pervasive psychological dependence on other people
Obsessive-Compulsive: characterized by rigid conformity to rules, moral codes, and excessive orderliness
Set up a Free Consultation
If you or someone you know needs counseling for a personality disorder, please contact Foundations Counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor to arrange a free consultation.