Find a Mental Health Professional for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

About Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) support

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterised by intense and rapidly shifting emotions, difficulties in relationships, an unstable or uncertain sense of self, impulsive behaviour, and often a profound fear of abandonment. These experiences are frequently rooted in early environments where emotional needs were not consistently met, sometimes including trauma. BPD is often misunderstood and stigmatised within health systems; in reality, it is a condition that responds well to evidence-based treatment, and recovery is very much possible. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is the most well-researched treatment for BPD and combines individual therapy with skills groups covering mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Schema therapy and Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT) are also effective. Finding a therapist with specific training in one of these approaches makes a significant difference to outcomes. In Australia, some public mental health services offer structured DBT programs, though access is variable by location. Private practitioners with DBT or schema therapy training are available in major cities and via telehealth. SANE Australia provides information and peer support for people with BPD and their families. Medicare subsidises sessions with eligible practitioners through a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.