Personality Disorders

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What are personality disorders?

Personality disorders are long‑lasting patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that can make living daily life a little bit more difficult at times. These patterns usually begin in adolescence or early adulthood and can affect relationships, work, and a person’s sense of self. While they can be challenging, many people learn to manage symptoms with the right support and treatment. Personality disorders represent a marked change in the way someone thinks about themselves, others and the world around them, compared to others. Some common personality disorders include Borderline Personality Disorder, or Antisocial Personality Disorder. Living with a personality disorder means that you might also struggle with other associated conditions, such as depression, anxiety or relationship issues.

Our psychologists have experience in supporting people to understand these patterns, build emotional skills, and develop healthier ways of coping. They provide a safe, non‑judgmental space to explore challenges, strengthen relationships, and work toward meaningful change. Please contact us to find a psychologist in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, or to find out more about how we might be able to help. We offer Medicare rebate psychologists to support with the cost of therapy.

Signs and symptoms of personality disorders

Some people might have some signs and symptoms of a personality disorder, but do not meet full clinical criteria. Some people may also have been diagnosed with a personality disorder at a point in their lives, but may no longer currently experience some of the symptoms associated with it. Some people may also be incorrectly diagnosed with a personality disorder, or not have been formally diagnosed – though really identify with some common concerns and symptoms. Evidence-based therapies can be very useful for personality disoders, to learn skills and more about ourselves in order to better engage with the world around us. Some therapies that might be useful are Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Schema Therapy, Mentalisation-Based Therapy, or Emotion-Focussed Therapy.

If you’re after resources, leading research and supports or guidance, there are a couple of Australian support organisations for Borderline Personality Disorder, including Australian BPD Foundation Limited and the National Educational Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder.

Examples of common personality disorders

  • Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Narcissistic Personality Disorder
  • Avoidant Personality Disorder
  • Dependant Personality Disorder 
  • Obsessive‑Compulsive Personality Disorder (different to OCD)
  • Paranoid Personality Disorder
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder

Signs and symptoms of personality disorders

  • Difficulty managing emotions
  • Intense or unstable relationships
  • Fear of abandonment or rejection
  • Impulsive or risky behaviour
  • Low or unstable self‑esteem
  • Rigid or extreme thinking patterns
  • Avoidance of social situations or other people all together 
  • Distrust of others
  • Trouble coping with stress
  • A sense of feeling different from others, or that people don’t understand you
  • A distorted sense of self or reality

So, what can I do?

A personality disorder affects the way someone understands themselves, relates to others, and responds to situations. These patterns are consistent over time and can feel rigid or hard to change without help.There are a range of evidence-based treatments that can help people who are diagnosed with a personality disorder. Please contact us to find out how we might be able to help, so we can match you with a psychologist who is the right fit for you.

We offer counselling in Footscray. Medicare rebates are available, and we offer telehealth psychologists, Workcover psychologists and TAC psychologists.

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Psychology FAQs

Have a question? Take a look below… these are some of the common questions we get.

No referral is needed to book a session, but if you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you might be eligible for Medicare rebates.

Yep, life happens! Just give us at least 48 hours’ notice so we can offer that spot to someone else. Cancellations within 48 hours will incur a fee.

We don’t usually offer instalment plans, but if money’s tight, chat with us privately – we’re happy to see how we can find a solution.

The Medicare rebates are listed above, but if you on WorkCover, TAC or VOCAT the gap fees tend to be lower. With private insurance, we find they tend to be on-par with Medicare rebates. We can help you understand what’s covered and what your gap fee will be – just ask us when booking.

No worries! You can book on their behalf, just make sure you have their consent and relevant details to help our intake process.

Ready to talk?

Please get in touch today to have a chat to our friendly team so we can match you with an appropriate psychologist. If you are an existing client, you can book online.

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