Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Compassionate Support for Borderline Personality Disorder at Trickett Counselling
Mental Health, Healing, Support, Therapy, Coping Skills

Borderline Personality Disorder, often called BPD, is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. Too often, it is spoken about with fear or judgment rather than empathy. Yet behind every intense emotion and reaction is a person who feels deeply, longs for connection, and struggles to find safety in relationships and within themselves.

At Trickett Counselling, we believe that understanding BPD requires compassion, not criticism. When we look beyond the stigma, we begin to see the human story beneath the diagnosis, one marked by sensitivity, resilience, and the desire to heal.

What BPD Really Is

BPD affects the way a person experiences emotions, sees themselves, and relates to others. It is not a flaw or a choice. It is often a response to emotional pain, early trauma, or experiences of invalidation when a person’s feelings were dismissed or misunderstood in key moments of development.

People with BPD often feel emotions more intensely and for longer periods. They can shift quickly between emotional states, not because they want to, but because their nervous system is wired to react strongly to perceived threats of rejection or loss.

This sensitivity can make relationships feel both essential and frightening, a constant push and pull between wanting closeness and fearing abandonment.

Common Experiences of BPD

While every person’s experience is unique, some common features include:

Rapid shifts in mood and emotion
Fear of being abandoned or rejected
Intense or unstable relationships
Struggles with self-image or identity
Impulsive behaviors such as overspending or self-harm
Chronic feelings of emptiness or loneliness
Difficulty managing anger or emotional outbursts
Moments of dissociation or feeling disconnected from reality

These experiences are not signs of being “too much.” They are signs of someone who has felt too unsafe for too long.

Why Stigma Hurts Healing

The stigma around BPD can be more damaging than the condition itself.

Many individuals avoid seeking help because they fear being labeled or misunderstood. They might have been told they are manipulative or impossible to help, when in truth, they are often trying their best to communicate pain that words cannot express.

When professionals and loved ones approach BPD with understanding, it opens a path to recovery. Empathy allows space for change. The right therapy and support can transform chaos into stability and self-blame into self-compassion.

At Trickett Counselling, we use trauma-informed and evidence-based approaches that help clients regulate emotions, build trust, and feel safe in their own skin. Some helpful approaches include:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Builds emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and reshape negative thought patterns.
Somatic Therapy: Encourages awareness of the body’s sensations to release stored tension and trauma.
Mindfulness Practices: Support present-moment awareness and reduce emotional overwhelm.

Therapy for BPD focuses on connection, like building a relationship where a client feels safe enough to explore vulnerability, repair trust, and experience acceptance.

Recovery from BPD is possible. Many people learn to manage their emotions, form stable relationships, and lead fulfilling lives. At Trickett Counselling, we see the person, not the diagnosis. Our therapists are trained to offer care that combines empathy, structure, and safety.

If this resonates with you, we invite you to reach out and begin your healing journey. You do not have to face it alone. Contact Trickett Counselling to schedule a free 15-minute consultation and take the first step toward understanding and self-compassion.