Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be a very complicated to treatment issue. While not everyone with BPD will need to enter residential treatment, many people with Borderline Personality Disorder will benefit from the comprehensive support a residential treatment center for BPD provides.
A residential treatment center for Borderline Personality Disorder can provide you a highly structured environment that will allow you to maintain and expand your independence. The goal of a residential treatment center is to address the immediate issues BPD can create, such as identifying and minimizing inappropriate behaviors and creating more healthy interpersonal relationships.
If you are considering Borderline Personality Disorder treatment for yourself or your loved one, there are many things to take into consideration before choosing the most appropriate residential treatment center for psychiatric disorders.
Before beginning the process of selecting a residential treatment center for BPD, you should consult with a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in personality disorders for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. This evaluation can help determine the scope of your treatment and help you to decide whether a residential treatment center would be the best course of action.
Questions to Ask a BPD Residential Treatment Center
Here is a checklist of questions you may want to consider as you decide on a treatment center:
- Does the residential treatment center have current licensing?
- How many years has it provided treatment to people with BPD?
- What is the ratio of staff to clients?
- How many staff work there? What is their specialty and highest level of education?
BPD Treatment
- What types of treatment and approaches does the residential treatment center offer (i.e., individual therapy, group therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, medication, and other evidence-based therapies)?
- How often are therapies administered?
- What rules does the program maintain (i.e., visiting hours and leaving the center)?
- Does the treatment center maintain any contact with the BPD patient’s previous therapist?
- How does the center address co-occurring disorders, such as substance abuse or eating disorders?
- Does it employ staff skilled at treating these disorders, such as dieticians or addiction counselors?
- What role does the family play in treatment? Does the residential treatment center offer support for your family or partner?
- Aside from treatment, does the residential treatment center offer recreational activities or other support for residents?
Finances
The typical length of stay at a Borderline Personality Disorder residential treatment center is four to six weeks. This can be very expensive, so there are some financial considerations to take into account as well:
- How much does the treatment cost? Is there a flat fee?
- What are the terms of payment?
- Does the facility accept private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid? Would treatment affect your Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
- Is there a financial counselor on staff who can help explain the billing process?
Continuing Care for Borderline Personality Disorder
Finally, you may want to find out what aftercare services the residential treatment center offers:
- Is there a transitional program, halfway house, or other option to help residents adapt to life back home once they leave the residential treatment center?
- Is a continuing care plan put into place with the treatment team?
- What type of continuing care is available?
Obviously, the decision to enter a residential treatment center for Borderline Personality Disorder shouldn’t be taken lightly. Hopefully these questions can help you to make the decision that is best for you and your family.