Borderline Personality Disorder Clinic

The first level is a prerequisite for the second. It is the Emotion Management Groups. This 12-week program includes a weekly three-hour group session. For some people, this stage of treatment is enough and fully meets their therapeutic needs.

Emotion Management Group

This psycho-educational group provides an accessible conceptualization of the difficulties encountered in borderline personality disorder and allows patients to become familiar with the concepts of acceptance, tolerance and understanding of intense and labile emotions. In addition, it includes the learning of different skills from the behavioural-dialectical therapy (DBT) and the Good Psychiatric Management (GPM). 

The second level is available according to more specific selection criteria. Two treatment options are available: the mentalization group and the behavioral-dialectical therapy group. Each offers a three-hour group psychotherapy session and a one-hour individual session on a weekly basis. These services last approximately six months. Psychiatric consultations are also available as needed. For eligible patients, the choice of treatment will be determined according to their needs.

Mentalization Group

This psychotherapeutic group is based on the Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) developed by Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy and focuses more on problematic relationship dynamics by understanding our reactions, and those of others, in terms of intentions and mental states.

Behavioral-Dialectical Therapy Group

This psychotherapeutic group is based on the Behavioural-Dialectical Therapy (BDT) model developed by Marsha Linehan and focuses on the acceptance-change balance. It deepens the skills learned in the previous level and includes more. The following four modules are presented: distress tolerance, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness and emotion regulation.

Inclusion criteria 

• Between 18 and 65 years old
• Valid OHIP health card 
• Resident of the area serviced by Home and Community Care Support Services Champlain
• Have a primary diagnosis of BPD or traits significant enough to cause impairment in functioning and/or significant distress
• Be able to read, write and express emotions in the language of the group (French only) 
• Be motivated to engage in intensive therapy aimed at changing problematic behaviors and ways of managing emotions
• Have a sufficiently stable living situation to undertake a therapeutic process (housing, food, transport and reachable by telephone)
• Completed referral form from primary care provider
• Referring family physician or nurse practitioner agrees to a return care
• If referred by a psychiatrist: last progress note, current medication list, confirmation to offer follow-up in case of crisis and confirmation to accept the return of care must be included

Exclusion criteria: 

• Psychotic disorders
• Active substance use disorder: more specifically, no tolerance developped, no dependence, no associated distress and no impact on functioning 
• Maximum cannabis consumption 1x per day and max 1-2g/day
• If active or past substance use disorder, we request abstinence or significant reducation for at least 3 months before making the referral
• Cognitive or developmental disorders
• Antisocial personality disorder or traits
• Active legal charges against the person referred (probation situation accepted)
• Acute ongoing psychotic disorders
• Eating disorders as primary diagnosis
• Ongoing hypomanic or manic episode

To refer a patient to this service, a family doctor or nurse practitioner must fill out the referral form, accept return of care and send the completed form by fax to 613-748-4938. 

• Referral form - Central intake