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967 people sought borderline personality disorder counseling help in Massachusetts in the last year

Discover how starting borderline personality disorder counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

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As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I believe a strong therapeutic relationship is key to your success in therapy, where you can expect to be free ... As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I believe a strong therapeutic relationship is key to your success in therapy, where you can expect to be free of judgment while trusting that I have the knowledge and expertise to help you work through the issues that brought you here. Read more

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Starting Borderline personality disorder counseling

What is Borderline personality disorder counseling?

Borderline personality disorder counseling in Cambridge, MA is the main form of treatment for borderline personality disorder. It teaches individuals skills that enable them to better manage and cope with their symptoms.

How does Borderline personality disorder counseling work?

Borderline personality disorder counseling at Thriveworks is personalized to each individual. Depending on your unique needs, it can help you learn to manage uncomfortable feelings, reduce impulsivity, and improve relationships (which might otherwise be negatively affected by your condition).

Is Borderline personality disorder counseling conducted in person or online?

Borderline personality disorder counseling with our Thriveworks Cambridge therapists can be conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does Borderline personality disorder counseling last?

The length of borderline personality disorder counseling sessions will vary from one person to the next, dependent on their specific needs. However, most treatments for borderline personality disorder last for 1-3 years.

Need more help deciding?

When Saturday Night Live’s cast member, Pete Davidson was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, he did what any comedian would do, he shared his struggle with honesty and vulnerability and jokes. Pete has seen his fair share of difficulties in life. On Weekend Update, Colin Jost interviewed Pete about what it has been like to live with BPD and seek treatment. Pete was honest about how hard the disorder has been for him, but he was also honest about how much help therapy is giving him. Pete used the opportunity to spread awareness, and he promoted the importance of mental health care, saying, “first of all, if you think you’re depressed, see a doctor and talk to them about medication, and also be healthy. Eating right and exercise can make a huge difference. And finally, if you are in the cast of a late-night comedy show, it might help, if they, ya know, do more of your sketches.” The last piece of advice got a big response from the audience, but they knew that Pete’s suggestion of getting help and taking care of oneself was very serious. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can cause a significant amount of destruction in an individual’s life, but treatment for BPD has helped many people.

The therapists at Thriveworks Cambridge have worked with a number of clients who were struggling to manage their Borderline Personality Disorder. With treatment, they were able to establish balance in their lives again.

Symptoms for Borderline Personality Disorder

“It is as if my life were magically run by two electric currents: joyous positive and despairing negative —whichever is running at the moment dominates my life, floods it.” — The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

There are ten different disorders that The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) categorizes as “Personality Disorders.” Each is characterized by some form of maladaptive behavior, and Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by instability. BPD can introduce unpredictability and volatility into an individual’s life. They frequently experience an unstable mood, relationships, and even identity. Other symptoms include…

  • Vacillating back and forth from one feeling to the opposite: anger to happiness to irritability to euphoria to frustration and so forth.
  • A deep fear of experiencing separation or abandonment.
  • Difficulty handling any form of criticism or separation (even healthy kinds).
  • Relational challenges: often, BPD causes people to idealize others, and then relationship, those expectations are disappointed. People with BPD often have a long history of broken or chaotic relationships.
  • An on-going and ever-present feeling of being empty.
  • Reckless and risky behavior that puts oneself and others at risks: spending sprees, binge eating, daredevil driving, unsafe sex, drug use, self-sabotage, gambling, and more.
  • Self-injury, suicide attempts, and/or suicide ideation (particularly as a coping mechanism for hard circumstances and emotions).
  • A belligerent posture, aggressiveness, angry outbursts, and more.

These symptoms give a small peek at the harm BPD can cause to an individual, but they do not tell the whole story. Borderline Personality Disorder can also increase an individual’s risk for other disorders, like substance abuse, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, and addiction.

BPD’s Development and Risk Factors

About 1.5 percent of adults in the United States are fighting Borderline Personality Disorder. Women are diagnosed with the disorder at a rate three times that of men. Mental health professions are uncertain whether men and women suffer from the disorder at different rates or whether men are going undiagnosed. What they know is that certain circumstances that can increase the risk of BPD for developing. In particular, people may be more likely to have BPD if they have…

  • Lost their caretaker or parents when they were a child.
  • A small hippocampus (section of the brain that regulates emotion and stress responses).
  • Experienced childhood trauma (especially emotional, sexual, or physical abuse by a parent or caregiver).
  • A family history of mental illness, including BPD.

Mitigating the Symptoms of BPD

“There’s a special therapy developed for people with borderline personality disorder called dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT. It’s very practical, focusing on teaching the patients coping skills to keep in their back pocket, like a neurological cheat sheet to pull out in situations where we want our behavior to be different.”
—Eliza Hecht,
“I Have Borderline Personality Disorder.
Here Are 6 Things I Wish People Understood.”

For those who have been diagnosed with BPD or who are struggling with its symptoms, it is important to state that there are effective treatments available. Many people work with a mental health professional and find the right course of action for them, and often, that course involves a treatment called Dialectical Behavior Therapy. This treatment focuses upon helping people learn important mental health skills, such as…

  • Emotional regulation – having the capacity to feel any emotion and remain in control of oneself.
  • Distress tolerance – using helpful and healthy ways of coping when life gets hard or setbacks are experienced.
  • Mindfulness – being present in one’s own thoughts, feelings, and sensations—noticing and paying attention without judgement.
  • Interpersonal effectiveness – learning how to be in a variety of relationships across many different contexts.

Appointments for Borderline Personality at Thriveworks Cambridge, MA

If you are ready to meet with a therapists about Borderline Personality Disorder, the mental health professionals at Thriveworks Cambridge are ready to meet with you. When you contact our office, your first appointment may be the following day. We offer evening and weekend sessions, and we accept many different insurance plans. Call today.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Cambridge therapists and counselors accept 26 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS Medicare Advantage (HMO | PPO)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • Fallon Health

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

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Self-pay costs at Cambridge
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

4.5 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
All the people of thrive works have been great my doctor is awesome Dr. Lal
Anthony Dec 2023
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I am so pleased with my decision to see Rebecca at ThriveWorks in Cambridge. She is compassionate and understanding, but also pushes me to feel confident I can make changes in my life that are needed most. I feel so supported. Feeling grateful that I took a leap to try Rebecca!
Read more I am so pleased with my decision to see Rebecca at ThriveWorks in Cambridge. She is compassionate and understanding, but also pushes me to feel confident I can make changes in my life that are needed most. I feel so supported. Feeling grateful that I took a leap to try Rebecca!
Cambridge May 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Rebecca Rodriquez is a true professional. I have found her to be trustworthy and truly helpful. She demonstrates kindness, compassion and strong clinical knowledge in her therapeutic approach. I highly recommend her to all. She has been extremely helpful to me.
Read more Rebecca Rodriquez is a true professional. I have found her to be trustworthy and truly helpful. She demonstrates kindness, compassion and strong clinical knowledge in her therapeutic approach. I highly recommend her to all. She has been extremely helpful to me.
Cambridge Apr 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I have had the opportunity to work with Rebecca Rodrigues for a long time. She is a thoughtful professional, mindful clinician and highly respectful to her clients.
Read more I have had the opportunity to work with Rebecca Rodrigues for a long time. She is a thoughtful professional, mindful clinician and highly respectful to her clients.
Cambridge Apr 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Arielle has been an incredible help in my life and I can’t thank her enough for it!
Cambridge Jun 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I've had the pleasure of working with Alicia at her previous job. She is an incredible clinician who's knowledge, leadership, and compassionate made her an excellent supervisor and therapist.
Read more I've had the pleasure of working with Alicia at her previous job. She is an incredible clinician who's knowledge, leadership, and compassionate made her an excellent supervisor and therapist.
Cambridge Jan 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I had been unable to make an appointment with a therapist for a long time. Everyone had a three month waiting list. I took a chance and made an appointment here. I love Hannah, she’s excellent, and I’m glad I found Thriveworks. It’s too soon for me to weigh in on the additional services Thriveworks offers but it seems good!
Read more I had been unable to make an appointment with a therapist for a long time. Everyone had a three month waiting list. I took a chance and made an appointment here. I love Hannah, she’s excellent, and I’m glad I found Thriveworks. It’s too soon for me to weigh in on the additional services Thriveworks offers but it seems good!
Cambridge Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Hannah Fulkerson has been a great help in creating a dialogue between myself and my wife. Thank you.
Read more Hannah Fulkerson has been a great help in creating a dialogue between myself and my wife. Thank you.
Cambridge Aug 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Cambridge is located off of Massachusetts Ave, on the north side of the Charles River. Our office is in the Cambridge Tower next to Apollo Travel and Tours, Tanjore, and Cambridge Premier Realty. The closest bus stop is Massachusetts Ave opp Lee St. If you have trouble finding our office or have any questions about how to get here, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Phone number

(617) 380-4651

Languages spoken by MA providers

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Creole
  • French
  • Japanese
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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