Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are a type of mental health condition in which a person has long-term patterns of behavior and thought that are unhealthy and inflexible. Personality disorders are rare and usually greatly interfere with life and cause serious problems with personal relationships and work. Generally, individuals suffering from personality disorders are socially isolated and distrustful. They may have difficulty making friends and tend to have mood swings, poor impulse control, turbulent relationships, and angry outbursts. There are a number of different personality disorders (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive) and the symptoms of each disorder are different and can range from mild to severe. Sometimes people suffering from a personality disorder do not realize they have one because their way of acting and thinking seems normal to them. No one knows what exactly causes personality disorders, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Seeing a mental health professional is an important part of treatment for individuals who have personality disorders, which often get worse without help.
Local experts in Personality Disorders
Christopher Creaturo (he/his)
Professional Counselor Associate
MA, Professional Counselor Associate
Study and supervision in Mentalization Based Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder.
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Cary (Lazara) Coll
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Gain insight into your emotions, thought patterns, and actions as a means of obtaining relief from the negative impact of Personality Disorders. I utilize an eclectic approach including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
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Jacqueline Lydston, MSW, LSWAIC (she/her/hers)
Clinical Social Work Associate
MSW
I have worked since 1989 with people struggling with borderline personality disorder.
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Sunya Grantham
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
I work with couples and families who are living with a loved one who is diagnosed with a personality disorder. I address the feeling of 'walking on eggshells' typically described by loved ones. I also recognize the very real fear of rejection and heightened emotional sensitivity characteristic of BPD. Therapy includes elements of DBT, developing a wise mind approach, and effective communication tools.
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Joan Laguzza, LCSW Joie PDX Counseling
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Disordered personality traits can result in maladaptive coping skills that negatively impact relationships. They can make it hard to achieve desired outcomes in life and work. I strive to create a non-judgmental space to develop better coping and more successful strategies to satisfy your needs.
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Diana Oxley, Ph.D.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Diploma, CG Jung Institute Zurich; Ph.D. (Psychology), Arizona State University
I specialize in helping clients overcome defensive patterns of behavior that stem from their childhood experience and make it hard to find joy and creativity in their lives, especially through meaningful relationships.
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Henry Cameron (He/Him)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC
I have studied, reviewed literature and blogged about the topic of adult children of narcissists (ACON) for several years now. I am moved deeply by the struggles around identity, confidence, and self acceptance that ACONS can find themselves in, as well as how adult children of alcoholics often can have similar struggles.
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Zach Wendell (He/Him)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW
I have extensive experience working with people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, specifically in my role as ongoing psychotherapist at Bellevue Hospital and in College Counseling Center Unity Center for Behavioral Health – Emergency Department - Portland, OR 09/2020-Present Bellevue Hospital – Adult Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic - NY, NY 06/2019-07/2020 DBT Training: Distress Tolerance – Emotions/Impulsivity, Mindfulness, Crisis Survival, Radical Acceptance - NY, NY
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