You Are Not Your Diagnosis – But You Do Deserve Specialized Support
A personality disorder diagnosis can feel overwhelming – or, for some people, it finally provides language for experiences that have been confusing and painful for a long time. Either way, a diagnosis is not a verdict. It’s information. And with the right therapeutic support, people with personality disorders experience real, lasting improvement in their quality of life and relationships.
At Empire Psychotherapy in Hamilton, our therapists bring specific training in personality disorder treatment – including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), schema therapy, and psychodynamic approaches. We work with the full range of personality disorders, with particular depth in BPD and emotionally intense presentations.
If previous therapy hasn’t worked for you, that’s not a sign you can’t be helped. It’s a sign you need a more specialized approach.
Meet our Therapists
Our registered therapists have specialized training in personality disorder treatment. Find the right fit for you.
Generic Therapy Often Falls Short for Personality Disorders
Specialized Treatment Produces Real Results.
Personality disorders require specific treatment approaches that general counselling simply isn’t designed to deliver. DBT was developed specifically because existing therapies weren’t working for people with BPD and emotional dysregulation. Schema therapy was developed to address the deeply ingrained patterns that standard CBT couldn’t reach. Our Hamilton therapists are trained in these specialized approaches – and they know how to use them effectively. Evening and weekend appointments available. No referral required.
What Are Personality Disorders?
Personality disorders are patterns of inner experience and behaviour that deviate significantly from cultural expectations, are pervasive and inflexible, begin in adolescence or early adulthood, and cause distress or functional impairment. They affect how a person thinks, feels, relates to others, and controls their behaviour. Importantly, these patterns are not character flaws or choices – they develop from a combination of genetics, early experiences, trauma, and environment.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Characterized by intense emotional dysregulation, unstable relationships, fear of abandonment, impulsivity, and an unstable sense of self. DBT is the gold-standard treatment for BPD and is available at Empire.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Pervasive feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitivity to criticism or rejection, and significant avoidance of social situations despite a desire for connection.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Patterns of grandiosity, need for admiration, and difficulty with empathy that affect relationships and create significant personal distress – often acknowledged privately even when defended publicly.
Dependent Personality Disorder
An excessive need to be cared for that leads to submissive, clinging behaviour and fear of separation – significantly affecting independence and decision-making.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
A preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control that interferes with flexibility, openness, and efficiency – distinct from OCD.
Other Personality Presentations
Patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating that cause persistent distress – whether or not they meet full diagnostic criteria for a specific personality disorder – are fully within our scope of support.
You don’t have to carry this on your own.
A Diagnosis Is Not a Life Sentence.
People with personality disorders can and do experience profound change with the right therapeutic support. Our Hamilton therapists have the training, the patience, and the genuine commitment to walk alongside you in this work – at your pace, with real respect for where you are.
Treatment Approaches for Personality Disorders
For BPD and emotional dysregulation, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is the evidence-based gold standard. Our DBT-trained therapists deliver the full DBT model – not just surface-level techniques – helping clients build skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
For avoidant, dependent, narcissistic, and other personality presentations, we draw on schema therapy – which works with the deeply ingrained belief patterns (schemas) that developed early in life and continue to drive distressing patterns in adulthood.
Psychodynamic approaches help clients understand the relational origins of their personality patterns, while adapted CBT addresses the specific thought patterns that maintain them.
What Progress Looks Like
- Greater emotional stability and faster recovery from distress
- More consistent, satisfying relationships
- A more stable sense of identity and self-worth
- Improved ability to tolerate difficult emotions without acting impulsively
- Better understanding of your own patterns and what drives them
Treatment Methods for Personality Disorders
Why Hamilton Clients Choose Empire for Personality Disorder Treatment
DBT Expertise
DBT requires specific, advanced training to deliver effectively. Our DBT-trained therapists provide the full model – skills training and individual therapy – not just isolated DBT techniques.
Specialized, Not Generalist
Our therapists have focused training in personality disorder treatment. If generic therapy hasn’t worked for you before, this is a genuinely different experience.
Compassion Without Compromise
Personality disorder treatment requires a therapist who can hold a compassionate stance while maintaining clear, consistent therapeutic boundaries. Our therapists are trained for exactly this.
Questions About Personality Disorder Therapy
I have BPD and have had bad therapy experiences before. Will this be different?
We hear this often. DBT was specifically developed because general therapy wasn’t effective for BPD – and it is genuinely different. Our DBT-trained therapists have experience working with clients who have had difficult prior therapy experiences.
Do you offer DBT skills groups?
Contact us directly about current group offerings. Individual DBT therapy is available with our trained DBT therapists.
Can someone with a personality disorder really change?
Yes. Research clearly demonstrates that people with personality disorders – including BPD – experience significant improvement with evidence-based treatment. Change is possible, and it happens regularly with the right support.
I'm not sure if I have a personality disorder or just difficult experiences. Should I still come?
Absolutely. A diagnosis is not a prerequisite for therapy. If you’re experiencing persistent patterns of distress, relationship difficulty, or emotional instability, that’s reason enough to reach out.
Is a referral required?
No. You can book directly online or by calling (905) 962-2220.
Our Locations
Located in Hamilton, Ontario, Empire Psychotherapy offers accessible counselling services with flexible scheduling, including evenings and weekends. We serve clients in Hamilton and across Ontario through both in-person and online therapy appointments.
Hamilton
236 Pritchard Road, Hamilton, ON
Online Therapy
Our therapists are available no matter where in Ontario you call home.
Real Change Is Possible With the Right Support.
Start Feeling Better.
Our Hamilton therapists bring genuine, specialized expertise to personality disorder treatment. Book a session today – no referral needed – and let’s find the approach that can actually make a difference for you.
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