Counselling for concerns related to borderline personality disorder. Collaborative, client-centred support in a safe and structured setting. Registered Psychologists and counsellors, Regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists, In-person (Edmonton and St. Albert) and virtual across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether This Kind of Counselling Is Right for You

Maybe someone used the words "borderline personality disorder" during a previous appointment, and you left unsure what that meant for you. Maybe you have read about it on your own and wondered whether the description fits, or whether your experiences are serious enough to warrant reaching out. That kind of uncertainty is common, and it makes sense.

You might recognize some of these patterns in your daily life: feeling things so intensely that small moments become overwhelming, pulling away from people you care about because closeness feels risky, or shifting between wanting connection and fearing it. You may notice that your sense of who you are can change depending on who you are with, or that conflict in relationships follows a cycle you cannot seem to break.

These experiences do not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They reflect ways your mind has learned to respond to certain situations, and they are more common than most people realize. Many people living with these patterns find that structured support helps them build steadier ground.

This page offers general information about what counselling for borderline personality disorder concerns looks like at Wholesome Psychology. If you are considering whether speaking with someone could help, it may be a useful starting point. If you are gathering information for someone else, you are welcome here too.

Who This Service May Be a Good Fit For

This service may be helpful if you are experiencing any of the following:

• You have been told you may have borderline personality disorder, or you recognize traits associated with it, and you want support making sense of that.
• You are struggling with intense emotions that seem to arrive quickly and are hard to bring down.
• Your close relationships involve repeated conflict, distance, or patterns that feel difficult to change.
• You notice impulsive reactions that create problems afterward, such as saying things you regret, spending, or withdrawing suddenly.
• You want to build skills around emotional regulation, distress tolerance, or communication.
• You are looking for a therapist who will work with you at your own pace, without pressure to adopt a label.

This Service May Not Be the Right Fit If

• You are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health crisis. Please see the crisis resources below.
• You are looking for a formal psychological assessment or diagnosis. Psychological assessments are a separate service at Wholesome Psychology.
• You need medication management. Your physician or psychiatrist can help with medication-related questions.
• You are looking for court-ordered or forensic services. These fall outside the scope of this counselling service.

Crisis Resources

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a crisis, please contact one of the following resources:

• 911 for immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Counselling for borderline personality disorder at Wholesome Psychology is a talking-based service focused on helping you understand your emotional patterns, build practical skills, and work through the relational difficulties that brought you here. It is not an investigative process, a legal service, or a crisis intervention.

This page does not provide a diagnosis. Borderline personality disorder is recognized in the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a pattern within the personality disorder classification, but a counselling session is different from a formal assessment. If you and your therapist decide that a formal assessment would be useful, that can be discussed as a next step.

The pace of therapy is always set by you. Your therapist will not push you to disclose more than you are comfortable sharing, and the plan for your work together is built collaboratively. Confidentiality applies to everything discussed in session, with specific legal exceptions that are explained during your first appointment.

Scope-of-practice boundaries are taken seriously. Your therapist will be transparent about what this service can and cannot offer, and will help coordinate referrals when additional support, such as psychiatric consultation, is appropriate.

Signs That Borderline Personality Disorder Concerns May Be Affecting You

The following are experiences that people sometimes describe when they reach out for support related to borderline personality disorder. You do not need to identify with all of them, and having some of these experiences does not mean you have a diagnosis.

• Emotions that arrive quickly and with an intensity that feels hard to manage or explain to others
• A deep fear of being abandoned or left behind, even when there is no clear reason for it
• Relationships that cycle between closeness and conflict, or between idealizing someone and feeling hurt by them
• A sense of identity that shifts depending on context, or a feeling of not knowing who you really are
• Impulsive behaviour that provides short-term relief but creates longer-term problems
• Difficulty calming down after becoming upset, or a feeling that emotions take over your body before you can think
• Periods of emptiness or numbness that alternate with emotional intensity
• Patterns of self-harm or thoughts of self-harm as a way of coping with emotional pain

These experiences are not signs that something is permanently broken. They are patterns that develop over time, often in response to difficult experiences, and they are patterns that structured therapeutic support can help you work with.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool, browse therapist profiles, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance finding someone whose experience and approach feel right for you.
• Book your first session. The first session includes a review of confidentiality and its limits, informed consent, a conversation about what brings you in, and a shared understanding of what you hope to work on. You will not be asked to share anything you are not ready for.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist will co-create a therapeutic plan based on your goals. This plan is flexible and evolves as your needs change.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are typically 50 minutes, scheduled weekly or bi-weekly depending on what works for you. Frequency can be adjusted at any time.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist will check in regularly about how things are going, whether the approach is working, and whether anything needs to change. Therapy is not a fixed programme; it adapts to you.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Some people benefit from shorter-term work focused on specific skills. Others prefer longer-term support. Your therapist will discuss what makes sense for your situation, and the plan remains in your hands.

Evidence and Approaches

Depending on your therapist's training and your goals, counselling may draw on one or more of the following approaches. Each modality is summarized with available evidence from the research sources consulted for this page.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

What it helps with: DBT targets emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and patterns of self-harm.

Evidence summary: A Cochrane systematic review found that DBT, compared with treatment as usual, showed statistically significant effects for reducing anger and self-harm, and for improving general mental health functioning (Stoffers-Winterling et al., 2012). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2009) recommends comprehensive DBT for individuals with recurrent self-harm as a priority concern.

Limitations: The Cochrane review noted that the evidence base remains limited overall, with few studies available for meta-analysis. Individual responses to DBT vary, and the approach may not suit everyone.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to emotional distress and relational difficulties.

Evidence summary: CBT-based approaches were included in the Cochrane systematic review of psychological therapies for borderline personality disorder. Single study estimates showed some positive effects, though the results did not reach statistical significance for core BPD outcomes in the available trials (Stoffers-Winterling et al., 2012).

Limitations: Evidence for CBT specifically for borderline personality disorder is limited compared to DBT. Outcomes may depend on the specific CBT protocol used and the individual's presentation.

Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT)

What it helps with: MBT supports the ability to understand your own thoughts and feelings, and those of others, particularly during moments of emotional intensity.

Evidence summary: The Cochrane review reported statistically significant effects for MBT in both partial hospitalisation and outpatient settings, with improvements observed in core borderline personality disorder symptoms and associated difficulties (Stoffers-Winterling et al., 2012).

Limitations: Findings were based on single study estimates. Further replication is needed to confirm the strength and generalizability of these results.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

What it helps with: ACT helps people develop psychological flexibility, reduce avoidance of difficult emotions, and engage in behaviours aligned with personal values.

Evidence summary: ACT is represented in the clinic's therapeutic toolkit and draws on a broader evidence base for emotional regulation and distress tolerance. It was not separately evaluated in the Cochrane review for borderline personality disorder specifically.

Limitations: Direct evidence for ACT in the context of borderline personality disorder is limited. Its application here is informed by the broader evidence for emotional regulation concerns rather than condition-specific trials.

Trauma-Informed Approaches

What it helps with: Trauma-informed therapy addresses the impact of past difficult or harmful experiences on present-day emotional patterns, relationships, and coping strategies.

Evidence summary: Many individuals with borderline personality disorder have histories of traumatic experiences. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH, n.d.) notes that environmental factors including separation, neglect, abuse, and other childhood adversity may contribute to the development of BPD in vulnerable individuals. Trauma-informed care is a widely recognized framework for working with these experiences.

Limitations: "Trauma-informed" describes a general therapeutic orientation rather than a single standardized protocol. Evidence strength varies depending on the specific method used within this framework.

For more about specific approaches available at Wholesome Psychology, see the pages on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotional Regulation, and Personality Disorders.

What Results to Expect

Recovery is not a straight line. Some people notice shifts in how they manage distressing situations within the first few sessions. Others find that meaningful change unfolds over months or longer. Both experiences are normal.

Factors that influence outcomes include the nature and duration of your experiences, your current life circumstances, the therapeutic approach used, and the quality of fit between you and your therapist. Research suggests that many people who engage in structured psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder experience meaningful improvements over time, but no therapy guarantees specific outcomes (Stoffers-Winterling et al., 2012).

If the approach or the therapist does not feel right, that is important information, not a failure. Changing therapists or adjusting the therapeutic plan is always an option, and the admin team at 780-904-4880 can help with that process.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is confidential. Your therapist is bound by the ethical standards of the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics, as well as Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

There are a small number of legal exceptions to confidentiality. Your therapist is required to disclose information in the following circumstances:

• There is a serious and immediate risk of harm to yourself or someone else.
• There is suspected abuse or neglect of a child (mandatory reporting under Alberta law).
• Disclosure is ordered by a court.

These limits are explained clearly during your first session, before you share anything personal. If you have questions about how your information is handled, you are welcome to ask before, during, or after any appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe what happened in detail?

No. You are always in control of what you share and when. Some people find it helpful to talk about past experiences in detail, while others prefer to focus on present-day patterns and practical skills. Your therapist will follow your lead and will never push you to disclose more than you are ready for. Therapy can be effective without revisiting every detail of your history.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes. Counselling is confidential within legal and ethical limits. The specific exceptions are explained during your first session and are outlined in the Confidentiality and Privacy section above. If you have questions about privacy, record keeping, or virtual session security, those can be discussed before you share anything personal.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions focused on specific coping skills or a particular concern. Others benefit from longer-term work that addresses deeper relational and emotional patterns. Your therapist will review progress with you regularly, and the length of therapy is always a shared decision.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Therapeutic fit matters, and not every therapist will be the right match for every person. If the connection does not feel right, the admin team can help you find a different clinician whose approach or style may suit you better. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access therapy online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available for anyone in Alberta. They follow the same confidentiality standards as in-person sessions and are conducted through a secure platform. Many people find virtual sessions convenient and effective for this type of work. Visit the Online Counselling page for more information.

Do I need a diagnosis to book counselling?

No. Some people book because the term borderline personality disorder has come up in previous care. Others want help with emotions, relationships, or coping patterns without focusing on a label. A counselling appointment can be a place to talk through concerns and decide what kind of support makes sense for you.

What if I am not sure whether this page fits what I need?

That is common. Some people prefer to focus on the challenges they want help with rather than on a specific diagnosis. If that sounds more useful, you may also want to review Emotional Regulation, Self-Harm, or the Getting Started with Therapy page.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology's team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Certified Canadian Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. All psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Provisional psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Many clinicians on the team have training in areas relevant to borderline personality disorder, including emotional regulation, distress tolerance, DBT-informed skills, trauma-informed care, and relational therapy. Each therapist's profile describes their training, specializations, and approach.

You can browse Our Therapists, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call 780-904-4880 to speak with the admin team about finding a good fit.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists working with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches and may involve caregivers in supporting the child's emotional development and stability. If you are a parent or caregiver concerned about a young person's emotional patterns, the admin team can help identify an appropriate clinician.

For more information, see the Adolescent Mental Health page.

Getting Started

If you are looking for borderline personality disorder counselling in Edmonton or St. Albert, Wholesome Psychology offers in-person support at five locations and virtual counselling across Alberta.

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call: 780-904-4880
• Email: info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Learn more about getting started

New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). Borderline personality disorder. Retrieved April 20, 2026, from https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/borderline-personality-disorder
• Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division. (n.d.). Borderline personality disorder. Retrieved April 20, 2026, from https://bc.cmha.ca/documents/borderline-personality-disorder-2/
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2009). Borderline personality disorder: Recognition and management (Clinical Guideline CG78). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg78
• Statistics Canada. (2023). Mental disorders and access to mental health care. Insights on Canadian Society (Catalogue no. 75-006-X). https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2023001/article/00011-eng.htm
• Stoffers-Winterling, J. M., Völlm, B. A., Rücker, G., Timmer, A., Huband, N., & Lieb, K. (2012). Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (8), CD005652. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005652.pub2
• World Health Organization. (2024). ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. https://icd.who.int/