Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Getting Help in the UK

The NHS describes BPD as a disorder of mood and of how a person interacts with others. It groups the symptoms into four areas: emotional instability, disturbed patterns of thinking or perception, impulsive behaviour, and intense but unstable relationships. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and usually emerge in adolescence. It is sometimes called emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD). Source: NHS: borderline personality disorder.

The NHS notes that many people with BPD also have another condition, such as depression, anxiety or an eating disorder, and that many people with BPD self-harm. See where to get help for self-harm.

The NHS advises making a GP appointment if you have symptoms. They may ask how you feel, about your recent behaviour and the impact on your life, to rule out other conditions and check there is no immediate risk to your health. Source: NHS.

The NHS says treatment may involve individual or group psychotherapy delivered by a community mental health team (CMHT), which can include counsellors and psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers and occupational therapists. If symptoms are moderate to severe, you may have a care plan with a named care co-ordinator. Treatment may last a year or longer. Source: NHS: BPD treatment.

The NHS describes these approaches (read 11 November 2026):

• Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT): designed for BPD; usually weekly individual and group sessions, with an out-of-hours contact number
• Mentalisation-based therapy (MBT): long-term therapy to help you recognise your own and other people's mental states and step back from your thoughts; a course usually lasts around 18 months
• Therapeutic communities: structured group settings; the NHS says there is not yet enough evidence to tell whether they help everyone with BPD
• Arts therapies: art, dance movement, drama or music therapy, for people who find it hard to put feelings into words

The NHS says psychotherapy for BPD should only be delivered by a trained professional, and not to be afraid to ask about their experience. It also says no medicine is currently licensed to treat BPD. Source: NHS: BPD treatment. More: Mind: BPD.

If you look for private therapy, ask whether the therapist has training and experience in working with BPD or in approaches such as DBT or MBT, and how they would handle a crisis between sessions. See arts therapists, psychotherapists and psychologists.

Whoever you choose, check their register and ask about fees, session length and how you will review progress together. See questions to ask before you book and how much therapy costs. On Therapist Circle, each practitioner's registration is checked when they join, and their profile shows the register and number so you can check it yourself.