Support for
Lasting change is possible with specialised psychological support.
Therapy for borderline, narcissistic, avoidant and other personality disorders — using Schema Therapy, DBT, and other evidence-based approaches.
Key information you should know
- Personality disorders are treatable with specialised therapy — particularly DBT, Schema Therapy, and Mentalisation-Based Therapy.
- A personality disorder diagnosis is not a label that defines you — it's a starting point for the right kind of support.
- Our psychologists are experienced in working with complex personality presentations, including borderline (BPD), narcissistic, and avoidant patterns.
Signs you might benefit from personality disorders support
- Intense, unstable relationships — close one moment, distant the next
- Difficulty regulating emotions; reactions feel disproportionate
- A pervasive sense of emptiness or that something is 'wrong' inside
- Patterns that keep showing up — work, relationships, identity — despite your best efforts
- Impulsive behaviours when emotionally overwhelmed
- Self-harm or recurrent thoughts of suicide
- A sense of identity that shifts depending on who you're with
How therapy can help with personality disorders
Personality disorder labels describe long-standing patterns in relationships, emotion, identity, and behaviour. They can feel stigmatising, yet they also point toward therapies that genuinely help, such as DBT or schema-focused work.
Treatment focuses on emotion regulation, interpersonal skills, and understanding patterns without blame. Many people make meaningful gains over time with consistent, specialised support.
Psychologists who support personality disorders
12 psychologists with experience in personality disorders.
Accepting new clientsBook with CarolineCaroline Gorman
Psychologist & Clinic Manager
Caroline is an experienced psychologist who supports clients across the lifespan to work towards meaningful therapeutic outcomes. With more than 15 years of experience, she brings a thoughtful, non-judgemental approach.
Works from Succoris Sunbury
Dr Catherine Hart
Founder & Clinical Director
Catherine is a Clinical Psychologist, APS Supervisor of the Year (2024), and co-founder of Succoris Psychology Group. She leads clinical standards across the group and is passionate about supporting psychologists to build sustainable, ethical practices.
Accepting new clientsBook with GraceDr Grace Hayes
Clinical Psychologist
Grace is an experienced psychologist who supports clients across the lifespan to work towards meaningful therapeutic outcomes. She brings a thoughtful, non-judgemental approach with a special interest in perinatal mental health.
Works from Succoris Sunbury
Dr Kim Mihaljevic
Clinical Psychologist
Kim offers a compassionate, person-centred approach, supporting individuals to improve their emotional wellbeing and live a meaningful life. She works collaboratively with clients aged 15 and over.
Works from Succoris Sunbury
Accepting new clientsBook with SusannaDr Susanna Zito
Clinical Psychologist
Dr Susanna Zito offers evidence-based psychological support informed by extensive clinical experience via telehealth. She is an EMDR accredited practitioner and Board Approved Supervisor with a special interest in trauma and humanitarian crisis response.
Telehealth
Accepting new clientsBook with WarwickDr Warwick Hosking
Clinical Psychologist
Warwick has several years' experience working with adolescents and adults in a range of settings. He takes a client-centred, empathic and compassionate approach to building rapport and trust with his clients.
Works from Succoris Bendigo
Grace Crowley
Clinical Psychologist & Assessment Liaison
Gracie is a clinically endorsed and AHPRA-registered Clinical Psychologist. She works with clients across the lifespan (ages 8 and above) with a strong passion for supporting people who have experienced complex trauma.
Works from Succoris Bendigo
Accepting new clientsBook with JenJen Bullers
Clinical Psychologist
Jennifer prioritises warm, empathetic, and collaborative therapeutic relationships. She works with adolescents and adults, taking the time to understand each individual's experiences and tailor support to their needs.
Telehealth
Kristy Ward
Psychologist & Director
Kristy is a warm, highly experienced psychologist who brings nearly two decades of clinical practice to helping people feel understood, supported and confident as they work towards meaningful change.
2 clinics
Maddy Stenlake
Psychologist & Clinic Manager
Madeleine works integratively with adults supporting a wide range of psychological presentations with care and clarity.
Works from Succoris Tweed Heads
Nikita Kettlewell
Clinical Psychologist & Clinic Manager
Nikita works collaboratively with clients to identify goals and strategies for each individual, using a warm, empathic and non-judgemental approach. She has a background in individual and group therapy.
Works from Succoris Bendigo
Accepting new clientsBook with SumairaSumaira Yousaf
Psychologist
Sumaira Yousaf is a registered General Psychologist with extensive international clinical experience across Australia and the UAE. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families with a warm, strengths-focused approach.
Works from Succoris Sunbury
Common questions about personality disorders
What is a personality disorder?
A personality disorder describes long-standing patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating that cause distress and difficulty in relationships and daily life. Types include borderline, avoidant, and others. The term can sound heavy, but it is really a starting point for understanding patterns that often developed as ways of coping. These patterns can change with the right support, and a diagnosis does not define who you are.
How do I know if this applies to me?
You might notice recurring difficulties with emotions, self-image, or relationships that have been present for a long time and feel hard to shift. Intense emotions, fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, or a persistent sense of emptiness are examples people sometimes describe. Only a qualified clinician can assess this properly, and doing so is not about labelling you, but about finding the most helpful support.
Can therapy help with a personality disorder?
Yes. Personality difficulties are treatable, and structured, evidence-based therapies can help significantly. Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), schema therapy, and mentalisation-based approaches are commonly used, particularly for borderline patterns. These build skills for managing emotions, understanding relationships, and responding differently to distress. A steady, trusting therapeutic relationship is central, and change tends to build gradually over time.
How long does this kind of therapy take?
Therapy for personality-related difficulties is generally longer-term, because it works with patterns that developed over many years. Your psychologist will set goals with you and review progress regularly, and you stay in control of the pace. You do not need a referral to book, and a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan may provide Medicare rebates on individual sessions each calendar year.
What are the different types of personality disorders?
Personality disorders are usually grouped into three clusters. One cluster involves patterns that can seem withdrawn or mistrustful, another involves intense emotions and difficulties in relationships, including borderline and narcissistic patterns, and the third involves anxious or fearful patterns, such as avoidant and dependent. Many people do not fit neatly into one category, and the labels matter less than understanding your own patterns and finding support that genuinely helps.
Prefer to reach out directly? We're happy to help.