Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Center in Alexandria

Learn more about BPD treatment at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, LA

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious, chronic mental illness affecting about 1.6% of adults in the U.S. If you have BPD, you may find that your moods are unstable, fluctuating frequently from one extreme to another and that your relationships are sometimes strained. You may find yourself engaging in reckless, risky, or impulsive behaviors that put your health and wellbeing in danger, or that compromise the safety of others. It may be difficult for you to keep a job, succeed in school, or meet your daily responsibilities. The symptoms of BPD can prevent you from living the healthy, happy life you deserve, but with the proper treatment, you can learn to manage your symptoms and break free from the grasp of BPD.

At Longleaf Hospital, we understand that finding effective care for BPD can be challenging sometimes and that your treatment plan may vary from others. We’re prepared to help you find the right combination of therapies and medical interventions that are effective in helping you meet your goals for recovery. At our Alexandria, LA center, we work with individuals and families whose lives have been impacted by BPD, and we can help you and your loved ones heal from this condition.

Helping a loved one get treatment for BPD

When you witness a family member or loved one undergoing extreme shifts in moods and behavior, you may feel scared or helpless. While your loved one’s experience with BPD may have negatively impacted your life, you likely still want what’s best for him or her, and you may know that an inpatient treatment program is the ideal way to treat borderline personality disorder. However, since you may not know how to approach the topic, please consider the following points:

• One of the most important things you can do for your loved one is to learn as much as you can about BPD, the symptoms, and the treatments available. This may help you understand what your loved one is going through, and allow you to practice more patience. It will also allow you to be a better advocate for your loved one.
• Research options for treatment centers in your loved one’s area that treat BPD, and encourage your loved one to make an appointment to talk to the intake staff to learn more about the center or clinic.
• Once you’ve decided on a center, arrange a tour of the facility with your loved one to reduce some of his or her anxiety about entering an inpatient treatment program.
• Above all, assure your loved one that you will support him or her throughout the whole process.

Individuals who have a loved one suffering from BPD need support as well, and this is why talking to a therapist or joining a support group can be a lifeline for you as you encourage your friend or family member to seek care. Practice good self-care throughout this important time, and engage in activities that can rejuvenate you.

Why consider treatment for BPD at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, LA

Given the fluctuation in mood and symptoms that accompany BPD, many people are sadly not properly diagnosed with the disorder, preventing them from getting the help they desperately need to heal. Without support, they may want to hurt themselves or other people as a way of expressing emotions they cannot put into words. They may feel empty inside, and may even consider thoughts of ending their own lives.

Since BPD affects interpersonal relationships, these individuals may find that loneliness overwhelms them, and feel as though they have no one to turn to. Many people who have BPD also have another type of mental disorder, which can make seeking treatment an even more critical endeavor.

An inpatient program that specializes in the treatment of borderline personality disorder is an ideal solution if you’re ready to recover from living with BPD. An inpatient program will allow you the opportunity to escape from the stresses of everyday life and allow you to focus on the one thing that truly matters – getting better. Spending time in an inpatient center will allow your treatment team to coordinate care among the doctors, psychologists, nurses, and support staff so that they can best help you. Your medication may be adjusted or changed entirely under the careful watch of medical health professionals and tweaked as needed to meet and exceed your treatment goals.

At Longleaf Hospital, we only use the most empirically-validated and scientifically-sound treatments available for treating borderline personality disorder. Our multidisciplinary team will work alongside you and your family as you address the symptoms of the disorder, and we’ll support you in every step of the way. With the proper treatment, you can live a healthy happy life with BPD.

Types of BPD treatment offered at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, LA

Located in Alexandria, LA, Longleaf Hospital is the area’s leading provider of individualized psychiatric care for children, adolescents, teens, and adults who are suffering from BPD and a host of other conditions. Having recently completed a full upgrade of clinic facilities in 2015, Longleaf offers a tranquil setting in which to heal. Our hospital is set amongst a peaceful wooded area but is easily accessible off of highway 28 near the Alexandria Coliseum.

At Longleaf Hospital, we seek to provide the highest level of psychiatric care while treating each child, adolescent, and adult. Our program’s mission is to support long-term success for patients both during treatment at this clinic and after they return home. This is accomplished through the work of our expert team of highly qualified mental health and medical staff who are committed to providing dignity in treatment and to empowering patients to lead healthy, productive lives.

Patients who come to Longleaf may be struggling with a wide variety of psychiatric concerns, and treatment for BPD will consist of various supports that are tailored to address each patient’s unique strengths and challenges. For adult patients who are struggling with a co-occurring substance use disorder in addition to BPD, Longleaf is pleased to provide comprehensive care to address chemical dependencies of many types, including addictions to alcohol, benzodiazepines, heroin, opioids, marijuana, PCP, methamphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogenic, synthetics, and more.

Options for treatment at our clinic span the continuum of care and include several options in order to provide the ideal treatment environment for every patient. We are also proud to offer specialized supports for active and retired military personnel and their dependents.

Upon admission, each patient is thoroughly assessed prior to beginning services at Longleaf, and a personalized plan of care is devised to encourage the most beneficial outcomes possible, no matter what level of care the patient is engaged in.

Short-term acute inpatient care is offered for children and adolescents ages 11-17 and adults ages 18 and above. In this setting, patients can receive a variety of supportive services designed to help them overcome symptoms of BPD, including:

• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)
• Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT)
• Medically assisted, supervised detoxification programming
• 12-Step based services
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Medical services from nurse practitioners and doctors

In addition to the treatment modalities listed above, all children, adolescents, and adults who seek care at Longleaf will have access to the following therapies:

• Family therapy: Family therapy is offered twice weekly and is designed to engage a patient’s loved ones in his or her recovery journey, to heal damaged relationships, and to increase the functionality of the family unit.
• Group therapy: All patients at Longleaf will have many opportunities to participate in group therapy. Offered daily, this intervention is used to help patients learn from each other, and to combat the sense of isolation that is common amongst those suffering from the symptoms of mental illness, including BPD. Group discussions are varied but could include topics such as anger management, impulse control, coping skills, and discharge planning.
• Medication management: If an individual’s symptoms can be effectively treated with prescription medications, our team can include medication management services into his or her personalized treatment plan. All medication decisions will involve the input and consent of the individual in treatment and/or his or her parents or guardians.
• Individual therapy: Master’s level social workers provide this one-on-one service to allow all patients to process issues from the past and present that have contributed to the onset of symptoms of BPD. In this private, confidential setting, individuals can discuss the challenges and successes that arise in treatment, and make a plan for continued success after leaving Longleaf.

At Longleaf Hospital, we are proud to have a long history of providing superior service to active duty military members, veterans, and their families. Our military support efforts are led by our medical director, a retired Army colonel who works closely with all military members who heal at Longleaf. We do not have a specialized treatment track for military members, but we ensure that the unique issues and challenges that are experienced by members of the military community are addressed in each patient’s personalized treatment plan, and we place a premium on ensuring that all military-affiliated patients receive the customized care that will best prepare them for long-term success.

In addition to Longleaf Hospital’s acute inpatient care program, the partial hospitalization program (PHP) is another option for support that is available to adult patients age 18 and above. PHP at Longleaf, which typically spans a time period of 2 to 6 weeks, has been proven successful in addressing BPD. This option is suitable for patients who require a high level of support, but who are able to return to their home environments in the evening.

Programming within this level of care is based on 12-Step ideology, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing. Medication management is also available within PHP at Longleaf, and patients can meet with a psychiatrist twice per week while in this program. Individual, family and group therapies are also provided, as well as thorough discharge planning.

The least acute option for care for BPD at Longleaf Hospital is the intensive outpatient program (IOP). This form of support can be used as a step-down level of care from other programs, or for adults age 18 and above who do not require a higher level of care. Typically lasting 8 to 12 weeks, IOP at Longleaf consists of medication management services and various time-tested therapeutic techniques designed to address symptoms of BPD.

Get more information about treatment for BPD

The admissions staff at Longleaf is available to speak with referral sources and prospective patients and their families 24/7. Upon contacting Longleaf, a licensed intake counselor can provide an initial assessment, and answer any questions that you may have about healing at our hospital. The decision to seek care for borderline personality disorder may be a difficult one, but the compassionate professional team at Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, is here to ensure that you find the very best support for yourself or a loved one.