Evidence-Based Treatments for Personality Disorders

Description

Evidence-Based Treatments for Personality Disorders is Module Two of the 2-course Personality Disorders Counseling Certificate (PDCC). For more information on the PDCC and discounted enrollment in the full program, please visit this page.

When you’re treating personality disorders, insight alone rarely changes the patterns that keep showing up in-session—because rather than having a conversation about the problem, clinicians treating personality disorders need to be capable of having a conversation with the problem, in real time, inside the therapeutic relationship. This training focuses on the advanced, crucial skill of making accurate process observations “in the here and now” so you can work effectively with the patterns as they unfold, without drifting into name-calling or getting pulled into the very cycles you’re trying to help clients change.

In this training, you’ll be guided through a structured, evidence-based approach that helps you move beyond discussing diagnoses and into doing the work that actually shifts entrenched interpersonal and behavioral cycles—especially when the therapy itself becomes the “lab” where those cycles emerge.

Jeff Riggenbach, Ph.D., brings 20 years of clinical experience and specialized training to this topic, having trained personally with Marsh Linehan, as well as with Drs. Aaron and Judith Beck at The Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, and Dr. George Lockwood at the Midwest Schema Therapy Institute. Drawing from that foundation, he developed an integrated DBT/CBT/Schema Therapy model that has treated over 600 patients with borderline and other personality disorders over a 15-year period in two different psychiatric hospitals and outpatient clinics, and he has consulted faculties and trained clinicians in all 50 United States and 9 countries around the world on this topic.

Jeff’s teaching style is highly applied and “tricks of the trade” focused, blending didactic instruction with real-life case examples, “video case studies,” and practical tools you can use immediately in both individual and group settings. As you will discover in this training, the goal is not simply to understand these presentations, but to learn how to intervene skillfully when the dynamics show up in the room.

Across the training, you’ll take a deep dive into an integrated model for treating personality disorders, including eight evidence-based treatments and five essential things to know before treating this population effectively. You’ll learn how early maladaptive schemas and modes drive target behaviors (including historical, cultural, and environmental risk factors), how to build clear case conceptualization diagrams that support treatment planning, agenda setting, and documentation, and how to apply DBT/CBT/Schema-focused skills—ending with relapse prevention and “ending treatment well.”

Key Takeaways:

• Evidence-based treatment clarity: Leave with a clear, practical map of multiple evidence-based approaches so you can choose and apply interventions more confidently with complex personality presentations.
• Schema-driven case conceptualization: Build usable case conceptualization diagrams and schema/mode formulations that directly inform treatment planning, session structure, and documentation.
• Stronger endings and relapse prevention: Apply structured relapse-prevention strategies that fit the course of care and help clients break long-standing cycles with a plan for maintaining gains.

Why This Course?

• Advanced “here-and-now” skill-building: This course centers on the crucial ability to make process observations in the moment—so you can address the pattern as it happens, not only talk about it afterward.
• Integrated model grounded in deep training + real-world application: You’ll learn an approach shaped by Jeff’s training with leaders in DBT, CBT, and Schema Therapy and refined through extensive clinical work treating this population over time.
• Practical, clinician-ready teaching: Through didactic teaching, real-life case examples, and “video case studies,” you’ll gain tools you can use immediately to motivate an unmotivated population, strengthen collaboration, and renew your hope in what’s possible with these clients.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss 8 evidence-based treatments for personality disorders.
• Describe 5 characteristics unique to treating these diagnoses effectively.
• Explain 18 early maladaptive schemas driving target behaviors, including historical, cultural, and other environmental risk factors influencing them.
• Design case conceptualization diagrams to drive treatment planning, agenda setting, and documentation.
• Describe 3 schema modes in narcissism and design mode work strategies.
• Compare the 2 types of relapse prevention sessions with the typical course of care sessions.

If you want to treat personality-disordered behavior with deeper level, evidence-based strategies that strengthen collaboration and promote long-lasting, meaningful change, this training will give you a structured way forward. You’ll walk away with a clearer framework for staying grounded, making accurate “in-the-room” observations, and guiding sessions toward real behavioral and relational change—especially when the work gets challenging.

Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course that offers over 6 hours of recorded video instruction, a post-test and a course evaluation.

Course Details

Availability: 

From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: 

This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: 

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to Attend: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Jeff Riggenbach, Ph.D.

Jeff Riggenbach, PhD, is a best-selling and award-winning author/speaker/clinician who has trained audiences in all 50 United States, Canada, Mexico, The UK, Ireland, Malta, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. He has devoted the past 25 years to developing advanced expertise in cognition and personality. He personally trained at The Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy and Research to develop his hospital's Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Program, which has not treated over 500 patients with BPD across multiple levels of care. He has since developed and directed cognitive-behavioral based programs for Depression, Anxiety Disorders, and Addictive Behavior Disorders. Jeff's approach of taking evidence-based treatments and presenting them in ways that can be used by everyday clinicians "in the trenches" has earned him the nickname "The Practical Toolbox Guy," and his trainings often receive the highest marks from conference participants.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 6 continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists: 

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 6 clinical continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 360 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
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• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement