Personality Disorder Treatment

Personality disorders are mental health conditions that affect how a person thinks about themselves and others, how they respond emotionally, how they relate to other people, and how they control their behavior. At Ascend Psychiatry & Therapy in Tukwila, Washington, we provide understanding, non-judgmental psychiatric care for individuals living with personality disorders.

Understanding Personality Disorders

Personality disorders involve long-standing patterns of thinking and behavior that differ significantly from cultural expectations and cause distress or problems in functioning. People with personality disorders may struggle to form and maintain interpersonal relationships, adapt to changing demands of life, and recognize how their behavior patterns contribute to their difficulties. These are not character flaws but medical conditions that respond to treatment.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

BPD is one of the most commonly treated personality disorders. It is characterized by intense fear of abandonment, unstable relationships that alternate between idealization and devaluation, an unstable sense of self, impulsive and self-destructive behaviors, chronic feelings of emptiness, intense and rapidly shifting emotions, and difficulty controlling anger. Despite the challenges BPD presents, effective treatments exist and many people experience significant improvement.

Other Personality Disorders

We also provide evaluation and treatment for other personality disorders including Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (distinct from OCD), and others. Each requires a tailored approach that considers the individual's unique experiences and challenges.

Our Treatment Approach

Ethiopia Zerfu, ARNP, PMHNP-BC, provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and medication management to address symptoms such as mood instability, impulsivity, anxiety, and depression that often accompany personality disorders. We also coordinate care with therapists specializing in evidence-based treatments such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Our approach emphasizes empowerment, validation, and collaboration in treatment planning.

We serve patients throughout Washington State through in-person appointments in Tukwila and secure telepsychiatry visits.