What We Treat
Evidence-based, individualized treatment for personality disorders from licensed clinicians, in person in San Pedro or online.
A personality disorder is a long-standing pattern in how a person feels, thinks about themselves, and connects with others, a pattern that causes real pain and keeps getting in the way. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is the most common reason people seek this kind of care. It often shows up as emotions that arrive fast and hit hard, a deep fear of being abandoned, relationships that swing between very close and very distant, and a sense of self that feels unstable. These are not flaws of character. They are patterns that formed for understandable reasons, and they respond to treatment.
Feelings that arrive fast, overwhelm, and are hard to bring down.
Frantic efforts to avoid being left, even when no one is leaving.
Connections that feel all-or-nothing, stormy, or swing close to distant.
Impulsive actions, self-harm, or thoughts of suicide.
A shaky or changing sense of who you are.
Chronic feelings of being empty or hollow inside.
Personality patterns rarely travel alone, and the same emotional pain often shows up in more than one form. Our clinicians treat the whole picture rather than a single label. Each area below has a page that explains how we approach it.
Trauma often sits underneath these patterns, so we address its effects rather than the surface symptoms.
Chronic worry and tension that frequently ride alongside emotional intensity and fear of abandonment.
Low mood and emptiness that often accompany unstable relationships and a shifting sense of self.
Sudden surges of fear that can break through when emotions run high and fast.
Fear of judgment and rejection that can deepen the difficulty in close relationships.
Impulsivity and emotional dysregulation overlap with ADHD, so we look at the whole pattern.
We move at a pace you can manage and treat you as a whole person, not a diagnosis. Personality patterns rarely travel alone, so we treat the full picture, including the trauma that often sits underneath these patterns.
Our anchor approach and the most researched treatment for BPD. DBT pairs acceptance with change: concrete skills for riding out intense emotions, tolerating distress, staying present, and handling relationships while building a life that feels worth living.
Trauma often sits underneath these patterns. We address its effects rather than treating the symptoms in isolation.
We treat co-occurring anxiety and depression as part of the full picture, not as separate problems.
| Approach | Best suited for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| DBT | Emotional storms, impulsivity, and unstable relationships | Pairs acceptance with change and teaches concrete skills to ride out intense emotions and steady relationships. |
| Trauma care | Patterns rooted in past trauma | Addresses the trauma underneath rather than the symptoms in isolation. |
| Anxiety & depression care | Co-occurring worry or low mood | Treats them as part of the full picture, not separate problems. |
Starting therapy should feel clear, not overwhelming. Here is how it works at Coastwise.
We start with a short, private conversation to understand what you are dealing with and what you want from therapy.
We pair you with a licensed clinician trained in DBT who fits what you are working through, not whoever happens to be free.
Your clinician builds a plan with you and works at a pace you can manage, so progress feels steady and sustainable.
We work with adults and teens living with borderline and other personality patterns, from people who have never been formally diagnosed but recognize themselves here, to those who have tried treatment before and want something more structured. If trauma, anxiety, or depression are part of your story, we treat those alongside the core work.
See us in person at our San Pedro office or work with a clinician securely online anywhere in California. DBT and skills practice translate well to telehealth, and using new skills in your own daily environment is often an advantage.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has the strongest research support for borderline personality disorder. It teaches skills for managing intense emotions, reducing self-destructive behavior, and building steadier relationships. We use it as our anchor approach and adapt the work to you.
Yes. This is one of the most hopeful and misunderstood areas in mental health. With consistent, skills-based treatment, symptoms like emotional storms, impulsivity, and unstable relationships often ease significantly over time, and many people go on to build a life that feels stable and their own.
Personality disorders involve long-standing patterns in how a person experiences themselves, regulates emotion, and relates to others, patterns that cause real distress and get in the way of the life they want. This is not a character flaw, and it is not your fault. It is a treatable pattern.
Yes. While borderline personality disorder is the most commonly treated, the same skills-based and relational work helps with other personality patterns. We start by understanding your specific experience rather than fitting you to a label.
Yes. DBT and the skills work that goes with it translate well to secure video. We see clients in person in San Pedro and virtually across California.
Personality patterns respond to the right approach. Call us for a free, confidential consultation and we will match you to a clinician trained in DBT.
Call (424) 536-3002 Get Started