According to the American Psychiatric Association, a personality disorder is characterized by a way of feeling, thinking, and behaving that deviates from cultural expectations, causes distress, and persists over time. There are 10 different personality disorders currently listed in the DSM-5, and they each present their own characteristics; however, a person can also have multiple personality disorders.
Personality disorder training for therapists is available in the form of continuing education (CE) hours. The assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a personality disorder may be conducted by a certified personality disorder treatment provider (C-PD)—an independently licensed mental health professional—which includes counselors, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists and psychoanalysts, social workers, and marriage and family therapists. Certification courses are offered by PESI through Evergreen Certifications, among other options. One can also attain certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, the main approach for addressing borderline personality disorder, and take individual courses offering CE hours to meet certification requirements and renewals.
Keep reading to learn more about the various resources available to therapists seeking to learn more about personality disorders and treat those who are living with them.
Personality Disorders DSM-5 Criteria
A personality disorder has been described as “a deep-seated maladaptive style that is part of the person’s personality. This maladaptive style is pervasive and longstanding, from the teenage years onward.” For a diagnosis to be made, symptoms and long-term patterns of behavior must be evaluated by the clinician, and a diagnosis is only made when clients are 18 years of age or older.
There are 10 personality disorders listed in the DMS-5, which include borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder. Personality disorders are divided into clusters. Cluster A refers to schizoid, paranoid, and schizotypal personality disorders; Cluster B refers to borderline, antisocial, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorders; whereas Cluster C relates to avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
The DMS-5 criteria for a personality disorder currently “offers a dimensional view toward personality disorder” that views “the constructs of personality functioning (Criterion A) and maladaptive personality traits (Criterion B) as core components of personality pathology.” *
Within the specific personality disorders, certain criteria of features must be present for a diagnosis. Treatment for each personality disorder depends on the client’s circumstances, the severity of symptoms, the specific disorder, and other considerations.
* This Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders criteria lies under the “Emerging Measures and Models” section of the manual.
Evergreen Certifications
In order to be eligible for certification as a Certified Personality Disorder Treatment Provider (C-PD), professionals must have earned a minimum of a master’s degree, hold a state or national license, have completed all the training and supervised hours to be eligible for clinical practice, and complete 18 hours of continuing education in personality disorders coursework.
One must also attest that they have at least 100 hours of contact hours with a client with “personality disorder traits and/or diagnosis,” and apply for certification by submitting documents with proof of eligibility.
The 18 hours of CE course materials listed by Evergreen include the following education criteria:
- Screening and Assessment: This part involves the learning of what a personality disorder is, as well as its development and what differentiates it from other clinical disorders, and tools of clinical assessment.
- Identification: Covering the 10 personality disorders and their symptoms, it equips a clinician to distinguish among them.
- Diagnosis: This focuses on the use of current diagnostic models to enable an accurate diagnosis.
- Treatment Interventions: This covers “appropriate treatment recommendations, interventions, and goals for each personality disorder” as well as cursory knowledge of psychopharmacology and their efficacy.
- Suicide and Crisis Management: Here the focus is on self-harm risk assessment, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), chronic suicidal ideation, as well as violence and manipulation.
- Clinical Considerations: This covers personality disorders across the life of a client and the impact of personality disorders on their close relationships.
- Ethical Considerations: Professional boundaries and transference/countertransference issues are examined in this part.
A renewal of certification is required and may be granted for a period of one to three years. Depending on the length of validity of each renewal period, the applicant is asked to submit additional proof of “personality-focused continuing education” courses. For a one-year renewal, this amounts to six CE hours, whereas a two- and three-year renewal requires 12 and 18 CE hours, respectively.
PESI Training
Evergreen pre-approved training for C-PD certification is offered by PESI. Designed for mental health professionals without much knowledge of personality disorders, the course draws on real-life case examples and examines the “neurobiological, genetic, and developmental roots of personality disorders.”
Taught by Dr. Gregory Lester, this is an online course with a test at the end. After completing the test, you can print your certificate of completion and submit a certification questionnaire.
The course covers the following topics, among other learning objectives:
- Identification of a personality disorder and how to differentiate it from mental health symptoms
- Examining the “significant problems typically created by clients with personality disorders” as well as clinical strategies for managing symptoms
- Implementing treatment interventions
- Adapting treatment strategies for personality disorders within the dynamics of family therapy and couple therapy
- Developing a strong “therapeutic alliance” with clients
- How to choose an intervention approach for the individual client and identify the treatability level of clients
- Developing effective treatment goals for clients within certain clusters of personality
- Examining the benefits and risks of intervention approaches
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Certification Training Course
PESI lists a 4-day intensive certification training course offered through a digital seminar. As the main treatment for borderline personality disorder, its use has been expanded to address other concerns and disorders. It claims to cover “DBT from theory to clinical application, including the use of diary cards, behavioral analysis, contingency management, and multi-layered validation,” as well as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness modules.
Free NAADAC Webinar
The Association for Addiction Professionals offers 1.5 continuing education hours for viewing a webinar titled “Working with Individuals Diagnosed with Personality Disorders.” One can earn a CE certificate for viewing the webinar in its entirety, pass the quiz at the end of it, and complete a survey evaluation. While the webinar is free to NAADAC members, it charges $20 for non-members to access the quiz.
Other CE Courses in Personality Disorders
Mindful Continuing Education offers a course with two continuing education hours for identifying and addressing the unique challenges of clients with personality disorders. Its aim is to introduce coping strategies and reduce symptoms. It also discusses diagnosis and comorbid conditions, clinicians’ difficulties in treating clients, and reviews treatment options, as well as routes to certification.
Free Six-Module Course On Borderline Personality Disorder
Offered by the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder, this educational series was created to help professionals acquire basic principles for the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. In 20-minute increments, it features interactive quizzes, narrated slides, and videos. However, the course does not provide a certificate of completion.
How Therapists May Benefit From Online Therapy
Mental health professionals experience many challenges in their professional and personal lives. If you suspect that you could benefit from receiving support in navigating stress-related concerns or other issues, you may wish to consider online therapy—a straightforward way to speak to a licensed therapist who matches your criteria.
BetterHelp, for instance, enables you to connect with a therapist by phone, video conferencing, or in-app messaging. This may be especially helpful when you have a busy life or career and need a therapist who can accommodate your schedule. By tending to your own mental well-being outside of sessions with your clients, you may be able to show up more equipped, refreshed, and prepared to offer them effective support.
The Efficacy Of Online Therapy In Addressing Personality Disorders
Researchers have assessed the efficacy of online interventions in treating a range of mental health concerns, including personality disorders. In a comprehensive assessment of several different studies, they found that individuals with symptoms of borderline personality disorder experienced significant reductions in their symptoms after participating in online therapy. Users also rated their satisfaction with the intervention as moderate to high, reporting that it was relatively easy to use.
Takeaway
Defined by a way of feeling, thinking, and behaving that deviates from cultural expectations, causes distress, and persists over time, personality disorders can be difficult to distinguish from mental health symptoms and may be complex to treat. Therapists who receive continuing education and training in these disorders can benefit by learning about various ways to identify, diagnose, and treat the different types of personality disorders. Those who expand their knowledge and skills in this area can make a difference in the lives of people living with a personality disorder. If you’re seeking personal or professional support as you navigate your life or career, consider reaching out to a therapist for support—whether online or in your local area.
