Personality Therapy

Given that problems with personality express themselves primarily through difficult personal relationships, it’s not uncommon for persons with personality disorders to seek help about relationships. Usually these relationship problems, like the personality itself, are long standing in nature. We could argue the personality functions something like the guardian of the psyche and aggressively counters any outside actions that attempt forced change. Psychotherapy then requires time and optimism.


The lifetime nature of personality requires motivation on the part of a patient to alter because of growing unhappiness. Change comes to personality malfunctions slowly and in small chunks. If therapy proceeds too quickly in an attempt to bring fast results the patient will usually become dissatisfied and quit. Gradual, structured therapies aimed on improving relationships tend to work better than therapies designed specifically to alter a lifetime personality. Most people appreciate harmony in their close partnerships and positive improvements to quality of life can bring positive changes to maladaptive personality traits.