At The Summit Wellness Group, located in Midtown Atlanta and Roswell, Georgia, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care to men and women who struggle with personality disorders through our mental health-only track.
Our personalized treatment programs, including PHP and IOP, are designed to address the unique challenges presented by personality disorders.
The Summit Wellness Group’s personality disorders treatment center in Atlanta, GA, provides a nurturing environment where clients can begin their transformative journey toward mental well-being.
Understanding Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are chronic mental health conditions characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience that deviate significantly from cultural norms, causing distress or impairment.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 9-15% of the U.S. adult population meets the criteria for at least one personality disorder, with higher prevalence in clinical settings.
In Georgia, the demand for specialized care is evident, as personality disorders often co-occur with other conditions like depression, anxiety, or substance abuse, complicating treatment.
The Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) categorizes personality disorders into three clusters:
Cluster A: Odd, Eccentric: This is the most common personality disorder, characterized by unusual, withdrawn, or suspicious behaviors and thought patterns.
- Paranoid Personality Disorder: pervasive distrust and suspicion of others.
- Schizoid Personality Disorder: emotional detachment and preference for solitary activities.
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder: eccentric behaviors, odd beliefs, and perceptual distortions.
Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional: Defined by intense, unstable emotions and impulsive or attention-seeking behaviors.
- Antisocial Personality Disorder: disregard for others’ rights, deceit, and lack of remorse.
- Borderline Personality Disorder: emotional instability, fear of abandonment, impulsive behaviors.
- Histrionic Personality Disorder: excessive attention-seeking and dramatic emotional expression.
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder: grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy.
Cluster C: Anxious, Fearful: Characterized by anxiety-driven, overly cautious, or rigid behaviors.
- Avoidant Personality Disorder: extreme social inhibition and fear of rejection.
- Dependent Personality Disorder: excessive reliance on others and difficulty making independent decisions.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: preoccupation with order, perfectionism, and control (not the same as OCD).
These conditions often emerge in adolescence or early adulthood and can persist without intervention, impacting relationships, work, and self-esteem.
What Personality Disorders Look Like
Personality disorders manifest through rigid and maladaptive patterns that affect how individuals perceive themselves and interact with others. Symptoms will vary by disorder, but most often include:
- Emotional Dysregulation: Intense, unstable emotions, as seen in BPD, where individuals may experience rapid mood swings or chronic feelings of emptiness.
- Interpersonal Challenges: Difficulty forming or maintaining relationships, such as mistrust in Paranoid Personality Disorder, or excessive neediness in Dependent Personality Disorder.
- Impulsivity: Reckless behaviors in Antisocial or Borderline Personality Disorders, including self-harm or substance misuse.
- Distorted Self-Image: Grandiosity in Narcissistic Personality Disorder or chronic feelings of inadequacy in Avoidant Personality Disorder.
- Cognitive Distortions: Suspicion in Paranoid Personality Disorder or black-and-white thinking in BPD.
Best Practices in How We Treat Personality Disorders
Treating personality disorders requires a nuanced, comprehensive approach, as these conditions are complex and often resistant to change.
Evidence-based therapies, supported by research, form the backbone of our effective treatment at The Summit Wellness Group, while our renowned holistic modalities enhance emotional and physical well-being.
Key psychotherapy strategies we utilize are:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Originally developed to treat BPD, DBT is highly effective for emotional dysregulation and impulsivity. It teaches skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps our clients identify and reframe maladaptive thought patterns, particularly useful for Cluster C disorders.
- Schema Therapy: This integrative approach targets deep-rooted beliefs (schemas) formed in childhood, addressing core issues.
- Group Therapy: Peer support fosters interpersonal skills and reduces isolation, which is crucial for disorders involving social dysfunction.
- Medication Management: While no medications are FDA-approved specifically for personality disorders, our treatment providers may prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics to address any co-occurring symptoms.
- Holistic Therapies: We offer all of our clients access to holistic care, such as yoga, mindfulness, art therapy, therapeutic fitness, massage therapy, meditation, and nutritional counseling, to support overall well-being, reduce stress, and enhance treatment outcomes.
Long-term treatment is often necessary, as personality disorders involve deep-rooted patterns and beliefs. A structured, supportive environment with individualized care plans is critical for sustained recovery.
Our Personality Disorder Treatment Programs
The Summit Wellness Group’s personality disorder treatment program is tailored to meet the unique challenges of these conditions. We offer PHP and IOP schedules to provide flexible, intensive care to our clients. The program integrates evidence-based and holistic therapies, delivered by a multidisciplinary team in a state-of-the-art facility designed for healing.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Our PHP is ideal for individuals with severe symptoms or those transitioning from inpatient care. Clients participate in treatment five days a week, several hours each day; however, they return home in the evening as this is not an inpatient program.
PHP is structured to provide intensive support while still allowing clients to maintain independence, making it suitable for all men and women who have any personality disorder.
A typical day of PHP may include:
- Individual Therapy: Clients will participate in CBT or DBT with their therapist to address personal triggers, deep-rooted traumas or patterns, and develop coping skills.
- Group Therapy: We offer structured group sessions that teach mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills through group DBT.
- Psychiatric Consultations: Clients will work with their treatment team to manage medications, monitor progress, and evaluate the program’s effectiveness.
- Holistic Activities: At The Summit Wellness Group, we offer a wide range of holistic services designed to reduce stress, enhance emotional regulation, and promote total body healing. Clients may participate in yoga, meditation, massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, therapeutic fitness, adventure activities, and more.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Our IOP is designed for clients who are stable enough to manage daily responsibilities but still require structured support.IOP accommodates work, school, and family commitments by offering several hours of treatment per week, with sessions three to five days out of the week in morning or evening blocks. It is ideal for clients stepping down from our PHP or those with moderate symptoms.
IOP components will include similar therapies to PHP. However, emphasis is placed on reinforcing skills learned in PHP or inpatient care for long-term recovery.
- Individual and group DBT and CBT with an emphasis on relapse prevention.
- Peer-led discussions to improve relationship dynamics and social skills.
- Family therapy is used to address the dynamics in family groups and build a supportive home environment.
Outpatient Program
As our lowest level of care, we provide clients with a traditional outpatient program that only requires a few hours a month. Typically, clients who have already completed IOP or PHP will use outpatient care as a form of continuing relapse prevention. Our clients can access group and individual therapies and participate in chosen holistic options if needed.
Outpatient care is not typically recommended as a client’s first line of defense. However, it is a handy tool for aftercare and continuing to receive support when necessary. Our treatment teams continue to work with clients, monitoring progress as they step down to more and more independence in their daily lives.
Our Renovated Facility
Our facility in Midtown Atlanta has been recently renovated to foster a sense of safety and luxury. With open spaces and client-painted murals, we’ve found a way to create a haven for all our clients in the heart of a city.
- Open, light-filled therapeutic spaces provide an excellent area for group therapy.
- Private counseling offices allow for confidentiality.
- We offer several spaces for yoga, massage therapy, and other holistic practices.
- Our facility offers several outdoor areas, perfect for resting in between sessions.
Accessibility and Community Impact
The Summit Wellness Group is committed to accessibility, accepting various insurance plans and offering financial assistance to reduce barriers. Our location is accessible to all in Georgia and beyond, allowing us to reach any men and women needing help. We also engage in community workshops and partnerships to raise awareness and spread our reach.
Start Your Journey Today
The Summit Wellness Group’s personality disorder treatment program is a beacon of hope for those navigating the challenges of personality disorders. By offering both PHP and IOP with a blend of evidence-based and holistic therapies, delivered in a renovated, client-centered facility, we empower individuals to achieve lasting recovery.
For more information for yourself or a loved one, call us today at (770) 790-4510 to begin your recovery journey. We are excited to introduce you to the family!