Personality disorders affect 9.1% of US adults, and the teenage years mark a critical period when signs—such as difficulties with emotional regulation, unstable relationships, and uncertain identity—often emerge. Teen personality disorder treatment provides the professional, structured support needed during this critical developmental window.
When adolescents experience symptoms of avoidant, narcissistic, or borderline personality disorder, our treatment program for teens offers comprehensive care, helping young people build emotional resilience and coping skills for lasting recovery.
Understanding the Need for Treatment
Personality disorder symptoms can fluctuate, making it difficult to know when to seek help. Signs your teen may need professional support may be immediately clear, or they may emerge gradually. You might notice your teen struggles with intense emotional shifts that seem to go beyond typical mood changes. Or you might see academic performance dip despite your teen’s best efforts. For some teens, these challenges can lead to substance use as a way to cope or “self-medicate” the emotional pain away. When these issues interfere with daily life, it may be time to seek treatment for teen personality disorders.
Muir Wood’s Approach to Treating Personality Disorder
Muir Wood’s expert clinical team brings extensive adolescent mental health and substance use treatment credentials and experience to every facet of our programs. We also offer highly specialized residential “primary mental health” programs for teen boys and teen girls. Primary refers to our focus on mental health issues in these programs.
Parents searching for a specialized personality disorder treatment center for their teen will find comprehensive support through our focused mental health treatment programs. Our approach offers several advantages—teens receive care not only for personality disorder symptoms but for the full spectrum of emotional and behavioral challenges they experience.
Personality disorders and substance use often intersect. We also have a separate dual-diagnosis teen treatment program that treats mental health difficulties along with a co-occurring substance use disorder. In addition to immediate recovery, we focus on helping teens develop the life skills necessary for sustained well-being.
Holistic Care Model
Within our primary mental health treatment program, we integrate multiple evidence-based therapeutic modalities to address and support the multifaceted nature of personality disorders.
- Individual Therapy: CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) can help identify and reshape unhelpful thought patterns; DBT (dialectical behavior therapy), known for its effectiveness with personality disorders, supports emotional regulation and interpersonal skills.
- Group Therapy: Structured group therapy sessions allow teens to connect with peers facing similar challenges. These groups offer real-time opportunities to receive supportive feedback and build social confidence.
- Family Therapy: At Muir Wood, it is imperative that parents become active participants in their teen’s recovery. Regular virtual family therapy sessions open communication and help create a stronger support structure. Because teens with personality disorders can struggle to form trusting relationships, building interpersonal skills within the family system can be an important part of healing.
Medication Management
With careful assessment and ongoing evaluation, we create and adjust clinical treatment plans that may include medication. Regular psychiatric consultations ensure appropriate medication management when prescribed and approved by parents and guardians while maintaining a focus on holistic healing and life skills development.
Experiential Therapies
Beyond traditional counseling, teens engage in meaningful experiences with peers, such as fitness, outdoor activities, yoga, meditation, art and music therapy. These activities build confidence and resilience while providing healthy channels for emotional expression and processing.
Academic Support
Treatment doesn’t come at the cost of educational stability. We integrate educational support into our treatment programs. The Muir Wood Learning Centers work closely with each teen’s school to maintain educational continuity and reduce stress associated with academic performance.
Success Stories
Muir Wood measures treatment outcomes through the observation of real-world improvements in teen lives. Teens who complete our program typically show significant gains in emotional stability, relationship skills, along with decreases in stress, depression, and anxiety. Read more about our successful treatment outcomes.
Taking the Next Step
If you’re concerned about your teen’s emotional well-being, know there is hope for the future. Our admissions team provides confidential consultations to help you understand your options and determine if Muir Wood’s treatment programs align with your teen’s needs. Submit a Teen Treatment Assessment form, contact us, or call 866-705-0828 to learn more about how teen personality disorder treatment can power your child’s recovery journey.
Teen Personality Disorder Treatment FAQ
Common patterns include borderline traits, which involve intense emotions and relationship difficulties; avoidant personality traits, characterized by extreme social anxiety and feelings of inadequacy; and narcissistic traits, which can manifest as difficulties with empathy and extreme sensitivity to criticism. Displaying these traits doesn’t necessarily mean a teen has a personality disorder, but identifying traits can aid in relevant diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosing personality disorders in teens considers the whole picture of a teen’s emotional and behavioral health. Providers conduct thorough assessments, including interviews with both teens and parents and careful evaluation of symptoms. It’s common in these assessments to screen for co-occurring conditions like anxiety or depression and evaluate teens for substance use to account for all aspects of their well-being.
The total treatment duration varies based on each teen’s unique needs, symptoms, and response to therapy. Some teens may show significant improvement within a few short months, while others benefit from longer-term support. The goal is sustainable well-being, which can take time and different forms of support. We regularly assess progress and adjust treatment plans accordingly. Our recommended length of stay is typically 30-90 days.
Without appropriate treatment, personality disorders can lead to academic struggles, strained relationships with family and peers, and increased risk of substance use disorders. Early intervention can help teens develop healthy coping skills, improve relationship patterns, and build a stronger foundation for their future emotional well-being.