BPD and Complex PTSD Therapy | Trauma Counselling
Therapy for Complex PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
You might be feeling emotionally overwhelmed, stuck in painful patterns, or exhausted from trying to hold everything together. Maybe relationships feel intense or unpredictable, or certain situations trigger reactions that are hard to make sense of.
At The Sereda Psychotherapy Group, we offer compassionate, trauma-informed therapy to help you make sense of your experiences, find steadier ground, and feel more connected to yourself, others and what is important to you.
Symptoms of C-PTSD and BPD
It can be helpful to understand and recognize the symptoms of these experiences, especially if they resonate with what you’re going through. That being said, we ask that you please avoid self-diagnosing since only a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or a registered psychologist, can provide a formal diagnosis.
Complex PTSD Symptoms
(according to the ICD-11)
- Re-experiencing the Trauma: Intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares about the traumatic events.
- Avoidance: Avoiding reminders of the trauma, including thoughts, feelings, people, places, and activities associated with the trauma.
- Negative Cognitions and Mood: Persistent negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world; feelings of detachment from others; and inability to experience positive emotions.
- Affective Dysregulation: Difficulty regulating emotions, frequent mood swings, and an overall sense of emotional instability.
- Disturbances in Relationships: Difficulty maintaining close relationships, feelings of isolation, and persistent distrust of others.
- Negative Self-Concept: Deep feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt, and self-blame related to the trauma.
- Hyperarousal: Increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, and sleep disturbances.
- Dissociation: Feelings of detachment from oneself or reality, experiencing the world as unreal, or having an altered sense of time.
- Somatic Symptoms: Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, and muscle tension related to stress and trauma.
Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms
(according to the DSM-IV)
- Intense Fear of Abandonment: Extreme efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
- Unstable Relationships: A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
- Identity Disturbance: Unstable self-image or sense of self.
- Impulsivity: Impulsive behaviors in areas such as spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, or binge eating.
- Recurrent Suicidal Behavior or Self-Harm: Suicidal gestures, threats, or self-mutilating behavior.
- Emotional Instability: Intense mood swings, often lasting only a few hours.
- Chronic Feelings of Emptiness: Persistent feelings of emptiness.
- Inappropriate Anger: Intense and inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger.
- Paranoia or Dissociation: Transient stress-related paranoia or severe dissociative symptoms.
Could I Experience Symptoms of Both?
Yes, it is possible to experience symptoms of both Complex PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder. These conditions often overlap, particularly for those with histories of chronic or relational trauma. Therapy can help untangle these experiences and support your healing process, regardless of diagnosis.
What’s the Difference Between BPD and C-PTSD?
These two conditions share many similarities, including emotional dysregulation and a history of trauma. The key difference often lies in their roots and expression:
- C-PTSD tends to center on chronic trauma, emotional flashbacks, and detachment.
- BPD is more associated with intense fear of abandonment, relationship struggles, and rapidly shifting self-image.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that your experience and presentation is unique, and you don’t need a formal diagnosis to start therapy. If any of these patterns sound familiar, we’re here to help.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that your experience and presentation is unique, and you don’t need a formal diagnosis to start therapy. If any of these patterns sound familiar, we’re here to help.
Meet Our Therapists & Start Your Therapy Journey
Our Approach to BPD and C-PTSD Therapy
We tailor therapy to your specific needs and goals, using evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches such as:
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Trauma-Informed Acceptance and
- Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Polyvagal-Informed Therapy
- Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices
Our goal is to create a safe space where you feel deeply understood, and where healing becomes possible, even when things have felt stuck for a long time.
How Therapy Can Help
Whether you’re living with Complex PTSD, BPD, or both, therapy can support you in:
- Regulating overwhelming emotions
- Building safer, more stable relationships
- Developing self-compassion and identity clarity
- Reprocessing trauma in a safe, validating environment
- Learning practical tools for grounding and emotional regulation and resilience
We offer virtual counselling across Canada with therapists who specialize in trauma, emotional dysregulation, and attachment injuries.
Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy for BPD or C-PTSD?
No. Many clients begin therapy based on their symptoms and experiences, not a formal diagnosis. We can explore this together at your own pace.
Is online therapy effective for BPD and Complex PTSD?
Yes. Virtual therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy, especially when the therapist is trained in trauma-informed care and emotional regulation techniques.
What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?
It’s normal to feel discouraged if past therapy didn’t meet your needs. The right therapist, with a relational and specialized approach, can make a big difference.
How long does therapy take?
It varies. Some people start to feel relief in a few sessions, while others engage in longer-term therapy. We’ll work with you to set the pace and goals that feel right.
What type of therapy is best for BPD?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is widely considered the gold standard for BPD, as it helps with emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and relationship skills. However, many clients also benefit from Emotion-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, trauma-informed care, and mindfulness-based approaches. What works best will depend on your unique history and individual needs.
What is the most effective therapy for Complex PTSD?
Effective therapy for Complex PTSD often includes a combination of approaches including DBT and therapies that support emotional regulation and self-compassion. What works best will depend on your unique history and nervous system responses.
What is the difference between complex trauma and Complex PTSD?
“Complex trauma” refers to the repeated, often interpersonal nature of traumatic experiences, such as (but not limited to) childhood neglect or abuse. “Complex PTSD” is the clinical term used to describe the lasting emotional and psychological effects of that trauma. You can experience complex trauma without meeting all the criteria for C-PTSD (in the ICD-11), but both are valid and can significantly impact the individual’s daily functioning.
Do you offer sliding scale or affordable therapy options?
We also offer sliding scale therapy and low-cost sessions ($35) with graduate intern therapists, so that cost is never a barrier to accessing support.
