Personality disorders often impact relationships and the way young people approach interactions or certain situations. They may always be understood by their peers, which can often lead to bullying. Our clinical approach is designed to dispel any myths or misinformation, and give them more information about their disorder. The better they understand their condition, the better they’ll be able to spot triggers and develop healthy coping mechanisms. 

Some of our clinical treatment options include:

• Family therapy
• One-to-one therapy
• Expressive arts therapy
• Somatic therapy 
• Self-love techniques
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Group therapy

Most young people who come through our doors will experience better results when clinically approved medication is combined with therapeutic and holistic therapy sessions.

Our medical director approves and monitors each person’s medical treatment and maintains regular communication with our therapists. Our team has years of experience in child and adolescent mental health, and we pay specific attention to the different medical needs of children compared to adults. We have a policy of ensuring that the young people we work with and their families are part of the planning process for any medical treatment or treatment changes.

Our goal is to provide the most effective treatment for every young person we meet. Some examples of medication we may prescribe young people with personality disorders include:

• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotic medication
• Mood stabilisers
• Anti-anxiety medication

Personality disorders can often make it difficult for young people to make friends at school and concentrate on their studies properly. With treatment and support, however, there’s no reason why they can’t flourish. At The Wave, we believe every young person deserves equal and fair educational opportunities, so we’ve created a program that enables them to develop skills and certifications while working towards recovery.

 Every young person has so much ahead of them, and we’re here to help them see their potential and realise their dreams. Alongside therapy and medical treatment, we provide a range of educational opportunities designed to bolster a young person’s confidence and skills for life outside of our clinic. Whatever their dream is, we’re here to help arm them with the tools needed to achieve it.

Some of the educational pathways we offer include:

• International GAP-year experiences
• Continuation of GCSEs and A-Levels
• Vocational courses (London School of Art, Royal Horticultural Society, Leith’s School of Cookery, and The British Horse Society)

Each young person will have their own personal learning plan (PLP) to help them stick to their goals and set the foundations for a solid future.

True recovery doesn’t happen through talking and support alone; it happens through action. While therapy, support, and traditional treatment methods are key to managing personality disorders, we believe it’s just as important that young people are given the chance to live and learn their recovery, heal themselves and take part in opportunities that help heal others. This is done through our global citizenship programme that pushes everybody to give back and help others in the community.

In a way, helping others and giving back to the community is a healing experience in itself and can help those suffering from personality disorders become more introspective and aware of how their actions can positively impact others. Volunteering opportunities can also help young people learn valuable skills like teamwork and develop a sense of community spirit.