Group psychotherapy treatment of borderline personalities

Borderline personalities have been treated in psychotherapy groups for over 40 years. This article elaborates some of the characteristics pertinent to the treatment of these patients. Combined treatment of group and individual therapy addresses the needs for object constancy, the integration of object and self representations, and the possibility of attachment to others. Collaboration with individual therapists in this process is essential and there are specific conditions that allow this to occur as well as guidelines to help them make referrals. Cotherapy can be especially beneficial if the cotherapy team is knowledgeable and experienced. The group therapist must have special training and supervision to conduct groups of such intensity and affectively laden content.