Behavior Therapy Online - The Therapy & Psychology Resource

Being in a relationship or close to someone with borderline personality disorder can be a challenge. Not every individual who is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder “looks” the same. However, there are some common characteristics and symptoms. Individuals with borderline personality disorder tend to have highly intense and unstable relationships. They also tend to become frantic when there is a threat that a relationship may end (e.g., some threaten to harm themselves if their significant other want to end the relationship). They may seem exhibit great need and demand that they get support on their time frame. They have an unstable view of themselves. They often are impulsive and engage in related behaviors that can be damaging (e.g., spending, gambling, and reckless driving). When upset (typically when faced with potential rejection) they may threaten to commit suicide or engage in self-harm behaviors (like cutting or burning). Some actually do go on to commit suicide.

IS YOUR CHILD EXHIBITING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS? DEPENDING ON THE AGE OF THE CHILD, WHAT IS TYPICALLY SEEN AS BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS WILL VARY. YOU MAY HAVE A TEENAGER WHO FAILS TO COME HOME AT NIGHT, FIGHTS IN SCHOOL (OR DOESN’T GO TO SCHOOL), ENGAGES IN VANDALISM, OR SHOPLIFTS. YOU ALSO MAY HAVE A TEENAGE WHO RARELY FOLLOWS RULES, TALKS BACK, AND IS GENERALLY DISRESPECTFUL (BUT DOES NOT ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR). ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, YOU MAY HAVE A PRESCHOOLER WHO IS BITING OTHER CHILDREN, HAVING EXCESSIVELY LONG TANTRUMS, OR HARMING THEMSELVES WHILE HAVING A TANTRUM.

With the widespread popularity of social media and a general increase in trust and ease with privacy online, behavior therapy online has gained some momentum as a viable option for many people. Engaging in behavior therapy online allows patients to access the help they need from wherever they are and it offers the possibility of asynchronous access to their therapist. In other words, they are no longer bound by scheduling appointments. Recipients of behavior therapy online have the added bonus of not having to travel to get the help they need. Depending on the circumstances of the individual, be it altered mobility issues or anxiety related barriers, this can be the difference between receiving therapy or not.
This is not to say that receiving behavior therapy online is for everyone. There are a number of circumstances that might make this the absolute wrong option for a patient. For example, if an individual is having problems with obsession, having something that they might monitor 24 hours a day and access as often as they feel the urge could be quite counterproductive. In these cases, the therapist needs to set strict guidelines for engagement, and perhaps even implement a technical restriction to prevent the over use of this mode of treatment.