9 Guidelines For Working With Children With Borderline Personality Disorder

Working with or having children with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be extremely disconcerting, especially when you don't have any at the ready guidelines to implement. Hopefully, this article will provide you with some easy to implement guidelines for working with these needy children.

Children with Borderline Personality Disorder often feel confused, particularly about goals, sexual identity and direction in life. They dislike being alone yet often have trouble maintaining relationships due to their unpredictable and often changing behavior. Children with BPD can be extremely difficult to work with. They may love you one minute and hate you the next. You may feel manipulated by them.

Some guidelines for working with children with Borderline personality Disorder are:

1. Expect sudden and intense changes in mood. A child with BPD is at high risk for self-injury or becoming enraged at others.

2. Be supportive but not overprotective. Children need to be responsible for their behavior.

3. Avoid Overacting. Although the child's behaviors can be upsetting, try to stay calm. Remember these are signs of illness. Don't blame the person.

4. Make contracts with the child, e.g. Set limits to prevent self-destructive behaviors.

5. Agree in advance on the consequences for breaking a rule.

6. Be consistent. At time you may feel guilty or believe you should be doing more. However, try to follow through with your agreements. When you avoid giving in to "borderline" children they learn what to expect from you.

7. Praise the child's progress.

8. Avoid criticism.

9. Don't dwell on minor setbacks. They will happen.

Always be consistent and quick to employ the three miracle workers: tenderness, love and compassion.

Idriys "Luke" Muhammad is a mobile therapist by day, delivering quality mental health services to children, youth, families and couples in their homes and in the community. Idriys has worked in the human/social services arena since 1989. He holds a masters in social science. Click this link to learn more about how to Empower Parents; Help Children. It's an investment that never ceases to return.

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