Personality Disorders: Comprehensive Assessment, Intervention Strategies, and Treatment Planning

This 4-week hybrid course provides an in-depth exploration of personality disorders across the lifespan, with a focus on accurate assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based intervention strategies. Participants will examine the full spectrum of personality disorders, including cluster A (odd/eccentric), cluster B (dramatic/emotional/erratic), and cluster C (anxious/fearful), as well as personality disorder traits that may present in subclinical forms.

The course integrates theoretical frameworks, developmental and neurobiological perspectives, and psychosocial contributors to personality pathology. Participants will develop skills in conducting structured clinical interviews, assessing functional impairment, and differentiating personality disorders from co-occurring psychiatric conditions.

Evidence-based interventions, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic approaches, will be emphasized. The hybrid format combines live interactive sessions, recorded lectures, applied exercises, case consultations, and reflective assignments, enabling participants to design individualized treatment plans, strengthen therapeutic engagement, and manage treatment challenges effectively.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Accurately identify and diagnose personality disorders using DSM-5-TR criteria
• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and evaluate functional impairment
• Develop individualized, evidence-based treatment plans tailored to personality pathology
• Apply psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions effectively, including DBT, CBT, and other approaches
• Integrate trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and ethical considerations into clinical practice
• Address relational, emotional, and behavioral challenges in clients with personality disorders
• Monitor treatment progress, manage countertransference, and implement strategies for long-term symptom management and functional improvement.