Working effectively with people who have received a diagnosis of personality disorder

Personality disorder is a contentious diagnostic label. High levels of stigma, and lack of knowledge are highlighted as being problematic and have led to many practitioners and people with lived experience calling for a change in its use. This paper explores this further by addressing some of the knowledge deficits and highlighting opportunities for self-reflection and analysis. It also focuses upon the importance of formulation for making sense of past experience, and as a tool to develop practitioner insight into suitable psychologically informed interpersonal approaches.