Since adolescence, I found myself drawn to psychology and to helping others, so it was only natural for me to move into helping others by studying psychology.

After completing my bachelor’s degree, and during my master’s training, I completed my clinical placement at a Personality Disorder Clinic. It was during this time, and throughout my 20 years of experience working in the Mental Health and Addiction fields, that I became drawn to the struggles of those with a personality disorder. Instead of taking a purely clinical approach, I chose to take a vested interest in the person sitting in front of me, in the obstacles they were facing, and in their journey to health through the proper techniques, but also through empathy and compassion. Being able to help not just in the diagnosis of the disorder, but also in the development of healthy interpersonal relationships, was greatly rewarding for me and for the people I was assisting. I realized that healthy inter and intrapersonal relationships made a difference and that with empathy, compassion, and understanding, I could uncover the root issues that were triggering symptoms, allowing the person to take back their life and start living it the way they were meant to.

Personality Disorders are the culmination of my passion for mental health and healing, and for letting those who have a personality disorder know that they are not their disorder. If you are one of those people with a personality disorder, or if you are supporting a loved one through their treatment right now, I want you to know that actioned knowledge is power.

Through the knowledge you will receive in this book, you too can live a happy, healthy, life in which you thrive, not just survive. Having a personality disorder does not define you, nor does it mean that you need to live a life in which you feel isolated, anxious, and depressed and your disorder should not dictate your life, nor should it dictate your happiness.