Personality refers to consistent ways we think, perceive, feel, and behave. Each of us has developed a personality that helps us move through life and the world. Our personality is a blend of the temperament we were born with, the environments to which we needed to adapt, and the interaction of the two. For some, what feels consistent is that the ways of experiencing life are too rigid. For others, the only thing that feels consistent in life is the experience of inconsistency. The ways in which you might have had to adapt to your environment, your caregivers and culture were likely helpful in that context but may be causing difficulties currently. Sometimes the very same thing about our personality that is helpful in some contexts (e.g., our work life) causes continual problems in others (e.g., our personal relationships).
Personality Difficulty
The therapy process at Chrysalis will always involve developing a better understanding of your unique personality and its relationship to your experience and choices. For some people, difficulties and disturbances are such that they seek psychotherapy to address what is considered a disorder of personality (e.g., borderline or narcissistic personality disorder). In these cases, the therapy relationship itself can be challenging but also a useful area of exploration.
At Chrysalis, we believe that understanding your personality is critical to providing context for your symptoms. Understanding who you are helps us make sense of what you are experiencing. Traditional disease-oriented models of psychology and treatment only address problems, or personality disorders. Our developmental model contains an appreciation for the range of personality types and dimensions, both strengths and needed areas of growth. Our doctors are experienced at assessing, understanding, and working with personality difficulties.