Personality Disorder

A Treatment Center for Personality Disorders

Few treatment centers licensed by the state of California Department of Health Services are actually licensed to treat psychiatric patients in a residential treatment facility. Avalon Malibu operates two such treatment centers, the Grand House and the Cottage House. Both facilities are the only centers in Malibu with direct access to the beach. The Grand House, which is licensed under the California Department of Social Services (DSS) and certified by both the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Department of Health Services (DHS), is mainly used for personality disorder therapy and treatment.

Personality disorders are a group of mental illnesses involving long-term patterns, behaviors and thoughts that are inflexible and unhealthy. These behaviors and thoughts cause serious problems within relationships and daily lives. People with personality disorders have trouble dealing with everyday situations, stresses and problems.

Causes of Personality Disorders

The cause of personality disorder is unknown, though childhood experiences and possibly genes may play a role. The symptoms can be mild to extreme, and differ according to each patient.

Some patients with personality disorders may have trouble realizing that they have a problem. To those patients, their thoughts and behaviors are normal. They often blame others for their problems, but because of their problems with relationships or work, they not may try to get help.

Personality disorder refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. There are two areas of focus in the study of personality disorders. The first is the understanding of how parts of a person can come together as a whole. The second refers to characteristics such as sociality or irritability.

Genetics, abuse and other factors can contribute to personality disorders. To be diagnosed with a personality disorder, a behavioral pattern must cause an impairment or significant distress in a patient’s personal, social or professional life. Often individuals reach the age of 20 or even 30 before being diagnosed. They lead fairly normal lives and don’t seek psychotherapeutic treatment until stress or social demands increase. Everyone can relate in some way with typical personality disorders, but the difference is that those disorders do not affect the average person’s daily life functioning.

Avalon Malibu’s Personality Disorder Therapy

At Avalon Malibu, we believe that we are not defined by the issues that we face every day. We believe that those issues invite us to look at the choices that we make and the realities we create for ourselves in our lives. We use what we call the Avalon Sanctuary Model to assist our clients in gaining a greater insight into the root causes of pain. At Avalon, the causes can become stepping stones to a future of choice instead of compulsion. The Avalon Sanctuary Model combines the mind, body and spirit of our clients to bring out potential rather than pathology. We want our clients to embrace their past experiences, because we believe that this acceptance leads them to a doorway of freedom.

The Grand House

Step into the Grand House at Avalon Malibu, an oceanfront sanctuary that redefines mental health treatment. Far from the sterile feel of a hospital, our serene estate provides highly personalized care in an environment of beauty, privacy, and comfort. Avalon Malibu provides highly specialized treatments in the perfect setting to support deep healing and lasting recovery.

Private suites feature sweeping ocean views, designer furnishings, fine linens, and original artwork
Five-star, organic meals are prepared daily by our in-house Le Cordon Bleu chef
Guests unwind with private massage therapy and acupuncture sessions
Outdoor pool and jacuzzi offer a tranquil place to relax while overlooking the coastline
A personal trainer provides one-on-one support in a versatile fitness and recreation space with private gym equipment, billiards, table tennis, and a basketball hoop
Expansive California gardens with fruit trees, fresh herbs, and walking paths encourage peaceful reflection and connection to nature

Personality Disorder Therapy

Avalon Malibu’s Personality Disorder Treatment Program

According to SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), one-third of all clients diagnosed with mental health and personality disorders will also struggle with addictions to alcohol, prescription medication and drugs. Roughly half of drug addicts and one-quarter of alcoholics will be diagnosed with mental health conditions.

Avalon Malibu offers therapy in a multi-dimensional approach based upon evidence presented by our clients within combined therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness principles, present-time awareness, motivational enhancement therapy, and our own educational and therapeutic models.

At Avalon Malibu, our clients can embrace the time spent away from an overwhelming life to find introspection. They can reframe the challenges which they must face each day. Our staff will assist with an accurate diagnosis and provide intense psychotherapy to resolve life-long issues involving individual illness and as family involvement if necessary.