Gunderson BPD Programs

Treatment Approach

The Gunderson programs’ multidisciplinary team of clinicians are experts in borderline personality disorder (BPD).

They use a range of evidence-based treatment and therapy models informed by cutting-edge research, allowing care to be customized to the needs of the individual based on the type and severity of specific symptoms.

Those entering the programs receive a detailed evaluation in order for clinicians to establish a treatment plan that incorporates the best therapies and strategies for addressing symptoms, identifying challenges, and setting goals.

Our programs use individual and group therapy employing treatment models such as:

• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) emphasizes the development of four skill sets: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. DBT has proven to be one of the most effective ways of treating borderline personality disorder.
• Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) is a therapy model that focuses on helping people to differentiate and separate their own thoughts and feelings from those around them.
• General psychiatric management (GPM), which includes education for patients and their families and case management, was developed by McLean’s own John G. Gunderson, MD, a pioneer in BPD research and care.
• Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) is a rigorously structured psychodynamic therapeutic approach rooted in object relations theory, and represents a nuanced and empirically validated intervention tailored to address disturbances in self-identity, interpersonal relationships, and affect regulation characteristic of individuals diagnosed with BPD.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy for PTSD (DBT-PTSD) integrates DBT principles with trauma-focused cognitive techniques and exposure interventions for childhood trauma, fostering self-acceptance and compassion.
• Radically open DBT (RO-DBT) targets disorders characterized by excessive self-control by promoting flexibility, openness, and social connectedness in individuals who struggle with perfectionism and overly controlled, rigid, or inhibited behavior.

Group therapy covers a broad range of topics including mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, skills generalization, emotion regulation, symptom education, and family issues.

Treatment may also include diagnostic assessment, medication consultation and management, family evaluation and involvement, case management, ongoing treatment review, toxicology testing, expressive therapy, vocational and educational counseling for transitional support, and coordination of care with referring clinicians and aftercare providers.

Ancillary health services may include psychological and neuropsychological testing and consultation, eating disorder services and nutritional counseling, treatment for trauma-related disorders, and substance use treatment.

We also encourage patients to become involved with the larger community through part-time work, volunteer opportunities, and classes at local colleges and universities.

The Gunderson Residence offers group activities such as community cooking, fitness, and community outings.

“This program helped me learn how to accept, understand, and express my emotions. The emphasis on community and group work allowed me to benefit from the wisdom and support of other patients. The Gunderson program saved my life.”– Former Gunderson patient

Family Involvement in Patient Care

Family and friends are a valuable tool in a patient’s recovery and long-term success, providing reinforcement for positive change and meeting treatment goals.

Support and education for patients, families, and friends is also integral to treatment success. In addition to patient education, the Gunderson programs offer group therapy and educational workshops for families and friends targeted for the specific needs of supporting a loved one with BPD.

At the Gunderson Residence, family is involved in a weekly family therapy session, a multifamily group aimed at providing education, support, and skill-building for families, and weekly check-in calls.

At the Gunderson Outpatient Program, family and friends are often incorporated into treatment. A family member, most commonly a parent and/or partner, is asked to work with a family therapist.

Levels of Care

To accommodate the growing demand for DBT services as well as the broad range of needs of our patients, we offer both residential and outpatient treatment.

Components throughout the continuum of care include intensive DBT treatment, individual and group therapy, mindfulness practice, and skills coaching.

Gunderson Residence

Gunderson residential care includes around the clock treatment for cisgender women, transgender women, and nonbinary individuals assigned female at birth.

Most of our patients are ages 21 and up, however, we may make exceptions for some younger individuals.

While at the Gunderson Residence, patients receive twice weekly individual psychotherapy, regular medication management and medical oversight, once weekly family therapy, four to five groups per day, and have continuous access to skills coaching by our DBT-trained staff.

Patients have a rigorous daily schedule. Morning is usually reserved for group sessions. Following lunch, patients have clinical appointments or work on treatment-related goals. Afterward, patients are encouraged to go to the gym and/or self-help meetings at off-site locations. Community dinner is followed by evening group. The rest of the evening, patients have social time until curfew.

With a minimum stay of 60 days and an average stay of four to five months, the residence specializes in care for individuals who have previously been through several treatment programs as well as those who are seeking treatment for the first time.

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in close proximity to McLean’s Belmont campus, our open-door setting is designed for community living in modern townhouses less than two miles from Harvard Square and four miles from downtown Boston.

60-Day Immersion Track

We also offer a 60-day track focused on evaluation and skills. This short-term immersion track offers comprehensive psychiatric consultation, assessment, and diagnostic clarification aimed at clarifying core issues through a lens of personality functioning. This is paired with a dedicated focus on skill development in the domains of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, mentalization and the capacity to reflect on what goes on within and between oneself and others, and more.

With a minimum stay of 60 days, this immersive experience aims to provide a rich, meaningful, and cost-effective opportunity for patients to clarify diagnoses, identify core issues, acquire essential skills, and construct a viable plan for next steps in treatment aligned with the needs identified throughout the assessment process.

Gunderson Outpatient Program

Our specialized, virtual outpatient care has an emphasis on skill building, while working toward patient self-reliance and establishing occupational, academic, and social opportunities in the community.

The Gunderson Outpatient Program is fully virtual, with all care programming taking place online.

The outpatient services operate Monday through Friday in the morning and afternoon, with each individual attending treatment for an average of 20 hours per week.

The Gunderson Outpatient Program requires an initial six-month treatment period, though ultimately length of care is determined by each patient’s unique clinical needs. While most of our fees are self-pay, several of our services may be covered by insurance.

The Gunderson programs provide tools and guidance to foster the self-reliance individuals need to build a more balanced, productive, and meaningful life.

Admission & Cost

Admission

The Gunderson programs are suitable for individuals who seek intensive treatment for core issues related to borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other complex personality disorders, such as emotion dysregulation, self-harm, suicidality, and relationship difficulties, with or without co-occurring mental health conditions such as addiction, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

We can help arrange admission from most domestic or international locations.

We look forward to speaking with you about the treatment opportunities at the Gunderson programs. For more information or to make a referral, please contact an admissions coordinator.

Gunderson Residence

Phone: 617.855.4250
Email: @email

Gunderson Outpatient Program

Phone: 617.855.3452
Email: @email

Prospective patients are interviewed and evaluated prior to admission to ensure the best chance of success.

Independent motivation to change is an essential requirement and while family members or clinicians may see the Gunderson programs as a good fit, the individual must be ready to actively participate in recovery—regardless of outside factors such as pending legal charges.

In addition, adequate levels of physical health and sobriety are reviewed to determine whether the level of care is appropriate for the individual.

Cost

The fee for the Gunderson Residence is $1,750 per day with a minimum stay of 60 days. Individuals stay with us an average of four to five months. We are a self-pay program and do not accept insurance or any third-party reimbursement.

The Gunderson Outpatient Program is a self-pay program. Although many of the fees for the program will be out-of-pocket expenses, several services may be covered by insurance. Individuals commit to an initial six-month treatment period, though ultimately length of care is determined by the individual’s unique clinical needs.

The initial six-month period is $8400, paid up front. Additional treatment is $1400 per month.

For more information on services included in the Gunderson Residence day rate, please see below.

Treatment Team

Program Leadership