Abstract
Individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder are often stigmatised. Literature suggests that several different professional groups hold negative attitudes towards this client group.
Part one of this portfolio presents a review of the existing literature exploring whether case consultation and/or formulation has an impact on staff attitudes, knowledge, and perceived skill to work with clients with a suspected or diagnosed personality disorder.
Part two of this portfolio presents an empirical paper that aims to explores therapists’ experience of the therapeutic alliance when working remotely with clients with a diagnosis or traits of a personality disorder. Several assumptions and biases in the literature motivated this research; that clients with a personality disorder diagnosis are not suitable for remote therapy, have problems with establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships, and that they experience difficulty in the therapeutic alliance.