Understanding Personality Disorder

This course is designed to provide staff with an overarching understanding of personality disorders, including emotionally unstable personality disorder, the causes and Neurological differences.

In addition to this the training explores the range of support and treatment options available, whilst providing professional and effective ways of responding to the behaviours that people with personality disorders may present.

Enquire Here

Duration: 3-4 Hours

Max Capacity: 8-16

Session Format: Classroom Bases Learning

Course Overview

The Understanding Personality Disorder course provides learners with a clear, accessible, and evidence-informed understanding of personality, personality development, and personality disorders. The course explores how personality disorders are defined, assessed, and experienced, while challenging common misconceptions and stigma.

Through a trauma-informed and person-centred approach, learners will gain insight into how personality disorders may present, what is happening neurologically and physiologically, and how experiences such as triggers and episodes can impact behaviour.

The course also explores co-occurring conditions, including learning disabilities and autism, and highlights the risks of diagnostic overshadowing. This training supports professionals to respond with greater empathy, confidence, and effectiveness in practice.

What's Involved?

Duration: Typically delivered as a one-day course (timings can be adapted)
Delivery: Classroom-based or in-house delivery
Learning Methods: Tutor-led input, discussion, reflective exercises, and real-life scenarios

The course balances theory with practical understanding, helping learners apply knowledge directly to their professional roles when supporting individuals with personality disorders.

Who is this course suitable for?

This course is suitable for staff or professionals working directly with vulnerable adults or children who have been diagnosed with a personality disorder and are interested in deepening your knowledge and skills around personality disorders the this course may be suitable for you.

It's suitable for anyone who wishes to gain an understanding of personality disorders and want to learn how best to support people who live with them. The course may be particularly useful for social care workers and care providers, and mental health practitioners.

Navigating mental health matters requires sensitivity and empathy in a way that ensures individuals feel listened to and cared for.

Learning Outcomes

Describe what is meant by the term ‘personality’

Explain the four different temperament types

Define the meaning of the term ‘personality disorder’

Identify common misconceptions and stigma surrounding personality disorders

List the different types and clusters of personality disorders

Explore the diagnostic criteria for personality disorder and understand its limitations

Identify tools used within the assessment and diagnostic process

Explore potential causes of personality disorders

Understand what may be happening in the brain of a person with a personality disorder

Recognise common signs and symptoms

Understand the difference between triggers and episodes

Describe the physiological response when a person is triggered

Identify how personality disorders may present differently when co-occurring with learning disabilities and/or autism

Define diagnostic overshadowing and explore real-life scenarios

Benefits of Completing this Course

Improved Knowledge and Understanding

Develop a clear, structured understanding of personality disorders and how they develop.

Reduced Stigma and Misconceptions

Challenge myths and promote more compassionate, informed responses.

Enhanced Professional Confidence

Feel more confident supporting individuals with complex emotional and behavioural needs.

Trauma-Informed Practice

Gain insight into triggers, physiological responses, and emotional regulation.

Better Recognition of Co-occurring Needs

Understand how personality disorders may present alongside autism or learning disabilities.

More Effective Support and Outcomes

Apply learning to improve engagement, reduce escalation, and enhance person-centred care.

A Special Mention

"I wanted to say a huge thank you for the 2 day restraint training you provided. As a parent I found it so comforting and reassuring to be trained with my son’s new staff team. Hearing how much emphasis was placed on values really impressed me. As did the training which really looked at avoiding having to use restraint. The training was really able to be tailored to the individual needs of my son which was incredibly helpful for all his new staff who I believe came away with a really deep knowledge of his triggers and how to de-escalate him.

I would recommend it to any parent in the position of their young person moving into supported living. Not only was it a great way to start building relationships with his staff but it was incredibly reassuring to know that the care company are really invested in finding the right training which focuses on treating their service users as people and want staff with the right values working with him. I can’t thank you enough for letting me attend. I know that some trainers would find it difficult training parents along side staff because it could have the potential to alter the dynamics so I’m really delighted you allowed me the opportunity.

A huge thank you from a very reassured mum!"

Related Courses

View Course Content

1 2 3 … 8 Next »

What our happy clients said

The trainer has been amazing, she understood we all had different learning styles and adapted everything she taught. She made me feel very at ease and welcome.
The trainer was brilliant, very knowledgeable and delivered the course in a very interactive manner.
Great course, the trainer delivered it with great knowledge, energy and enthusiasm.
The trainer was excellent and one of the best trainers I have had in the industry. The four days flew by and I really enjoyed the course.

Thank you.
Thank you very much, the training was fantastic! It was a really interesting and informative four days!
It was helpful that we had the opportunity to expand on the components of the course beyond the book, maximising the additional time, was really helpful. The trainer gave us the opportunity to engage with the ideas and relate them back to our own clients and activities.

This was useful to the end of helping us see how Timian could be infused with our work.
Since attending the Timian Train the Trainer course we have already implemented some of the worksheets - the post-incident debriefing guidance is now on our HR portal.

I am looking forward to enhancing our PBS plans with IRS models and using the crisis cycle to inform updates and improvements.
The course was excellent! Cath was engaging and made the content interesting- she related it to real life live experiences. This is a worthwhile course, I learnt a lot and can now take it to my place of work and support other with me new knowledge.
I thoroughly enjoyed the training and learnt a lot. It was delivered in an interactive way with lots of exercises and opportunities for learning.
I thoroughly enjoyed the course and am looking forward to be working within the Timian model of positive relationships.

In Collaboration With

Empeiria Training is all about offering training that is unique and bespoke to your organisation and its needs. Backed by decades of experience, we offer a safe environment for face-to-face learning, with our specialism being working with people with learning disabilities.

Courses

Social Care Courses Health & Safety Courses First Aid Courses Timian Courses

Site Links

About Us Meet The Team Consultancy Timian Terms and conditions Privacy Policy Contact Us

Subscribe to newsletter

We don’t spam your inbox.

Complaints and Appeals Policy Data Protection Policy Contingency and Adverse Effects Policy