CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Personality disorder treatment
Personality disorders are long standing patterns in how a person thinks, feels, and relates to others that cause real distress, often in relationships. They are not a character flaw.
Our virtual intensive outpatient program offers adults in California structured, compassionate care built around skills and relationships.
CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Personality disorders we treat
Borderline personality disorder
Intense emotions that shift quickly, fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, and a shifting sense of self, sometimes with impulsive or self harming behavior. DBT was developed for this.
Avoidant personality disorder
Deep sensitivity to rejection and feelings of inadequacy that lead to avoiding relationships and opportunities you want.
Dependent personality disorder
A strong need to be taken care of, difficulty making decisions alone, and fear of being on your own.
Narcissistic personality disorder
A persistent pattern of grandiosity, an excessive need for admiration, a strong sense of entitlement, and a lack of empathy for others, often masking a fragile self-worth and deep insecurity.
Obsessive compulsive personality disorder
Perfectionism, rigidity, and a need for control that get in the way of relationships and rest. It is different from OCD.
Personality patterns without a formal diagnosis
Many people come to us with patterns that keep repeating in their relationships without fitting a label. We work with those too.
SIGNS
Signs it may be time for more support
How it can feel
Emotions that feel too big and change fast
Fear of being left or rejected
Emptiness or not knowing who you are
Feeling misunderstood, or like people do not stay
How it can show up
Relationships that are intense, then fall apart
Impulsive decisions you later regret
Avoiding closeness to avoid being hurt
Conflict at work or at home that follows the same pattern
What we are
Virtual, across California. Groups and individual sessions by video, from wherever you can close a door.
An office in Fountain Valley. 8780 Warner Ave, Ste 11, for in person EMDR and for anyone who would rather be in the room.
One team, not a referral chain. Your therapist and your psychiatric provider work together on the same plan.
HOW WE TREAT IT
How we treat personality disorders
DBT SKILLS
Emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness, practiced in groups and applied in individual therapy. How the program works
RELATIONSHIPS AS PART OF THE WORK
Groups on attachment, boundaries, and communication, and depth oriented therapy on where the patterns started.
A CONSISTENT TEAM
The same small team from week to week, which matters when trust and relationships are part of what you are working on. Meet the team
QUESTIONS
Common questions
Are personality disorders treatable?
Yes. Many people with personality disorders make real changes in treatment, and DBT in particular has a strong research base for borderline personality disorder.
Do I need a diagnosis to get help?
No. You can come to us with the patterns you notice, and we sort out the rest together.
What if I have thoughts of self harm?
Tell us on the first call so we can talk about the right level of care. If you are in danger now, call or text 988 or call 911.
Is treatment covered by insurance?
Most major PPO and HMO plans are accepted, including Cigna, Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United. Call 949.706.8610 or send us a message and we will verify your benefits before you commit to anything.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. Our program is not an emergency service.
Clinically reviewed by Angelina DeSanto, LCSW, Clinical Director. Last updated October 2026.
Other conditions we treat: Depression and mood disorders · Anxiety and panic · Trauma and PTSD · ADHD and OCD · Burnout, grief, and life stress · Women's mental health · Men's mental health · Relationships and codependency
WHO YOU WOULD WORK WITH
A small team you will actually get to know
Kin Wellness is run by its clinicians. The people below are the people in your groups, and the full team is on the Team page.
Cofounder and Clinical Director, LCSW #80761, Ph.D Candidate
Paola Mercado Demeza, AMFT
Cofounder and Lead Clinical Therapist, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #15190. Supervised by Angelina Desanto, LCSW, Ph.D Candidate
Dr. Joe DeSanto, MD
Angelina DeSanto, LCSW
Medical DirectorLET US HELP
Tell us how to reach you
Tell us how to reach you and someone from our team will call you back. The first conversation is short and confidential: what has been going on, what your questions are, whether this is the right level of care for you, and what it would cost with your insurance. There is no obligation to enroll, and if it is a fit you can start right away.
Prefer to call?
949.706.8610
Office hours Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM Pacific. In person care at 8780 Warner Ave, Ste 11, Fountain Valley CA 92708.