Ask how the therapy works, what participation involves and how you will review progress together. Bring one or two concrete goals rather than trying to prove a diagnosis through a journal.
Start with the change you want help with
NIMH describes psychotherapy as the primary treatment for borderline personality disorder and explains that different approaches can be used. The name of an approach is only one part of understanding the proposed care. Ask how it connects to the difficulties you want help with.
For example, “I want help responding when I feel rejected” gives the therapist a starting point. It is more actionable than asking whether you are a good or bad therapy patient. A first discussion can also address uncertainty about diagnosis without requiring you to label every experience yourself.
Ask what treatment will look like in practice
Find out whether the offered care involves individual sessions, group work, between-session practice or a combination. Ask about frequency, expected duration, costs if relevant, accessibility and what happens if you miss a session. A clear explanation helps you decide whether you understand the commitment.
Ask about the professional’s training and experience with the approach and your concerns. NIMH’s psychotherapy information encourages asking about treatment approach, goals, duration and how progress will be assessed.
| Topic | Question |
|---|---|
| Approach | Why do you recommend this approach for my goals? |
| Participation | What happens in sessions and between them? |
| Progress | How will we review whether this is helping? |
| Difficulty | How can I raise a concern about the therapy? |
| Support | What help is available between appointments? |
| Records | Would you like notes, and in what format? |
Bring an example without handing over everything
Choose one situation you are comfortable discussing. Separate what happened, your interpretation, feelings and what you did next. You can leave identifying details about other people out of the preparation note unless they are needed for the conversation.
You do not have to provide every private entry from an app. Ask whether a summary would be enough and how the service stores documents. If the therapist recommends a particular worksheet, use that format rather than assuming a generic mood tracker is equivalent.
Illustrative opening: “After a message went unanswered, I felt upset and sent several follow-up messages. I want help understanding what happened and choosing a different response. What would you want me to note between sessions?” This is an invented example, not a diagnostic test.
Agree what happens when you need help sooner
Ask explicitly about the service’s contact hours and crisis arrangements. An app entry or an email may not be monitored promptly. If you cannot stay safe or there is immediate danger, use local emergency or crisis services instead of waiting for the next session.
After the discussion, write the agreed goals and next appointment in plain language. The therapy-session notes PDF can help; the nonjudgmental journaling guide covers everyday reflection. BPD Journal is an optional recording aid, not psychotherapy or emergency support.
Sources & checks
- NIMH: Borderline personality disorder ↗
Psychotherapy and professional care.
- NIMH: Psychotherapies ↗
Questions about approach, participation, goals and progress.
- Current App Store listing: BPD Journal: Symptom Tracker ↗
Public US listing checked September 30; recording or sound features only, not evidence of health benefit.
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-30. Examples and worksheets are original illustrations, not real patient histories or clinical validation. This is educational content, not individual medical advice or a clinician-reviewed treatment plan.
Our editorial process · Suggest a correction
