Conflict stabilization
- Reduce escalation and destructive conflict cycles
- Improve communication under emotional pressure
Couples Therapy · Ontario
Couples Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in Ontario
A novel, structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help couples where one or both partners have BPD, focusing on emotional regulation, reducing self-harm and suicidal behaviours, and enhancing relationship quality.
- Virtual & In-Person
- Across Ontario
- Now Accepting Couples
- Free intro call available
- 12 Sessions
- Three-phase structured protocol
The Approach
What is Couples Therapy for BPD?
This program, also known as SAGE, is a conjoint therapy specifically developed for couples where one or both partners are affected by BPD-related patterns. It is delivered over 12 weekly sessions across three structured phases. Treatment involves both partners and combines psychoeducation, regulation tools, cognitive strategies, and relational interventions so the relationship becomes part of the recovery process, addressing BPD not in isolation, but in the context where it most directly affects daily life.
At a Glance
Duration
12 sessions across three phases
Format
Both partners attend every session
Delivery
Virtual across Ontario · In-person in Toronto
Approach
DBT-informed conjoint therapy
Concerns We Treat
Conditions SAGE is used to treat at our clinic
SAGE was developed specifically for couples where one or both partners experience BPD-related patterns. The program simultaneously targets BPD severity, self-harm and suicidal behaviours, relationship conflict, and the mental health of both partners.
Is This Right for You
Supporting both partners through BPD together
Unlike individual-only approaches, this therapy addresses BPD patterns in the relationship context, where they have the most direct impact. By involving both partners, therapy supports the well-being of the whole couple and builds shared tools for communication, conflict, and emotional safety.
SAGE is a conjoint therapy: both partners attend every session. This is central to the model. BPD patterns affect and are affected by close relationships, and treating them in isolation misses the context where they have the greatest impact. Research supports the conjoint format as superior to individual treatment alone for improving both BPD outcomes and relationship quality.
Book a Free Intro CallYou may benefit if you:
- Are in a couple where one or both partners experience BPD symptoms or high emotional intensity
- Are navigating high-conflict cycles, fear of abandonment, or emotional escalation in the relationship
- Want to reduce self-harm or suicidal behaviours and build safer, more stable relational patterns
- Have a partner who is willing to attend all sessions and be part of the recovery process
- Are looking for a structured, evidence-informed approach that addresses both BPD and relationship functioning
Core Techniques
What you'll work on
SAGE addresses four interconnected areas across its 12 sessions. Between-session assignments are given every week, extending the work into daily life and accelerating progress.
Emotional regulation
- Build shared skills for managing emotional intensity in the relationship
- Reduce self-harm and suicidal behaviours through structured safety planning
Relational recovery
- Strengthen trust, closeness, and mutual understanding
- Address cognitive patterns that reinforce disconnection
Long-term resilience
- Develop relapse prevention strategies for future stressors
- Build durable skills for lasting relationship health
How Treatment Is Structured
Three phases across 12 sessions
SAGE follows a clear three-phase structure completed within 14 weeks. Each phase builds directly on the last, moving from safety and orientation through skill-building to belief work and long-term planning.
Phase I · Sessions 1–3
Orientation and safety
Both partners receive a thorough introduction to BPD and how it operates in close relationships. Shared treatment goals are established, a safety plan is built for both partners, and daily trust discussions begin , a structured daily practice that runs for the remainder of the program.
Phase II · Sessions 4–8
Communication and emotion
The core skill-building phase. Couples learn paraphrasing and emotional validation, practise approaching rather than avoiding difficult emotions, and develop the I-FEEL skill , a structured conjoint tool for identifying, feeling, and expressing emotion together.
Phase III · Sessions 9–12
Beliefs and planning for the future
Using a collaborative 'Test It Out' process, both partners examine and test unhelpful beliefs about emotions, themselves, and others. Treatment closes with a structured planning session that consolidates skills and prepares the couple for life after SAGE.
Related Treatments
Looking for a different couples therapy approach?
We offer a range of evidence-based couples therapy programs. The best fit depends on your history, relationship dynamics, and goals.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions about SAGE
SAGE is delivered over 12 sessions across three structured phases, with the full program completed within 14 weeks from the first session. Phase I covers orientation and safety (sessions 1 to 3), Phase II covers communication and emotion skills (sessions 4 to 8), and Phase III covers beliefs and planning for the future (sessions 9 to 12). The three-phase structure provides a clear arc so both partners always know where they are in treatment.
A formal diagnosis is not required to begin. SAGE is designed for couples experiencing the kinds of patterns associated with BPD, including high emotional intensity, significant conflict, fear of abandonment, and difficulties with regulation, whether or not a diagnosis has been made. A thorough intake assessment will help clarify fit.
Yes. SAGE is a conjoint therapy: both partners attend all 12 sessions together. There are no individual sessions within the SAGE protocol. The conjoint format is intentional because BPD patterns play out most directly in close relationships, and the relationship itself is the unit of treatment.
Standard couples therapy addresses communication and relationship dynamics in a general way. SAGE is a structured clinical protocol with its own distinct practices specifically designed for couples where BPD is a factor. It includes daily trust discussions, structured safety planning for both partners, the conjoint I-FEEL skill for emotion processing, and a collaborative belief-testing process in Phase III. These are not found in general couples counselling.
SAGE can work alongside individual therapy. Because BPD patterns play out most directly in close relationships, the conjoint format addresses a dimension of recovery that individual therapy does not. Your therapist will discuss coordination if both approaches are in progress at the same time.
Most sessions are covered in full or in part by extended health benefit plans. We provide detailed receipts for all sessions to support reimbursement. Visit our Fees and Coverage page for full details.
Have a question not listed here? Visit our full FAQ page or get in touch directly.
Take the First Step
See if couples therapy for BPD is the right type of support for your relationship.
Our clinicians will help you determine whether SAGE is the right fit for both of you, and what that would look like in practice.
Book an Intro CallVirtual & In-Person · Ontario
Getting Started
Starting therapy is simple and supportive.
- 1
Get in touch by booking a call online with our intake coordinator or by completing the contact form. You can also email admin@traumacarepsychology.ca or call (647) 456-7500.
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Complete a 20-minute intake call so we can determine the best therapist fit and treatment direction. Alternatively, browse our clinician directory and book a free 20-minute consultation directly with a clinician you feel is a good fit.
Browse our clinician directory → - 3
Schedule your first session and begin a personalized treatment plan based on your goals and concerns.
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Contact Us
Fill out the form and our intake coordinator will be in contact shortly.
Virtual care across Ontario · In-person in Toronto.