Borderline Personality Disorder & Emotional Intensity

Healing after deep wounds — even when life keeps moving.

Does this sound familiar?

• You feel everything deeply - joy, fear, sadness, anger.
• Small moments can suddenly feel like too much.
• You crave closeness but worry people will leave once they see the real you.
• You can go from feeling connected to completely alone in seconds.
• You sometimes question who you are or what you actually need.
• You know you’re not “crazy,” but you wish your emotions came with a volume dial.
If this resonates, you’re not alone. Many people with emotional intensity or Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) grew up in environments where their feelings were dismissed, minimized, or punished. Your sensitivity is not the problem — it’s the pain that hasn’t been given space to heal.

Meet Your Therapist

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Hi - I'm Christina Babich, MA.
Clinical Psychologist supporting expats and globally mobile adults across Europe.

I specialize in helping people who feel emotions intensely — those who’ve been told they’re “too much,” who long for closeness but fear rejection, and who want to feel safe in their own minds and relationships.

With a background in Clinical and Health Psychology (ELTE University, Hungary, and Queen’s University, Canada), I integrate Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with trauma-informed, nervous-system-focused care.

Before starting my private practice, I lived and worked in multiple countries, so I understand firsthand how cultural transitions, isolation, and loss of stability can amplify emotional pain. My work combines clinical depth with genuine understanding — helping you build a life that feels calmer, steadier, and more connected, wherever in the world you are.

If you’ve spent years surviving, it’s okay to start learning how to live.

Understanding Emotional Intensity & BPD

BPD isn’t a character flaw — it’s a pattern shaped by early attachment wounds, chronic invalidation, and often times trauma. It can look like emotional highs and lows, fear of abandonment, and difficulty trusting others or yourself.
These are not signs of weakness — they’re protective strategies your nervous system built to survive pain.
In therapy, we’ll slow things down and begin to separate who you are from what you’ve been through. Together, we’ll rebuild emotional safety, self-trust, and connection — so you can relate to others from a place of grounded confidence, not fear.

How Therapy Can Help

I draw from evidence-based approaches including:
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) — for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and relationship skills
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — to help you build self-compassion and align with your values
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — for identifying unhelpful thought patterns
You'll learn how to:
  • Recognize triggers and ride emotional waves instead of being swept away
  • Rebuild a sense of safety in your relationships
  • Let go of shame and perfectionism
  • Feel grounded, steady, and worthy — even when life feels uncertain

How It Works

1
Free Consultation
We’ll meet for ~15 minutes to talk about what’s been hardest — intense emotions, relationship patterns, or feeling “too much.” You can ask questions and get a sense of whether this approach feels right for you.
2
Intake & Mapping
In our first session, we’ll explore your history, attachment patterns, and what tends to trigger emotional highs and lows. Together, we’ll map how these responses developed and begin identifying what stability and safety could look like for you.
3
Weekly Therapy
Using DBT, mindfulness, and trauma-informed tools, we’ll focus on emotional regulation, self-trust, and building relationships that feel safe and balanced. You’ll learn concrete skills to ride emotional waves, repair conflict, and respond instead of react.
4
Integration & Maintenance
‍As you gain confidence with your DBT skills, sessions gradually space out. We’ll focus on maintaining balance, sustaining healthy connections, and integrating self-compassion so your progress lasts — even when life gets messy.

How Things Can Begin to Change with DBT
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With DBT, you’ll start learning that your emotions don’t need to control your life — they can guide it.
Therapy helps you build skills for balance, connection, and self-respect so that life feels steadier and relationships safer. Over time, you might notice that:
  • You can recognize emotional triggers before they take over
  • You pause instead of reacting, and communicate what you need more clearly
  • You know how to soothe yourself when you feel rejected, angry, or ashamed
  • You can repair conflict without spiraling or cutting people off
  • You begin to separate who you are from what you feel in the moment
  • You treat yourself with more compassion — especially when you slip
  • You start trusting that calm and connection are possible, not fleeting
These changes don’t happen overnight, but they do happen — one small, intentional step at a time.Therapy can help you build a life that feels more stable, meaningful, and truly yours.

Frequently Asked Questions About Borderline Personality Disorder

What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

BPD is a pattern of emotional intensity, relationship difficulties, and self-image struggles often rooted in early attachment wounds or chronic invalidation. It’s not a character flaw — it’s the result of a nervous system that learned to protect you in unpredictable environments. Therapy can help you build stability, safety, and self-compassion.

Do I need a formal diagnosis to start therapy?

Not at all. Many of my clients identify with BPD traits — emotional ups and downs, fear of abandonment, or difficulty managing anger — without ever being diagnosed. We focus on your experience, not labels. If a diagnosis would be helpful, I can support you in exploring that safely.

Is therapy for BPD long-term?

Therapy length varies. Some people see progress within months; others work longer to address deep-rooted trauma and attachment wounds. We go at your pace — the goal isn’t to rush healing but to build lasting emotional stability and healthier patterns.

Can someone with BPD really get better?

Yes — and many do. With consistent support and skill-building, emotional intensity becomes more manageable, relationships more secure, and self-image more grounded. Change takes effort, but healing is absolutely possible.

I’ve had difficult experiences with therapists before. How is this different?

Many clients with BPD have felt misunderstood or judged in therapy. My approach is trauma-informed, compassionate, and collaborative. I see your sensitivity and emotional depth as strengths — not something to “fix.” Together, we’ll build trust at a pace that feels safe for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?
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Complete the contact form HERE.
‍Let me know what you are struggling with and what you are hoping to get out of therapy. If you’re unsure how to define what you’re experiencing, that’s completely fine — you can still reach out. We begin with a free 15-minute consultation to determine whether we are a good fit to work together.

What is your fee?
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My fee is 90 euros for one 50-minute session.

Do you offer sliding scale sessions?
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I offer a limited number of sliding-scale spaces for clients with financial constraints. These spots fill quickly, so please inquire about current availability when reaching out.

What is your cancellation policy?
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Due to the very limited nature of appointments, you will be charged the full fee for cancellations with less than a 48-hour notice. I reserve your therapy time just for you, and last-minute cancellations do not allow me enough time to schedule someone else in that slot.

Is there anything outside of your scope?
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Because I value honesty and integrity, I believe it’s important to be upfront about both my areas of expertise and the limits of my practice. No therapist can be an expert in everything, and ethically, we should only work within the areas we’re trained and experienced in.

I work with individual adults (18+), focusing on anxiety, trauma, grief, emotional regulation, and life transitions. Many of my clients are navigating the aftermath of traumatic experiences, burnout, relationship challenges, or the emotional toll of expat and nomad life.

There are certain areas, however, that fall outside my scope of practice. If any of the following apply, I will help you find a more suitable level of care or refer you to a trusted specialist:
• Active suicidal or homicidal thoughts, with a current plan or intent
• Ongoing self-harm behaviours (e.g., cutting, burning)
• Significant substance use or addiction requiring medical or inpatient support
• Psychotic symptoms (such as hallucinations or delusions)
• Psychological or diagnostic testing needs. Note: I am partnered with Mind Clinic in Budapest (www.mind.hu). This clinic offers robust psychological and diagnostic testing remotely via video.
• Full DBT programs requiring group skills training or 24/7 phone coaching

While I draw from DBT principles in my work, I do not offer a full DBT program. If that level of support is needed, I’ll refer you to an appropriate community program that provides it.
My goal is always to ensure you receive care that truly fits your needs — whether that’s with me or with another qualified professional.

Do you offer in-person sessions?
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My practice is 100% virtual. I offer online therapy via a secure Zoom link.
This allows me to reach more people who could benefit from working with me. It also allows my clients the flexibility to fit therapy into their busy lives without having to commute to a physical office.

Is your practice LGBTQ+ friendly?
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Yes. My practice is fully LGBTQ+ affirming and inclusive. I welcome clients of all gender identities, sexual orientations and relationship structures, and I am committed to providing a space where you can show-up exactly as you are - without judgement or assumption.

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e-mail :
‍christinababich@hotmail.com

Substack: christinababich.substack.com
Located in Europe