Complex emotional needs pathway

We offer a complex emotional needs pathway to help people with complex emotional needs or dysregulation to manage their condition and relationships.

People accessing the service may have a diagnosis of personality disorder however you do not need a diagnosis to access the treatment as we focus on what your needs are, not the diagnosis alone.

How we can help

Personality refers to the way we think, feel and behave. Due to life experiences, difficulties can arise in these areas and someone may develop complex emotional needs and personality difficulties. If the difficulties cause you great distress, are long lasting, and impact on many aspects of your life then you may need help from mental health services.

The complex emotional needs pathway works with you to help you:

• understand and accept your difficult feelings
• learn skills to manage your emotions, mood and feelings
• problem solve
• become able to make positive changes in your life
• manage impulsivity (acting without thinking), relationships, self harm and suicidal thoughts
• work with you to increase the skills, and receive treatment, to be able to lead a life outside mental health services

The complex emotional needs pathway includes a range of treatment offers including but not limited to psycho-education, structured clinical management (SCM), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and individual therapies. We are working to incorporate more lived experience and peer support into the pathway.

SCM and DBT are treatments that are more likely to work if you are committed to make positive changes in yourself, if you are ready to work hard at treatment and if you are ready to focus mostly on your present and future, not your past.

Please be aware that the most effective treatment for emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) or complex emotional needs occurs in the community. At the moment there is no medication proven to treat emotionally unstable personality disorder or personality difficulties. You may have been offered medication for other related needs or problems and if so, it is best that this is reviewed by a psychiatrist or your GP as required.

Contact the service

Doncaster Central

• Address

  Forest Gate
  Tickhill Road Site
  Tickhill Road
  Balby
  Doncaster
  DN4 8QN

• Phone

  03000 212 031
  Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Doncaster North

• Address

  Jade Centre
  Askern Road
  Bentley
  DN5 0JR

• Phone

  03000 2121 002
  Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Doncaster East

• Address

  The Heathfield centre
  Ash Hill Road
  Hatfield
  DN7 6JH

• Phone

  03000 211 653
  Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Doncaster South

• Address

  Forest Gate
  Tickhill Road Site
  Tickhill Road
  Balby
  Doncaster
  DN4 8QN

• Phone

  03000 211 842
  Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Plan your journey

If you use public transport, the Traveline journey planner provides information about what services and times are available.

Page last reviewed: December 12, 2025
Next review due: December 12, 2026