Although borderlines are notoriously difficult to work with, they are also more amenable to change than many other personality-disordered individuals. The central, initial goal is to build sufficient rapport so that work can begin on stabilizing their erratic behavior and affect. This might involve a reality-oriented approach emphasizing aspects such as limit setting, sympathy, reassurance, advice, and insight regarding internal processes. Borderlines are capable of such a wide range of dysfunctional behaviors that knowing which one to address can sometimes be confusing. In addition, they are an unusually heterogeneous group. For example, depression, anxiety, depersonalization, disorganized thoughts, fears of abandonment, self-destructiveness, and/or ambivalence may all be- come areas requiring attention. More than for most other client groups, building a strong therapeutic alliance is crucial in helping borderlines to adjust and cope with their many conflicted forms of acting and feeling. Because many borderlines resist authority- directed interventions, group therapy might be indicated because they are more likely to be responsive to peer influence.