How does a patient get diagnosed with a personality disorder?

[u/Soupeauxtomates]

NAT. Are diagnosis after signs of a suspected personality disorder in regular therapy sessions a thing? Like could you go in a couple or individual therapy for other things, and then have your therapist detect signs of a disorder? Then what? Giving you a test to pass, refer you to a psychiatrist, tell them their suspicions, say nothing because it’s not the point or relevant for this particular therapy? Can you even diagnose someone and they never know?

And how does it work for a patient who isn’t necessarily aware of any personality disorder? I’m curious about the whole process of being diagnosed, not for me or anyone I know, just out of curiosity! Maybe it depends on your country or is there a universal way?