About Us

Our History

“Artist’s Statement” - Lynn Young

From the Emotions Matter Org Art Show,
“Living on the Borderline”, 2022

During the mid-1990s, a group of parents whose children had been diagnosed with BPD met weekly with Dr. John Gunderson and other clinicians at McLean Hospital to explore ways in which they could help their children and themselves meet the challenges presented by BPD. They grew close and decided to create an organization that could provide mutual support, education, and advocacy. Consequently, NEPDA came into existence on December 30, 1996 and over two and one-half decades since then has sponsored support groups, now known as Home Meetings, conferences about BPD featuring a wide range of experts, and various social gatherings of parents and other loved ones of those with lived experience of the disorder. NEPDA meetings have been a place where participants share their stories and find acceptance, understanding, and hope.

Dedication

Suzanne Witmer
1971 - 2021

This website is dedicated to the memory of a NEPDA founder, Ron Witmer’s daughter, Suzanne. It was Suzanne’s struggle and many successes which inspired Ron to gather loved ones of those with mental health challenges for monthly educational and support meetings - eventually becoming NEPDA as we know it today.

Board of Directors

  • Ron Witmer was born in Jackson, Michigan and attended Albion College (B.A.), Union Theological Seminary in New York City (M.Div.) and Northeastern University School of Law in Boston (J.D.). For most of his professional life, he practiced family law in the greater Boston area. Ron and other parents of children diagnosed with BPD founded NEPDA in 1996 to provide education, support, and advocacy for those affected in some way by the disorder. Ron joins other committed NEPDA volunteers in working to expand NEPDA programs, increase its membership, and reduce the stigma that often is associated with BPD and other mental health conditions.

  • VIce President

    Lee has gained an extensive knowledge about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and other co-existing disorders over the years after a loved one was diagnosed with BPD and attended a residential program at McLean Hospital. At McLean, he attended weekly meetings and learned about mindfulness, meditation, DBT and other topics related to BPD. Through McLean’s monthly evening BPD talks he learned about NEPDA and started attending their monthly meetings and has remained actively involved.

    He continues to broaden his knowledge about BPD through webinars, websites, classes and books as well as taking part in functions that support BPD, including in depth study of Mentalization. He has a very keen interest in mindfulness and meditation. Perhaps most important, Lee has gained an insightful understanding of BPD and what it means to struggle with this disorder through his loved one.

    Lee has a BA in Accounting and an MBA. He worked in public accounting as a CPA for a number of years before going into private sector accounting.

  • Secretary / Clerk

    Karen Frascatore is a Massachusetts native who, with her husband, Dan, has three children ranging in age from four to fourteen. She attended Babson College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in business management. She now works as a collections manager for a local company.

    Karen’s interest in BPD arose from the realization that some of her family members appear to meet a number of the criteria for a BPD diagnosis. Through workshops at McLean Hospital, she learned about NEPDA and its programs. She began attending Home Meetings and participated as a panel member in a NEPDA conference. She completed the Family Connections program of NEA-BPD and hosts summer pool parties for NEPDA families at her home. Membership on NEPDA’s Board of Directors is the natural result of Karen’s other activities related to BPD. She appreciates the support and education NEPDA provides to those who in some way are affected by BPD and enjoys working with the other Board members in furthering NEPDA’s mission.

  • Dr. Lyvia Chriki earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Ohio State University after earning her BA from Simmons College in Boston, MA. Her interest in treatment of emotion dysregulation and personality disorders started before graduate school, from personal experiences and work assisting with an adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group. Over the years she has developed expertise in DBT, treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and parent guidance. Currently, Dr. Chriki works with teens, young adults, and adults who struggle with self-harm and suicidality by working with them and their families, providing DBT, parent coaching, and trauma-focused treatment.

  • President

    Nancy Locke attended a Family Connections program sponsored by the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD) in 2014. This started her on the path of learning about BPD and how to better communicate with a family member with BPD traits. Nancy started attending NEPDA meeting to further her understanding. She recently joined the Board to help support its mission and give back. Nancy has been a public school teacher and lives in the Boston area.

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