“Fear in Parenting” For Families of Loved Ones With a Personality Disorder. Daniel Crump, M.A. LICSW explored the not-so-commonly discussed parental fear that arises when supporting loved ones on their recovery journey from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and other mental health challenges. He examined how fear can serve a constructive purpose, as well as present strategies for achieving “wise mind balance” during times when fear may be counterproductive.

Item descriptionFamily members of those with personality disorders want to build relationships and communication with their loved one. Often, we talk about the need to increase validation in these relationships, because in clinical care, we frequently see family members pushing too quickly and rigidly for change. However, equally important is the need to help family members learn ways to encourage change in consistent, calm, and compassionate ways. For our March Home Meeting, Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Lyvia Chriki, will address the dialectic of balancing acceptance and validation with effective change. After a brief review of concepts, she will explore how and when to set limits while validating and how to validate when setting limits.

Dr. Blaise Aguirre, child and adolescent psychiatrist, is nationally and internationally recognized for his extensive work in the treatment of mood and personality disorders in adolescents. He directs a program at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, focusing on self-endangering behaviors and the symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). He has written several books, but during our January Home Meeting, Blaise will discuss issues from his latest book, I Hate Myself: Overcome Self-Loathing and Realize Why You’re Wrong About You

Dr. Andrea Gold: DBT is an evidence-based treatment for people with BPD, which focuses on skills for emotion regulation and the overarching goal to build a life worth living. In this meeting, Dr. Gold will outline the DBT model and also address issues that come up with engaging in DBT and ways to generalize skills across contexts. She will discuss access to DBT therapy, ways for family and loved ones to learn and practice DBT skills, and ways to keep up with the skills that are taught.

Steve Seiner, Director of McLean Hospital’s Psychiatric Neurotherapeutics Program and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, will share his expertise on Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and ketamine infusions for treatment resistant depression. These relatively new therapies can help with the depression that often co-exists with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD).  Dr. Seiner will present and answer questions.tem description

Many people with personality disorders and their loved ones struggle to find ways to access  information, programs and support on the journey to recovery. Emotions Matter Inc. addresses all that and more! Join us to hear about both the many basic and new peer support groups, education programs, recovery resources and community outreach available.

Paula Tusiani-Eng is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Emotions Matter Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to educate, support, and advocate for those impacted by Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). She has personal experience having had  a loved one with BPD and has co-authored the book, “Remnants of a Life on Paper, A Mother and Daughter’s Struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)”.

Andrea Gold, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Brown University School of Medicine, and a Staff Psychologist at the Pediatric Anxiety Research Center (PARC), speaks about her work  developing an adaptation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Mental Illness and the Law with Attorney Gary Zelkin. Answers to legal issues that sometimes come up regarding loved ones with personality disorders, including how to negotiate sectioning for forced treatment for the best outcome for our loved ones.  

Brandon Unruh, MD,  Director of the Gunderson Institute at McLean Hospital,  presents  his latest research. By bringing spirituality and religiosity into aspects of meaning-making,  a unique perspective emerges on what can be helpful in treatment and recovery for those with a personality disorder.