New: Buddha and the Borderline is now available!
FBPDA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2007 that is dedicated to educating all Floridians about this severe—yet highly treatable—mental illness.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Success Strategies for Patients
Please join us at St. Petersburg College's EpiCenter in Clearwater on Friday, November 19 at 8:00 am for our latest conference.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD to address the needs of those patients with chronic suicidal, self-injurious, and other dysfunctional behaviors. DBT has been proven to be highly effective in reducing suicidal behavior, instances of self-harm, and emergency psychiatric hospitalizations in patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, substance abuse, and eating disorders.
The conference will provide a one-day overview of DBT in addition to providing a synopsis of recently published research supporting this evidence-based treatment.
Individuals diagnosed with BPD and their families are strongly encouraged to attend.
Conference Sponsors
FBPDA is honored to have the following fine organizations and mental health professionals participate as conference sponsors:
3East and the Gunderson Residence at McLean Hospital
Topics and Speakers
• Mindfulness: What Is It and Why Is It So Important. Stacy Louk, PhD, LMHC
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy Adapted for Substance Abuse. Nancy Gordon, LCSW
• Empirical Support for Linehan's Biosocial Theory. Mark Reeves, PhD
• Left-Handed Chopsticks: Adapting DBT to Eating Disorders Treatment. Anna Traylor, PsyD
• Skills Training for Clients with BPD: Teaching Adaptive Coping Strategies. Aaron Norton, LMHC, CAP
• Family Matters: Education and DBT Skills for Relatives. Perry Hoffman, PhD
• My Dialectical Life: Before, During, and After DBT. Cristin Manzolati, BA
If you are traveling to join us, the nearest hotel is the Holiday Inn Express located at 13625 Icot Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33760. Their telephone number is (727) 536-7275.
A continental breakfast and lunch is provided. Contact Hours: 7 hours to Nursing, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW, CAP, Psychology
Click here to register today.
Recommended Reading
FBPDA is excited to announce the release of two new books about BPD that actively promote and encourage recovery.
Kiera Van Gelder is the author of Buddha & the Borderline: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder through Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Buddhism, and Online Dating.
Many of our conference attendees have had the pleasure of listening to Kiera share her story. Without a doubt, her book will be an important source of hope and inspiration for individuals diagnosed with BPD, their families, and dedicated mental health professionals for years to come.
You can visit Kiera's web site by clicking here.
Another book we are very happy to recommend is Valerie Porr's Overcoming Borderline Personality Disorder: A Family Guide for Healing and Change. Valerie is the founder and president of TARA and she's worked to help educate families about BPD since 1994. Her book is published by Oxford University Press.
You can join us for a conference call with Ms. Porr on Wednesday, September 29 at 7:00 pm EST. If you'd like to participate, the dial-in number is (218) 862-7200 and the conference code is 842308.
For additional books that we recommend, please go to our BPD Resource page.
Teleconference with Amanda Wang
On Monday, July 19 we had the privilege of speaking with BPD advocate, graphic designer, boxer, and filmmaker Amanda Wang.
Ms. Wang has been instrumental in educating her peers, families, and mental health professionals about borderline personality disorder by sharing her own personal story through conference presentations and videos on her web site. Most recently she spoke at NAMI's national convention and was featured in an article published in Scientific American Mind titled When Passion is the Enemy.
You can listen to Amanda's interview by clicking here.
Girl in Need of a Tourniquet
On June 17, FBPDA was proud to host a conference call with Merri Lisa Johnson, PhD.
Dr. Johnson's book Girl in Need of a Tourniquet: Memoir of a Borderline Personality is published by Seal Press.
The author earned her doctorate at SUNY Binghamton and directs the Center for Women's and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg.
She also explores issues surrounding mental illness, pop culture, art, and literature through her blog borderlinePhD.
You can listen to this important interview by clicking here.
Family Guidelines
The New England Personality Disorder Association has a wonderful publication written by John Gunderson, MD and Cynthia Berkowitz, MD titled Family Guidelines that is a must read for all families who are interested in communicating more effectively with a loved one who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
Our New Address
Please note that Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association has a new mailing address effective immediately. We can now be reached at PO Box 756 St. Petersburg, FL 33731.
Listen to an interview with FBPDA founder—Amanda Smith here.
