Special Events in Florida (and beyond)

 

NEA-BPD Conferences

The National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder offers a number of conferences throughout the year.

Please click here for additional information about future educational opportunities available through NEA-BPD.

 

 

 

Back from the Edge—Melbourne

FBPDA will be showing the documentary Back from the Edge on Thursday, May 27 at the Brevard Drop-In Center—268 N. Babcock Street in Melbourne starting at 6:00 pm. Back from the Edge was produced by the BPD Resource Center and features such experts as John Gunderson, Marsha Linehan, Otto Kernberg, Perry Hoffman, and the late Wayne Fenton.

The documentary is 45 minutes and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about borderline personality disorder. A brief discussion will be led by Amanda Smith.

Please RSVP by contacting Jean McPhaden at jean@brevard-drop-in-center.org or by calling (321) 253-4442. There is no cost to attend this event.

 

May Support Group

On Wednesday, May 26 at 6:00 pm, FBPDA will hold a peer-led support group designed for anyone who engages in self-injury or is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The theme for May's group is Incorporating Fun and Pleasant Activities in Recovery.

This event will be held at the Mirror Lake Library in downtown St. Petersburg and individuals at all stages of recovery from BPD are welcome to share their experiences. While this event is free, you will need to RSVP by e-mailing amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

John Oldham, MD

Mental Health Community Centers will host preeminent borderline personality disorder researcher John Oldham, MD in Sarasota on May 8, 2010. This event will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

For more information about this event, please contact MHCC at (941) 953-3477.

 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Treating Substance Use Disorders

Linda Dimeff, PhD will be in Miami on May 3 and 4, 2010 to conduct a professional training in DBT for patients with borderline personality disorder and substance use issues (DBT-SUD). For more information, please contact Behavioral Tech.

You can also download Dr. Dimeff's article on DBT for substance abuse here.

 

April Support Group

On Wednesday, April 28 at 6:00 pm, FBPDA will hold a peer-led support group designed for anyone who engages in self-injury or is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The theme for April's group is Identifying and Coping with Environmental Triggers.

This event will be held at the Mirror Lake Library in downtown St. Petersburg and individuals at all stages of recovery from BPD are welcome to share their experiences. While this event is free, you will need to RSVP by e-mailing amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

Borderline Personality Disorder: Supporting Recovery Today and Tomorrow

Please join us at St. Petersburg College's EpiCenter in Clearwater on Friday, April 23 at 8:00 am for our latest conference.

While borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex and serious mental illness, it's important for healthcare professionals to understand that BPD is also highly treatable. This one-day conference will provide an overview of evidence-based treatment and care practices that actively promote and encourage recovery. At the conclusion of the program attendees will be able to describe the longitudinal course of BPD including etiology, prognosis, and remittance of DSM-IV-TR criteria over the course of the illness; describe the role of neuroplasticity in effective treatment; outline a theoretical model of recovery; and identify the obstacles to recovery from a patient's perspective.

Individuals diagnosed with BPD and their families are strongly encouraged to attend.

Most people meeting criteria for BPD change slowly over time. While researchers have developed comprehensive psychosocial treatments for BPD, most patients improve with the help of treatment as usual as well as the support and guidance of those who care about them. The evidence suggests that BPD is a good prognosis diagnosis. While these individuals can be difficult and challenging, they deserve our respect for their struggles to achieve a better and less painful adaptation to the life they were given. —Mary Zanarini, EdD (2008)

Conference Sponsors

FBPDA is honored to have the following fine organizations and mental health professionals participate as conference sponsors:

Emily Lazarou, MD

3East and the Gunderson Residence at McLean Hospital

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Tami Green: BPD Support

Topics and Speakers

• The Good Prognosis Diagnosis: Exploring the Myths Surrounding BPD. Stacy Louk, PhD
• Emotional Regulation Strategies for Clients with Borderline Personality Disorder. Aaron Norton, LMHC, CAP
• Neuroplasticity: Significance in Treatment and Prognosis in Psychiatric Illness with Specific Implications for BPD. Emily Lazarou, MD 
• I'll Have What She's Having: The Realities of Recovery. Gisele Requena, MA
• In the Here and Now: Strategies for Mindfulness. Joan Dyer, LCSW and Janet Waye, LCSW
• Helping Patients with BPD Overcome Emptiness: Plugging the Hole and Filling the Cup. Mardie Chapman, MA
• The Role of Family in Treatment for BPD. Nancy Gordon, LCSW 

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, Psychology

Click here to register at St. Petersburg College's web site today.

 

Less is More: The Psychopharmacotherapy of BPD

FBPDA is excited that Tampa-based psychiatrist Emily Lazarou will join us at the Children's Board of Hillsborough County on Wednesday, April 7 at 6:00 pm for an important discussion about the use of medications in the treatment for borderline personality disorder.

This presentation is open to individuals diagnosed with BPD, their families, and mental health professionals. Seating for this event is limited and there is a cost of $10 per person.

Please RSVP by e-mailing us at amanda.smith@fbpda.org. We look forward to seeing you!

 

BPD Support Group

On Wednesday, March 31 at 6:00 pm, FBPDA will hold a peer-led support group designed for anyone who engages in self-injury or is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The theme for March's group will be Creating and Sustaining Strong Support Networks.

This event will be held at the Mirror Lake Library in downtown St. Petersburg and individuals at all stages of recovery from BPD are welcome to share their experiences. While this event is free, you will need to RSVP by e-mailing amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

February Support Group

FBPDA is proud to present our second conference titled Dialectical Behavior Therapy: A Program of Professional and Patient Success on Friday, October 23, 2009 from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm at St. Petersburg College's EpiCenter.

Conference Goal
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 and other psychiatric diagnoses.

The conference will provide a one-day overview of this treatment in addition to providing a synopsis of recently published research supporting the effectiveness of DBT.

Conference Sponsors
FBPDA is honored to have the following fine organizations participate as conference sponsors:

Silver Hill Hospital

3East at McLean Hospital & Gunderson Residence at McLean Hospital

Tami Green: Borderline Personality Support

Moonshine Consulting

Topics and Speakers
7:30-8:00 a.m. Sign-in, registration, continental breakfast
• 8-9 a.m. Dialectical Behavior Therapy: What is it, Where has it Been, and Where is it Going? Edward Selby, MS
• 9-10 a.m. Cultivating the Dialectical Stance: From Black and White to Living Color. Kiera Van Gelder, MFA
10-10:15 a.m. Break
• 10:15-11:15 a.m. Understanding and Practical Use of Distress Tolerance Skills. Suzanne Holt, LCSW
• 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Accept and Acknowledge: Validation Strategies in DBT. Henah Gupta, PhD and Anna Traylor, PsyD
12:15-1:15 p.m. Lunch
• 1:15-2:15 p.m. You’ve Learned the Model and Memorized the Skills, Now What? The Core Beliefs, Practices and Assumptions Required to Make a Great DBT Therapist. Nancy Gordon, LCSW
2:15-2:30 p.m. Break
• 2:30-3:30 p.m. DBT Case Studies. Stacy Louk, PhD
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Panel Discussion: Overcoming Your Most Difficult Challenges in DBT. Gordon, Selby, and Van Gelder
4:30 p.m. Evaluation/CE BROKER/End

Register
You can register by going to St. Petersburg College's web site or by calling (727) 341-4772.

The course number is HHP0335 Class #4432 and the fee for the day is $79.00. A continental breakfast and lunch provided. This course is approved for 8 contact hours for Psych Nurses, LCSW, LMHC, LMFT and Psychology. St. Petersburg College is a Florida-approved provider CE Broker #50-2525.

 

Back from the Edge—Deerfield Beach

FBPDA will be showing the documentary Back from the Edge on Wednesday, September 30 at Lifeskills of South Florida—1431 SW 9th Avenue in Deerfield Beach starting at 6:00 pm. Back from the Edge was produced by the BPD Resource Center and features such experts as John Gunderson, Marsha Linehan, Otto Kernberg, Perry Hoffman, and the late Wayne Fenton.

The documentary is 45 minutes and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about borderline personality disorder. A brief discussion will be led by Rachel Whipple, LCSW.

A donation of $10 per person is requested. Please RSVP by sending an e-mail to amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

FBPDA will be showing the documentary Back from the Edge on Monday, September 21 at the Children's Board of Hillsborough County—1002 East Palm Avenue in Tampa starting at 6:00 pm. Back from the Edge was produced by the BPD Resource Center and features such experts as John Gunderson, Marsha Linehan, Otto Kernberg, Perry Hoffman, and the late Wayne Fenton.

The documentary is 45 minutes and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about borderline personality disorder. A brief discussion will be led by Nancy Gordon, LCSW.

A donation of $10 per person is requested. Please RSVP by sending an e-mail to amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

Evening of Remembrance

The Suncoast Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program will celebrate their 7th Annual Evening of Remembrance on Saturday, September 12 at 7:00 pm at 15100 Gulf Boulevard, Madeira Beach.

For more information, please call Bonnie McClelland at (727) 394-8222.

 

FBPDA Celebrates A New Voice

A New Voice—our 2nd annual celebration—will be held on September 10, 2009 at the St. Petersburg Woman's Club at 8:00 am.

Once again, Tampa-based psychiatrist, Emily Lazarou, will be named Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association's Psychiatrist of the Year. Our honorees also include Stacy Louk, PhD, Bobbie Glassman, John Derek Grace, and Olivia Bullard for their outstanding contributions and commitment to persons diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

There is no cost to attend this event however seating is limited. If you'd like to join us for this important occasion, please contact us prior to September 1.

Business attire is requested.

 

Back from the Edge—Gainesville

FBPDA will be showing the documentary Back from the Edge on Thursday, July 23 at the Alachua County Library—401 East University Avenue in Gainesville, FL starting at 6:30 pm. Back from the Edge was produced by the BPD Resource Center and features such experts as John Gunderson, Marsha Linehan, Otto Kernberg, Perry Hoffman, and the late Wayne Fenton.

The documentary is 45 minutes and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about borderline personality disorder. A brief discussion will be led by Catherine A. Marcinkiewcz, MS—a PhD-candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Department at the University of Florida.

While this event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend, you must RSVP by sending an e-mail to amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

Suicide Risk Assessment:Medical/Legal Aspects of a Psychiatric Problem

FBPDA is pleased to announce that Emily Lazarou, MD will present on the topic of Suicide Risk Assessment: Medical/Legal Aspects of a Psychiatric Problem on Thursday, July 9.

Many providers deal with issues of suicide as a part of the initial assessment. With those patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder—it is frequently a chronic issue. Though, it's a symptom of the disorder, it still needs to be addressed on an ongoing basis as we do with other symptoms. This is not necessary for proper treatment, but when a patient commits suicide—it's the leading cause of litigation against providers. Doing a proper suicide risk assessment and follow through will not only provide you prognostic indicators, but will also help guide the treatment and assess actual risk to the patient. Proper treatment of this symptom will not only help the provider, but will also help the patient remain mindful of the problem and work toward resolution.

This event will be held at our office located at 233 3rd St. North in St. Petersburg from 7:00 until 8:30 pm. There is a $10 fee per person (or $15 per couple) for this event.

Please RSVP by e-mailing us at amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

Back from the Edge—Orlando

FBPDA will be showing the documentary Back from the Edge on Friday, May 22nd at 301 E. Pine St. #150 in Orlando, FL starting at 6:30 pm. Back from the Edge was produced by the BPD Resource Center and features such experts as John Gunderson, Marsha Linehan, Otto Kernberg, Perry Hoffman, and the late Wayne Fenton.

The documentary is 45 minutes and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about borderline personality disorder. A brief discussion will be led by Suzanne Holt, LCSW of Harmony Counseling Group. This event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.

 

BPD and Current Evidence-Based Practices

Together with St. Petersburg College, our first professional conference will take place on Friday, April 24 at the St. Petersburg College EpiCenter in Clearwater. Attendees will exchange information about current evidence-based practices for borderline personality disorder—a severe, yet highly treatable mental illness.

Topics include:

    • BPD: A Brief Overview of Current Evidence-Based Practices in Literature. Amanda L. Smith and Stacy Louk, PhD
    • Medication Management with BPD—Less is More. Emily Lazarou, MD
    • BPD Diagnostic Overlap: How to Solve the Diagnostic Dilemma. Emily Lazarou, MD
    • Walking the Middle Path: The DBT Skills Module Developed for Teens and Their Families. Nancy Gordon, LCSW
    • Managing Suicidality in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder. Marcia Monroe, MBA, LCSW
    • Beyond DEAR MAN: Skills to Reduce Chaos and Increase Understanding. Paula Mendenhall, LMHC and Mike Trese, LMHC
    • A Consumer's Perspective on Working with BPD Clients: What Helps and What Doesn't. Kiera Van Gelder, MFA

Please arrive between 7:15 and 7:45 am to sign-in. The conference begins promptly at 8:00 am. No partial credit will be given to late arrivals.

A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. The cost for the day is $99.

Contact Hours: 8 hours to RN, LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, Psychology

Please go to St. Petersburg College's web site for additional information and to register.

 

You Are Significant, Even if You Don't Feel Like It: Finding New Meaning in Your Life—March 12

 

DBT—Is it For Me?—March 4

On March 4 from 6:30 to 8:00 intensively-trained DBT therapist, Tina Kotlensky, will present DBT—Is it for Me? Stretching the Limits of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. This event will be held at the New Port Richey Public Library located at 5939 Main Street. Ms. Kotlensky specializes in issues surrounding hearing loss, borderline personality disorder, self-injury, sexual abuse, and childhood trauma.

There is no fee to attend this presentation but space is limited. Please RSVP by e-mailing us at amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

BPD Communication Skills—February 25

If you have a loved one with BPD, one of the most important things you can do is help facilitate supportive communications in your relationship. On Wednesday, February 25 from 6:30 until 8:00 pm FBPDA will host a discussion titled Everything You Ever Needed to Know about Talking to Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder But Were Afraid to Ask (or Effective and Powerful Communication Skills You Can Use Today). This event will be held at our office located at 233 3rd St. North in St. Petersburg.

There is a $10 fee per person (or $15 per couple) for this event. Please RSVP by e-mailing us at amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

Less is More: The Psychopharmacotherapy of BPD—January 15

You are invited to please join us on Thursday, January 15 from 7:00 until 8:30 pm at our office located at 233 3rd St. North in St. Petersburg for an intimate discussion with FBPDA's 2008 Psychiatrist of the Year—Emily Lazarou, MD—about medications used to treat borderline personality disorder.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about treatments ranging from anti-depressants, neuroleptics, benzodiazapines, and more. If you have questions about borderline personality disorder, this will be the perfect time to ask an expert in this field.

Although this event is free and open to the public, please RSVP by e-mailing us at amanda.smith@fbpda.org

 

NARSAD's Journey to Wellness: Lifelong Recovery from Mental Illness

Please join FBPDA in Sarasota on Saturday, January 10, 2009 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for NARSAD's 12th Annual "Sunshine from Darkness" mental health symposium. This event is free and is open to the public.

Physicians, LMHCs, LCSWs, RNs, and pharmacists are eligible for 3 CEU/Contact hours for a $20 fee. Please contact Sarasota Memorial Hospital's HealthLine at (941) 917-7777 for more information.

 

Open House

Please join us for our next open house this Saturday from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at our office located at 233 3rd St. North in St. Petersburg.

This is a wonderful opportunity to gather with professionals, family members, loved ones, and persons with borderline personality disorder in a safe and welcoming environment. We'll have plenty of wine, eggnog, and appetizers to share.

We'll also be joined by Kiera Van Gelder. Ms. Van Gelder is an educator and a strong advocate for persons with BPD. She is the creator of Middle Path and also spoke about her recovery from BPD this past spring at an NEA-BPD conference. You can watch her presentation here.

Education/Support Group for Family Members

Do you have a family member or a loved one with BPD? If so, our new education/support group was designed just for you. This month's theme will be "Employment and BPD." This will be a great topic for family members of persons who are unemployed or under-employed. Learn more about the obstacles for employment for those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, have your questions answered about the Americans with Disabilities Act, and learn things you can do to help.

Our next meeting will be held Monday, November 24th at 6:15 pm at our offices in downtown St. Petersburg at 233 3rd St. North. There is no cost to attend.

Please RSVP to amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

ISITDBT

The International Society for the Improvement & Teaching of Dialectical Behavior Therapy will hold its 13th annual convention on Thursday, November 13 at the Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Florda.

For more information about this important conference, please go to ISITDBT's web site.

 

Education/Support Group for Family Members

Do you have a family member or a loved one with BPD? If so, our new education/support group was designed just for you. This month's theme will be "Employment and BPD." This will be a great topic for family members of persons who are unemployed or under-employed. Learn more about the barriers for employment for those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, have your questions answered about the Americans with Disabilities Act, and learn things you can do to help.

Our next meeting will be held Monday, October 27th at 6:15 pm at our offices in downtown St. Petersburg at 233 3rd St. North. There is no cost to attend.

Please RSVP to amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

Education/Support Group for Family Members

Do you have a family member or a loved one with BPD? If so, our new education/support group was designed just for you. Graduate-level interns, Aaron Norton, MA, CAP, CMHP and Jennifer Shields, MA will be leading this meeting that promises to be engaging while remaining sensitive and respectful to the unique needs and experiences of both families and persons diagnosed with BPD.

Our first meeting will be held Monday, September 29th at 6:15 pm at our offices in downtown St. Petersburg at 233 3rd St. North. There is no cost to attend.

Please RSVP to amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

Back from the Edge—Sarasota

FBPDA will be showing the documentary Back from the Edge on Tuesday, September 16th at the Selby Library in Sarasota, FL starting at 6:00 pm. Back from the Edge was produced by the BPD Resource Center and features such experts as John Gunderson, Marsha Linehan, Otto Kernberg, Perry Hoffman, and the late Wayne Fenton.

The documentary is 45 minutes and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about borderline personality disorder. This event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.

 

Dwell in Possibility

FBPDA invites you to Dwell in Possibility with us on September 3, 2008.

Our first annual dinner and silent auction will take place at the St. Petersburg Mirror Lake Lyceum at 6:30 pm. Tampa-based psychiatrist Emily Lazarou will be speaking. Tickets are $65 each and a table for 8 is $500. 

Please RSVP to amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

Open House

FBPDA will be holding an open house on Tuesday, August 5 from 5:30 until 7:00. Please take the time to drop by, share a glass of wine with friends and colleagues, and learn a little more about what we're all about. Our office is located at 233 3rd St. North in St. Petersburg.

Please RSVP to amanda.smith@fbpda.org. We're looking forward to seeing you on August 5!

DBT Training

ICON has announced a training titled Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Intervening with Emotionally Dysregulated Clients that will take place in Clearwater on June 26 and 27 and in Tampa on July 17 and 18.

12 CEs are available. Please contact Family Service Centers for more information at icon@familyservicecenters.org.

Please note that this event is not sponsored by FBPDA.

 

Back from the Edge—Jacksonville

The Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association will be showing the film, Back from the Edge, at Baptist Medical Center—1350 13th Avenue South, Jacksonville Beach, Florida on June 29th at 5:00 pm.

Back from the Edge is a hopeful and enlightening 45-minute look at borderline personality disorder from the perspectives of patients, family members, and mental health professionals.

This event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend. To RSVP, please e-mail Amanda Smith at amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

Open House 

FBPDA will be holding an open house on Friday, June 27 from 5:30 until 7:00. Please take the time to drop by, share a glass of wine with friends and colleagues, and learn a little more about what we're all about. Our office is located at 233 3rd St. North in St. Petersburg.

Please RSVP to amanda.smith@fbpda.org. We're looking forward to seeing you on June 27!


Introduction to Schema Therapy

Tampa-based psychiatrist—Emily Lazarou—will be discussing Schema Focused Therapy on June 19, 2008 at 6:30 pm at 233 3rd St. North in St. Petersburg. Schema Therapy was created by Jeffery Young, PhD and has been shown to be an effective treatment for many persons diagnosed with BPD.

While this event is free and open to the public, seating is limited. Please RSVP to amanda.smith@fbpda.org.

 

Back from the Edge—Lakeland

FBPDA will be showing the documentary Back from the Edge on Wednesday, April 30th at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Lakeland, FL starting at 7:00 pm. Nancy Gordon, LCSW will discuss the diagnostic criteria for BPD and will be available to answer questions after the documentary.

Back from the Edge was produced by the BPD Resource Center and features such experts as John Gunderson, Marsha Linehan, Otto Kernberg, Perry Hoffman, and the late Wayne Fenton.

The documentary is 45 minutes and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about borderline personality disorder. This event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.

 

Back from the Edge

FBPDA will be showing the documentary Back from the Edge on Thursday, April 17th at the St. Petersburg Library starting at 6:30 pm.

Back from the Edge was produced by the BPD Resource Center and features such experts as John Gunderson, Marsha Linehan, Otto Kernberg, Perry Hoffman, and the late Wayne Fenton.

The documentary is 45 minutes and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about borderline personality disorder. This event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.

 

Open House 

FBPDA will be holding an open house on Tuesday, April 8 from 5:30 until 7:00. Please take the time to drop by, share a glass of wine with friends and colleagues, and learn a little more about what we're all about. Our office is located at 233 3rd St. North in St. Petersburg.

Please RSVP to amanda.smith@fbpda.org. We're looking forward to seeing you on April 8th!

 

Sarasota BPD Event

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder will take place on Saturday, March 29th from 10:00 am until 2:30 pm at Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Waldemere Auditorium.

CEU/CME contact hours are available for a fee of $20.00. A complimentary lunch with be served.

Thank you to the DR Long Foundation, Mental Health Community Centers, Inc. and Sarasota Memorial's Bayside Center for Behavioral Health for sponsoring this event.

Please RSVP to Bunny Coelingh at (941) 953-3477. You can also register at MHCCI.