Foundation Training for Working with People with BPD

These are free events designed for members of the public clinical mental health workforce in Victoria, (staff employed at Area Mental Health Services, Forensicare or mental health staff from RCH) and lived experience workforces (LEW) working in either public clinical or community mental health state-funded roles. Other workforce in partner organisations, such as AOD organisations or ACCHOs, may sometimes be eligible. Please note, if you do register for an event and it is not clear you are part of the intended audience, your registration will be confirmed two weeks prior to the event start date, or earlier.

Note: Spectrum has a lived experience workforce who are consulted in the development and delivery of Spectrum training materials.

This training is suitable for workers and clinicians who seek to develop a basic understanding of working with people with BPD and its associated complexities.

This workshop will provide a basic overview of signs and symptoms of BPD. The course will cover factors contributing to the development of BPD. It will offer a space for clinicians to develop an understanding of how to work effectively with people with BPD and will highlight the importance of therapeutic relationships. The workshop will incorporate a framework for assessing risk of suicide and NSSI and distinguishing between chronicity and acuity. Finally, clinicians will be supported to integrate these principles as part of effective treatment planning.

On completion of this workshop participants will be able to:

• Develop an understanding of BPD and some of the factors contributing to its development

• Explain the principles of a therapeutic relationship and working effectively with people with BPD

• Distinguish between acute and chronic risk as it relates to suicide and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviour (NSSI) and utilise an appropriate framework to assess for this

• Understand the importance of self care, self awareness and reflection in the context of counter-transference when engaging with people who have BPD.

Delivery Mode – Online via Zoom

Presenter:

Spectrum Personality Disorder Service

Andy Bouwman is a mental health social worker with 10 years of experience working in public mental health services in Victoria. He has worked within community and acute teams and has developed a solid understanding of working with clients with BPD in a variety of settings. Andy is a senior clinician and member of the ACT team at Spectrum, providing individual therapy and group programs using this framework. He has joined the workforce development team as he is passionate about sharing his experience and knowledge with other clinicians.

Katrina Bull is a Senior Clinical Psychologist and trainer at Spectrum with the DBT and workforce teams. She is a certified DBT therapist with the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification and has completed advanced training in the DBT Prolonged Exposure Protocol for PTSD. Katrina has over 15 years’ experience in public and private youth and adult mental health services in Australia and the UK, specialising in treatments for BPD, PTSD, Complex PTSD and brief suicide intervention.