RtoR Family-Endorsed Provider Profile
National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder
Family Connections-Family Education Course
White Plains, NY
Family Connections provided by National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD) is a 12-week course that meets weekly to provide education, skills training, and support for people who are in a relationship with someone who has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Focusing on issues that are specific to BPD, it is hosted in a community setting and led by trained group leaders who are usually family members of relatives with this disorder. Dr. Alan Fruzzetti and Dr. Perry Hoffman developed the course based on their research as well as their significant professional expertise in counseling people with Borderline Personality Disorder and their loved ones.
The course focuses on education on BPD, research on BPD, family perspectives and experiences, relationship mindfulness skills, emotion regulation skills, effective communication skills, validation skills and problem management skills. NEABPD offers support and guidance to multiple groups offering the Family Connections program in communities across the country. The Family Connections course is offered virtually and meets weekly via Zoom video conferencing.
For more information about enrolling in Family Connections, please visit neabpd.com.
Family Member Quotes
“I took the Family Connections class last December at New York Presbyterian Hospital in White Plains and felt that taking the course has had the most significant impact of any single thing that I have done in improving my relationship with my daughter.”
“[Family Connections] has been a God-send for us. We were taught what the illness is and how it affects our daughter. Through lessons on dialectical behavior therapy, we learned how to temper our own behavior without giving in, how to validate feelings without being patronizing, how to set and maintain limits and how to suspend judgement in order to have an open and productive relationship. Hardest of all, we learned not to jump immediately to problem-solving. There is one important thing the program gave us that is most invaluable. It gave us the ability to relate to our daughter in a way that has helped her go forward. I could go on for hours extolling the virtues of the Family Connections Program, not the least of which is the realization that we are not alone.”
“I participated in a Family Connections group session series.The meetings were invaluable to me. It gave me a sense of security, knowledge, training and confidence to help me manage and live better with my loved one suffering with BPD. I strongly recommend it.”
“After floundering with my daughter’s BPD for several decades, I have finally gained some understanding of why she acts the way she does and what I can do to help us both more effectively manage our situation. For the first time in years, I once again have hope for the future, thanks to the inspirational knowledge, skills and support provided by Family Connections.”
“My husband and I recently took the Family Connections course taught by Matt and Ann Costello and found it to be absolutely life changing. These sessions have been more helpful than any therapist we’ve ever seen. [Their] positive attitude throughout the 12 weeks has been inspirational.”
“Ann and Matt’s engaging teaching/sharing styles and their dedication to continuing education/advocacy (they are always going to seminars and conferences for borderline), helped to give me a much needed sense of control over my situation.”
Information and Referrals
Speak with a Resource Specialist about services and referrals to Family Connections.
Specialties
- Family Education
Client Focus
- Family members and people in a relationship with someone who has BPD
Services
- Current information and research on BPD and on family functioning
- Individual coping skills based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Skills training based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Teaching and learning of treatment theories and practices, and the latest research findings on BPD
- Support for parents, spouses, children, and siblings of someone with BPD
- The latest knowledge and skills to enable the well-being of participants
Accreditation & Qualifications
Family Connections is coordinated by the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD) and is based on research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. It reflects a decade of experience running community-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy family groups, led by trained family members. Survey data from previous courses show that after completing the course, family members experience decreased feelings of depression, burden, and grief, and more feelings of empowerment.
Founded in: 2001
Payment
A voluntary donation of $50 per person or $75 for two people to NEABPD is suggested to help support the growth of the Family Connections Program.
NEABPD In the Media
Dr. Perry Hoffman speaks about Family Connections in this MP3:
http://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.com/family-connections/
Publications
Published Articles About Family Connections
- Perry D. Hoffman, Ph.D., Alan E. Fruzzetti, Ph.D., Ellie Buteau, Ph.D., Emily R. Neiditch, Dixianne Penney, Dr.P.H., Martha L. Bruce, Ph.D., MPH, Frederic Hellman, Elmer Struening, Ph.D. (2005). Family Connections: A Program for Relatives of Persons with Borderline Personality Disorder. Family Process, 44, 217-225.
- Rajalin, M., Wickholm-Pethrus, L., Hursti, T., & Jokinen, J. (2009). Dialectical behavior therapy-based skills training for family members of suicide attempters. Archives of Suicide Research, 13, 257-263.
- Hoffman, P. D., Fruzzetti, A. E., & Buteau, E. (2007). Understanding and engaging families: An education, skills and support program for relatives impacted by Borderline Personality Disorder. Journal of Mental Health, 16(1): 69–82.
