We are very pleased to have Nancee Blum, MSW, LISW, presenting a two-day training workshop in Victoria, BC. Nancee's experience and qualifications are summarized on the Poster for the Public Lecture.
Friday & Saturday, October 8 & 9, 2010
STEPPS™ Training Workshop at the Ambrosia Conference Centre
638 Fisgard Street
9:00 am - 4:00 pm each day, doors open at 8:30 am
Map & Parking Information (see tabs under the gears image above)
Nancee Blum will give a free lecture to the public 7-9 pm on Friday, October 8 This lecture “Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder and the STEPPS™ Approach to Treatment.” will be held in the Pemberton Memorial Chapel, Royal Jubilee Hospital, 1952 Bay Street.The STEPPS Workshop brochure provides more detailed information about the agenda and content.
Why this
topic matters!
“On April 1, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 1005 supporting the month of May as borderline personality disorder awareness month. The resolution stated that "despite its prevalence, enormous public health costs, and the devastating toll it takes on individuals, families, and communities, [borderline personality disorder] only recently has begun to command the attention it requires." House Resolution 1005, which was the outcome of public advocacy efforts, drew attention to the disproportion between the high public health significance of borderline personality disorder and the low levels of public awareness, funded research, and treatment resources associated with the disorder. A recurrent theme in this review is the persistence of borderline personality disorder as a suspect category largely neglected by psychiatric institutions, comprising a group of patients few clinicians want to treat.” ...
“The escalating number of books written for non-professionals bears witness to the devastating toll the disorder takes on others. Still unknown are the public health costs of this disorder, but given borderline patients’ heavy utilization of psychiatric services; medical complications; involvement in divorce, libel, and childrearing lawsuits; and violence and sexual indiscretions, the costs can be expected to be tremendous. Also unknown, despite significant advances is borderline personality disorder’s core psychopathology and its related neurobiology.” ...
“At this time, borderline personality disorder is the only major psychiatric disorder for which psychosocial interventions remain the primary treatment. ... Residents and other mental health professionals who make a serious investment in treating patients with borderline personality disorder can expect to become proud of their professional skills and of their personal growth in tolerance and empathy and to experience a highly personal, deeply appreciated, life-changing role for their patients.” (Gunderson, 2009)
Dr. Gunderson advocates:
In addition to the role of the STEPPS program (Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem-Solving) in mental health services, this important work has implications for Child Development Studies, Education, Conflict Resolution, and Patient-Centred Care. We welcome fellow professionals working in family law or in Corrections and Community Justice to this event, as well.
Thank you to those who attended the Compassion '08 conference presented by Jon Allen, PhD. Following his topic of Effective Treatment of Complex Trauma in Attachment Relationships - here we have another very skilled researcher and educator who will present on an evidence-based program for the outpatient group treatment of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder and their families -- important new concepts for any psychotherapist and many other professionals who will encounter the consequences of this common and under-diagnosed condition, estimated to affect up to 2% of the population.
We need better services for patients with Borderline Personality Disorder, and for their families. Here's a way of training some local professionals and meeting others who may join in advocating for improved treatment resources.
Please see the Bibliography for references, including major advances reported in the August 2010 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
The July/August 2010 issue of Scientific American MIND magazine has an article on Borderline Personality Disorder, too.
Workshop Registration and Program brochure information available online as a .pdf file, or call 1-250-595-4222 in Victoria, for more information, or to register. Our office is open until 5 pm Thursday, October 7 and will then close during the workshop.
Page-size registration form for greater ease sending by fax:
The STEPPS program and educational resources are described at: http://www.steppsforbpd.com/
Who Should Attend? This workshop will be valuable continuing education for psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioners, family physicians providing primary psychiatric care, and other health care providers.
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Thanks for your time in considering this opportunity for your continuing education.
Sincerely,
Ian Gillespie, MD