Understanding personality disorder in practice
Develop understanding and practical strategies to work effectively with people with personality disorder life difficulties.
This is a 1 day course in Bristol (you come to us).
Develop practical approaches to work effectively with people with personality disorder life difficulties.
Using key psychological theories and models, the course explores the contested nature of this diagnostic category, the impact of stigma, potential interpersonal challenges and the importance of staff self-awareness and self-care in practice.
Also available for teams in-house (we come to you).
Course aims
This one day training aims to provide support staff with psychologically informed understandings and practical strategies to work effectively and supportively with people with personality disorder life difficulties. The views of individuals experiencing personality disorder difficulties will be central.
Course objectives
By the end of the course participants will have had opportunities to:
- Clarify what is meant by ‘Personality Disorders’ with a specific focus on Borderline Personality Disorder
- Think about how to challenge the stigma associated with the term ‘personality disorder’ using an empowering recovery orientated approach
- Gain information about development of the emotional brain and some key psychological theories and approaches that can be practically applied
- Consider how to understand and respond to common interpersonal challenges including: boundaries; attachment and endings; potential for ‘team splitting’ and ‘acting out’ emotions
- Recognise the importance of individual and service reflective practice and looking after ourselves when supporting people with personality disorder difficulties
Venue info:
Courses in Bristol (you come to us)
All courses take place at accessible venues in Bristol.
If for any reason the course cannot be delivered face-to-face, we will take a flexible and responsive approach to keep people learning – which will include delivering the training on the same day as a live interactive online session, or transferring bookings to the next available dates.
Trainer: Suzanne Pearson
"Having time and space to explore different approaches to working effectively with personality disorder within a team. The neuroscience was very interesting to learn about. Useful and well presented. Thank you Suzanne!"
Elinor Telling, Support Worker, Missing Link, September 2021
" Exceptionally helpful. Excellent knowledge and timely delivery. The biological video linked with presentation of condition, self-management, and tools to work with carefully explained. Excellent course, highly recommend!"
Autism Commissioning Manager, September 2021
"All useful. Understanding person centered approach, case studies and trauma, DBT and the video on the brain. Excellent course, learnt a lot!"
Cara Slane, Bridge View Medical, September 2021
"Looking at development of the emotional brain and characteristics of borderline personality disorder. It helped me reflect on my own practice and how I may work with clients going forward. Suzanne is a brilliant trainer!"
Course participant, Accommodation Support Worker, September 2021
"The depth of detail, examples from lived experience and applying principles to practice. All information was relevant and helpful. Suzanne delivered the training brilliantly; really informative, engaging and considerate."
Course participant, Crisis House Support Worker, September 2021
"A calm, helpful approach to describing behaviours that people experience e.g. splitting. It has been very useful personally and professionally – thank you very much!"
Mental Health Support Worker, Rethink, April 2019
