Classes & Therapy Groups

Family & Friends of Loved Ones with BPD

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness that centers on the inability to manage emotions effectively. Loving someone with BPD can be confusing, intense, and even painful. The Family and Friends Class is a 4-session educational series offered through the below clinics, designed to increase understanding of the illness and equip family and friends with tools for coping effectively.  

Please call the clinic where you would like to attend this class.

Participants will learn about the symptoms and causes of BPD as well as coping tools. Weekly sessions will be a combination of education and discussion.

Who should attend

This class is designed for family members, friends, or anyone who has a loved one diagnosed with BPD. Adolescents are allowed but
must be 16 years of age or older.

The Family and Friends class is not recommended for those with a family member in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) treatment unless they are also diagnosed with BPD. This class is specific to the BPD diagnosis and not DBT.

What you will learn

Session 1: Understanding BPD and the causes of BPD (participants must attend from the first session)
Session 2: Mindfulness in relationships
Session 3: Communication skills
Session 4: Validation skills

Payment

*Full payment due at first session, or it may be divided into two payments with half payable then and the balance at the third session. Cash, check or credit card accepted. In the case of multiple family members attending, the cost is $125 for the first family member and $75 for each additional family member. Late or partial enrollment is not allowed as each session builds on the previous one.

Registration

Please call the clinic where you would like to attend this class. See below for contact info.

Deadline to register for Northwest Clinic’s January sessions: December 30, 2024 

Deadline to register for Northwest Clinic’s March sessions: February 24, 2025 

Deadline to register for Northwest Clinic’s April-May sessions: April 21, 2025 

Printable Family & Friends Class flier

Questions?

Northwest Clinic: Please call the class facilitator, John Buell, DTLLP, Psychology Resident at 616.222.3720

Traverse City Clinic: Please call the class facilitator, Kym Hansen, LMSW at 231.947.2255

Event Schedule

Key
In Person
Virtual
In Person & Virtual
DateTimeLocationFacilitator/Presenter 
In Person
Monday, 01/06/20256:00 pm – 7:30 pm
John Buell, Doctoral Temporary Limited License Psychologist
In Person
Monday, 03/03/20256:00 pm – 7:30 pm
John Buell, Doctoral Temporary Limited License Psychologist
In Person
Monday, 04/28/20256:00 pm – 7:30 pm
John Buell, Doctoral Temporary Limited License Psychologist

Please call the clinic where you would like to register, to find out how you can join.

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