Family Connections™ Program

What is the Family Connections™ Program?

Family Connections™ is a free, evidence-based, 12-class course that meets in person for 2 hours and requires 1-2 hours of homework/practice weekly. It provides education, skills training, and support for people who are supporting a sufferer of Borderline Personality Disorder> (BPD)/Emotion Dysregulation (ED) or BPD/ED traits.

Please note: Due to the pandemic, all courses are meeting virtually. Please see “Family Connections Virtual” below.

What is Family Connections™ Virtual?

NEABPD also offers a virtual option for families living far from Family Connections™ meeting locations or for those who prefer to take the course online. Due to Covid-19, ALL courses are being held virtually. The Family Connections™ Virtual (FCV) course allows participants to meet weekly for the 12-class course via Zoom video conferencing

What will You Gain?

Family Connections™ is based on research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. 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.

The Family Connections™ program includes:

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Education on BPD/ED treatments and the latest research findings .

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Relationship skills based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help support your person with BPD/ED with compassion and empathy.

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Support from course leaders and other participants who also have a relationship with a person with BPD/ED.

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Suggestions for taking care of yourself and managing your stress.

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Effective communication techniques to promote problem collaboration and/or solving.

Details of the Program

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Commitment

We ask for a commitment to participate in at least 10 of 12 classes. Skills build on the previous week’s so it is important to only commit to the course if you can participate in at least 10 classes. You can request another course that better fits your schedule when you reply to our enrollment email.

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Individual Applications

Each person who wishes to enroll must apply individually, including spouses and/or any member in the same household or family. This is required regardless of whether you plan to use the same computer or device.

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Apply Once

Please only apply once with your preferred email address that you check most often. We request that you do not apply a second time with a different email address. It is considered a duplicate and will delay your application.

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Age Requirements

Course participants must be at least 18 years old. If you are a parent, the child with emotion dysregulation must be at least 13 years old.

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Enrollment

You will receive an email with the subject line: You’re invited to attend Family Connections™ Class #. It’s important that you respond to the email even if you cannot attend the class. Please add fc@neabpd.org to your contacts and check your SPAM folder often for the email.

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Course Dates and Times

We do not have set days and times. We have multiple courses starting every month at various times and days in all US time zones. Most courses are in the evening but we do offer at least one course a month during the day.

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Wait Times

The current wait time to be offered a course is 5-6 months.

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Residents of Canada and Australia

We do not offer courses in your countries. Canadian residents can apply at THE SASHBEAR FOUNDATION and Australian residents can apply at NEABPD AUSTRALIA.

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BPD Diagnosis Not Required

Many of those that suffer emotion dysregulation and exhibit BPD traits often are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. An official diagnosis is not a requirement to apply for our course.

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Course Cost

NEABPD IS A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that relies on volunteers and donations to continue its mission. No one is ever charged a fee to take a Family Connections™ course.

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Covid-19

All Family Connections™ Courses will continue being held virtually via Zoom video conferencing until further notice.

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Taking the course with my relative with BPD.

Family Connections™ is not intended for people suffering with BPD. The program was designed for family members of someone with BPD and/or significant emotion dysregulation and related problems.

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Attending with Another Family Member

We understand that on occasion, two members of the same household may want to attend a course together. In order to increase this likelihood, it is very important that each person apply separately with their own individual email address and apply on the same day if possible. In the comments section of the application, both people should add the name of the person they want to attend with. Unfortunately, if these directions are not followed, we cannot guarantee that your request will be accommodated as courses are filled first-come, first-serve.

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While Waiting for a Course

You may find it helpful to browse the Home Page, Family Guidelines, Family Education Workshops Videos, and Resources sections of our website. There are recent Webinars that feature skills taught in the Family Connections™ Course as well. The NEA BPD website has the largest video library specific to BPD in the world.

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Managing Suicidality and Trauma Recovery

Family members who have experienced, witnessed, or learned about their relative’s suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury, can often struggle with trauma or stress-related problems, including increased distress, grief, and uncertainty about how to effectively respond to their loved ones’ crisis behavior. This is currently a pilot program with very limited availability. If you would like to be on our waitlist for FC-MSTR, please apply for Family Connections. If you are eligible, you will be invited when a course is available.

If you think a Family Connections™ Course is right for you and you can commit to attending at least 10 classes, please complete our online application. All personal information submitted is confidential and we will never send any information to you via the US mail.

Please add this email address to your contact list so you are sure to get our communications: fc@neabpd.org.

Please only apply one time- applying more than once will delay your application.

If you already applied, please email fc@neabpd.org to check your status.

Family Connections Application

Questions?

Email fc@neabpd.org