Understanding and Treating Borderline Personality Disorder

A compassionate, evidence-based training on BPD, self-harm, and recovery

Available with English captions and subtitles in Spanish.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and self-harm are frequently misunderstood through the lens of stigma, fear, and oversimplified assumptions—often leaving individuals and families feeling isolated, judged, or hopeless.

Through compassionate, evidence-based discussion, Karen L. Jacob, PhD, and Anna Precht, PsyD, explore the emotional realities of BPD, the function of self-harm behaviors, and the treatment approaches that can help individuals move toward greater stability, connection, and recovery.

Why This Training Matters

Many individuals living with BPD have historically encountered stigma not only socially, but within health care and mental health systems themselves. Behaviors related to emotional dysregulation or self-harm are often misunderstood without considering the emotional pain, fear, attachment struggles, and unmet needs beneath them.

At the same time, clinicians and caregivers may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or discouraged when trying to support someone through these experiences.

This session offers a more compassionate and clinically grounded understanding of BPD and self-harm while exploring the evidence-based treatment approaches that can help individuals build emotional regulation, healthier relationships, distress tolerance, and long-term recovery.

By combining practical treatment education with emotionally informed understanding, the session helps audiences move beyond stigma and toward more hopeful, validating, and effective support.

Who This Training Is Designed For

This training is especially valuable for clinicians, therapists, counselors, social workers, trainees, caregivers, and support systems seeking deeper understanding of BPD and self-harm.

Mental health professionals may especially benefit from the clinically grounded treatment discussion, while families and caregivers may find meaningful insight into communication, emotional support, and recovery-oriented understanding.

What You’ll Learn

  • How emotional dysregulation and interpersonal sensitivity affect individuals living with BPD
  • Why self-harm behaviors are often misunderstood and how they differ from suicidal intent
  • Evidence-based treatment approaches that support emotional regulation and long-term recovery
  • Practical communication, validation, and support strategies for clinicians and caregivers
  • How hope, understanding, and compassionate care can strengthen treatment engagement and recovery outcomes

Key Takeaways

  • BPD is highly treatable, and recovery is possible with appropriate support and evidence-based care.
  • Self-harm behaviors often serve emotional functions that require understanding and assessment rather than immediate judgment.
  • Validation and emotionally informed communication can significantly improve treatment relationships and support outcomes.
  • Misconceptions and stigma surrounding BPD can create barriers to care, understanding, and recovery.
  • Compassionate, evidence-based treatment approaches can help individuals build emotional stability, distress tolerance, and healthier relationships.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, viewers should be able to:

  • Identify common misconceptions surrounding BPD and self-harm
  • Distinguish self-harm behaviors from suicidal behaviors and other clinical presentations
  • Describe major evidence-based treatment approaches for BPD
  • Explain practical considerations when supporting individuals and families affected by BPD
  • Apply validation-informed and stigma-reducing approaches when discussing BPD and recovery

Who Should Watch

This training may be especially valuable for:

  • Mental Health Professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, therapists, social workers, nurses)
  • Health Care Professionals
  • Graduate Students & Trainees
  • Family Members & Caregivers
  • Individuals Living With BPD
  • Crisis Intervention Professionals
  • Behavioral Health Program Leaders
  • Community Mental Health Advocates

Understanding can change the way individuals experience care, relationships, recovery, and hope. Explore this session to gain practical insight into BPD, self-harm, emotional dysregulation, and the meaningful role validation and treatment-informed support can play in long-term recovery.

Topics Covered During This Training

  • What do BPD and self-harm have in common, and when are they separate issues?
  • What should we know about the most common presentations of both BPD and self-harming behaviors?
  • What do we know about the relative prevalence of BPD and self-harming behaviors?
  • What are some of the major misconceptions around BPD?
  • What would you say is stigmatizing about having the diagnosis of BPD?
  • How has treatment for BPD developed over time?
  • What is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)? How does it work?
  • What is it about DBT that makes it so effective?
  • Can you give us a specific example of what skills coaching might look like for any of these particular skills?
  • Any advice for clinicians to help engage patients in trying new skills?
  • What do group dynamics look like in DBT for BPD?
  • Can you give us a quick overview of MBT, TFP, and GPM? What are those treatment methods and how do they work?
  • What levels of care are common for BPD treatment? When is one a more appropriate choice?
  • Is medication used to treat people with BPD?
  • How do clinicians weigh which BPD treatment option to start with?
  • In a residential setting, how do you manage individuals triggering other individuals?
  • Do the treatment methods outlined work the same with both teens and adults?
  • How can family members and loved ones help someone with BPD find effective treatment?
  • What if that individual is reluctant to start treatment?
  • Any thoughts for clinicians with patients reluctant to try DBT skills in their BPD treatment?
  • Can you share your favorite most-used skill from skills group?
  • Can you discuss in more detail how to assess and respond to non-suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behaviors such as cutting when they come up during treatment?
  • How can a clinician understand whether someone is using substances in response to a personality disorder?
  • Can you speak to the relationship between manipulation and BPD and what we should know?
  • Any tips for distinguishing between BPD and autism spectrum disorders?
  • Can you walk us through a hypothetical treatment case for someone with BPD?
  • We have spoken about how a BPD diagnosis can be relieving for many people, but what if it creates distress? Why do you think that is, and how can that best be addressed?
  • Is it possible to treat young adults with BPD effectively if their family members are unwilling or unable to engage in the treatment?
  • Is anyone using ECT or TMS to treat self-harm or BPD?
  • What should generalist clinicians know about treating patients with BPD? When should they refer to a BPD expert for support?
  • Is it common for teens to “collect” diagnoses? How can parents approach adding BPD as another label?
  • Can you speak to any important considerations regarding the patient and family’s cultural background when treating BPD?
  • Can you speak to some of the success stories you’ve seen through proper BPD treatment?

The information discussed is intended to be educational and should not be used as a substitute for guidance provided by your health care provider. Please consult with your treatment team before making any changes to your care plan.

Helpful Links

You may also find this information useful:

About Dr. Jacob

Karen L. Jacob, PhD, is the program director of McLean’s Gunderson Residence, a treatment program for individuals with borderline personality disorder and other severe personality disorders. Dr. Jacob’s clinical training has focused on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for patients struggling with mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, as well as mindfulness, mentalization, dialectical behavior, and biofeedback therapies.

About Dr. Precht

Anna Precht, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and a senior clinical consultant at McLean’s Arlington School, a high school for students with mental health challenges. Dr. Precht specializes in the use of evidence-based treatments including DBT and CBT and is particularly interested in the treatment of borderline personality disorder and self-injurious behaviors. She has extensive experience treating adults and adolescents using DBT in a variety of treatment settings.

Topics