©Family Connections Program

©Family CONNECTIONS is a 12-week research-based¹, manualized family program. Family Connections was developed by Dr. Alan Fruzzetti and Dr. Perry Hoffman specifically to meet the needs of family members who have a relative with borderline personality disorder (BPD), or symptoms of the disorder. The program seeks to provide the most current information and research on BPD, to teach coping skills based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and to develop a support network. The groups are led by trained leaders who are themselves family members, or are led by specially trained therapists. The course provides:

	●	Education on BPD
	●	Research on BPD
	●	Skills training based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in the context of a supportive group environment.
	●	The information presented is based on effective treatment theories and practices, and the latest research findings to provide the foundation for a better understanding of this complex disorder.
	●	For parents, spouses, children, and siblings of someone with borderline personality disorder.
	●	based on effective treatment theories and practices, and the latest research findings to provide the foundation for a better understanding of this complex disorder.
	●	To help participants obtain the latest knowledge and to develop skills for their own well-being.
	●	An adaptation of a decade of professionally-led Dialectical Behavior Therapy family groups, these institution-based programs are now brought into the community and are led by trained family members.

Course Content - Topics Addressed Are:
	Education on BPD	Emotion Regulation Skills
	Research on BPD	Effective Communication Skills
	Family Perspectives and Experiences	Validation Skills
	Relationship Mindfulness Skills	Problem Management Skills

The Sharing of Experience: Family Connections

Read a first hand description of the Family Connections course recently published in Recovery Today. Click here for the full article.

©Family Connections is currently offered in cities around the country. To inquire about a course near you, e-mail info@neabpd.org. Pre-registration for the course is required. There is a $50 materials charge.

1Published Articles About Family Connections

Perry D. Hoffman, Ph.D., Alan E. Fruzzetti, Ph.D., Ellie Buteau, Ph.D., Emily R. Neiditch, Dixianne Penney, Dr.P.H., Martha L. Bruce, Ph.D., MPH, Frederic Hellman, Elmer Struening, Ph.D. (2005). Family Connections: A Program for Relatives of Persons with Borderline Personality Disorder. Family Process, 44, 217-225.

Rajalin, M., Wickholm-Pethrus, L., Hursti, T., & Jokinen, J. (2009). Dialectical behavior therapy-based skills training for family members of suicide attempters. Archives of Suicide Research, 13, 257-263.

Hoffman, P. D., Fruzzetti, A. E., & Buteau, E. (2007). Understanding and engaging families: An education, skills and support program for relatives impacted by Borderline Personality Disorder. Journal of Mental Health, 16(1): 69–82.

Family "Tele"-CONNECTIONS (TLC)

NEABPD receives requests from across the country for the Family Connections program, and is now offering the course via teleconference to those who are not in locations where the original Connections program is available. The group "meets" weekly via a conference call. Unfortunately there is now a waiting list for this course as well. If you are interested in possibly participating in a future Tele-Connections, please send a brief email to neabpd@aol.com describing the current situation with your relative. You will be notified when a future class is available. We hope that in the future, the TLC option will greatly increase the number of family members who can take advantage of this valuable program.