The aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of a set of general principles the Personality Disorder Service has drawn from the work of John Gunderson (GPM) and John Livesley (Integrated modular treatment for BPD) in supporting the mental health clinician’s psychotherapeutic treatment with an individual experiencing borderline personality disorder. The Personality Disorder Service has implemented these principles in assisting mental health clinicians regardless of their professional discipline or training in psychotherapy to establish a consistent therapeutic frame and structure in their engagement with their clients and communicate processes of change that challenge the interpersonal relationship difficulties that client experiences. These principles are applicable to any mental health clinician working in specialist roles or generic roles public or private that are supporting individuals living with BPD.
Speaker information:
Janina Tomasoni is a clinical and counselling psychologist with 30 years of experience and is the current Director of Psychology at Northern Health Mental Health Division (Victoria). Prior to her current role, she developed and implemented Northern Health’s Mental Health Division’s Personality Disorder Service, leading a small team of personality disorder clinical specialists. The focus of the PDS has been to increase the mental health workforce's knowledge and skills in providing care and treatment to consumers presenting with personality disorders. This has been achieved through primary and secondary consultation, training, education, and systemic improvements.
Janina has more than 25 years of experience in providing evidence-based treatment to consumers with personality disorders within the public and private sector services including forensic services and capacity building a range of clinicians across these sectors to identify, assess and deliver effective support to these consumers. She has extensive experience in the development and delivery of training on personality disorders to a wide range of clinicians both locally and interstate. She has contributed to the field of personality disorder research within her current and past roles.
