Course Description

Exploring BPD & Complex Trauma

This practical course focuses in on the key presenting features of BPD and Complex Trauma and effective ways to work with the client in a trauma informed and Recovery orientated context. It is designed to support more meaningful, boundaried and effective working relationships between the client, their workers and the care team.

You will learn

  • Key features of BPD and Complex Trauma
  • Skills and strategies that support effective boundaries and respectful relationships
  • The Deliberate Self Harm cycle and how to use this as an effective tool with the client in the face of self harm concerns
  • The role of Trauma Informed Care & Practice in supportive effective systems work
  • How to navigate traps and pitfalls regarding risk concerns, impulsive behaviours and relationship challenges
  • CHIME – as ‘guiderails’ for true recovery orientated work
  • Effective crisis management strategies


3.5 hours pre-recorded webinar – $200 (inc.GST) per person

Co Director

Brett Bridges

Brett is a practising mental health clinician, mental health consultant, educator, trainer and therapist. His extensive experience includes the specialist fields of personality disorder, acute mental health, complex care, forensic mental health, alcohol and other drugs, intellectual disability and corrections. He has previously held senior clinical roles at Spectrum (Personality Disorders Service for Victoria) and Forensicare (Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health). Brett has demonstrable success in consulting to organisational and systemic complexity and challenge, activating critical thinking, enhanced practices and key interventions that will enable a more functional and capable response to clients with mental health issues. This includes utilising recovery focused and trauma informed thinking in response to complex care issues and significant risk challenges. Brett is highly skilled in engaging multiple service providers in complex care scenarios where hostile or fractured work practices, systemic anxiety, dysfunction and paralysis have emerged. His services include: education, training, consultation, supervision and primary intervention.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Session 1 - Presenting Features of BPD and Complex Trauma

  • 2

    Relationship challenges, DSH, Suicide and Crisis Interventions

    • RFBH - Session 2

    • RFBH webinar case example - Imogen (please print prior to video session)

    • RFBH - Session 2 - Chapter 1

    • RFBH Session 2 - Chapter 2

    • RFBH Session 2 - Chapter 3

    • RFBH Session 2 - Chapter 4

  • 3

    Resources

    • RFBH - Webinar Slides in pdf form.

    • RECOVERY ORIENTATED AND TRAUMA INFORMED CLIENT FORMULATION - 'Imogen'

    • DSH Cycle example - 'Imogen'

    • RFBH - Bibliography

    • OCM Training 2020 infograph

    • OCM Training Program 2020-2021

    • RFBH QUIZ