Recognising Personality Disorders and Managing Difficult Behaviours - Counselling

Reviewing the ten personality disorders and their associated challenging behaviours with a focus upon Borderline and Narcissistic disorders.

How can we differentiate bipolar disorder from borderline personality disorder (BPD), obsessive-compulsive disorder from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, or a cognitive lack of empathy from the emotional lack of empathy that is part of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)? Although personality disorders are often talked about, their symptoms can be difficult to recognize - particularly by novice therapists who may be baffled by behaviours associated with personality disorders. This seminar will provide an understanding of the ten DSM-5 listed personality disorders, with an emphasis on: learning to identify the symptoms; understanding the lived experience of consumers; and learning to manage some of the difficult behaviours.

The morning session of the seminar will explore eight personality disorders: paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal (cluster A); avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive (cluster C): and histrionic and antisocial (cluster B).

The afternoon session will focus on the two most prominent cluster B personality disorders: BPD and NPD. For all personality disorders, the topics will include:

(1) identification of symptoms and behaviours using case studies;

(2) causes;

(3) comorbidities;

(4) the lived experience of consumers using audiovisual material;

(5) treatment options (or the lack thereof); and

(6) strategies for managing difficult behaviours.

The presentation style will be interactive, encouraging participant contributions and questions.

Learning Objectives of This Training:

• Understanding key characteristics of personality disorders.
• Recognizing associated behaviours.
• Understanding the lived experience.
• Learning about strategies to manage some of the challenging behaviours associated with personality disorders, particularly BPD and NPD.

How will you benefit from attending this training?

• Learn to identify symptoms of the ten personality disorders.
• Learn to recognize the associated behaviours.
• Understand causes, comorbidities, and the lived experience of consumers.
• Learn to manage the challenging behaviours associated with personality disorders..
  

Morning Session (includes a short morning tea break)

Brief overview of the 10 personality disorders:

• Causes (psychological and biological)
• Comorbidities and prevalence
• Assessment
• Evidence-based treatments

Exploration of the three Cluster A and three Cluster C personality disorders, as well as Histrionic and Antisocial Personality Disorders (Cluster B):

• Symptoms
• Identification of symptoms in case studies
• Lived experience (including audiovisual material/ interviews with consumers)

Strategies for managing difficult behaviours.

Afternoon Session (includes a short afternoon tea break)

Exploration of the most prominent two Cluster B personality disorders: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD):

• Symptoms
• Identification of symptoms using case studies
• Lived experience (including audiovisual material / interviews with consumers)

Strategies for managing challenging behaviours

Target Audience

This seminar has been designed to extend the clinical knowledge and applied skill of Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Coaches, Psychologists, Hypnotherapists, Social Workers, Community Workers, Mental Health Nurses and Psychiatrists.