About BPD Education
Mission Statement
BPD Education.com was founded in 2021 with a simple mission: to change the way people think about Borderline Personality Disorder, by being a compassionate and non-judgmental source of information about BPD.
There is plenty of information about BPD out there, but a lot of it is judgmental and stigmatizing. So many people tell me that they originally felt relief when they got their diagnosis - there's a name! there's a treatment! - but when they went home and did some research, their hearts sunk. It seems like the internet is full of people saying nasty things about people with BPD, and not a lot of stories of hope.
BPD has a bad reputation, partly because for decades it was misunderstood and there weren't many effective treatments. But that isn't the case anymore, and there's no reason to get your information from a biased source. That's where this website comes in.
No matter how BPD affects you, I hope you'll find the information you need here. I've done my best to provide clear, understandable, and relatable explanations of common issues related to BPD.
If you have BPD (whether you've been formally diagnosed or not), my wish is that this website makes you feel understood and validated, gives you hope, and the resources you need to heal.
If someone you love has BPD, I hope this website helps you understand them a little better. Knowing what's happening to your loved one can ease tension in the relationship, provide a little bit of relief, and give you clarity on how to move forward. Some of the resources here will help you to set effective boundaries, develop new communication styles, and break old, ineffective patterns. Thank you for being here, and trying to learn more about how to support your loved one.
If you're a healthcare provider, I hope this website changes the way you see BPD. When we look at the diagnosis through a trauma-informed lens, so many of the misconceptions we've been carrying slip away. If the information you find here helps you think differently about BPD, I've done my job - but if you'd like to go a step further and change the way you work with people with BPD, please reach out for a training or consultation.
About the Resources
I’ve done my best to compile a lot of information here, and to link to other sources as appropriate. I have relied on my personal and professional experience when putting this information together, including knowledge I have gained as part of my education and licensure to become a mental health provider.
I sincerely hope that this website is a starting place for a healing journey, but I want to stress that nothing on this website is therapy. Therapy happens in the context of a two-way relationship between a licensed mental health provider and a client, where the therapist knows specifics about a client’s life and can provide individual feedback.
By necessity, the information on this website is general. I can’t possibly describe the personal experience every individual with BPD. I can’t comment on anyone’s particular situation or relationship. I can only provide general information about what things are usually like for the majority of people, but I don’t pretend to speak for everyone with BPD.
For this reason, if anything you read here conflicts with your personal experience, or advice you’ve been given by a therapist, please feel free to disregard it.
I strongly recommend that if you or a loved one have BPD, that you seek out a licensed mental health provider of your own. I understand this may not be an option for everyone, but it is well worth the time and financial investment. I believe you will find the information here helpful, but it will be even more helpful if you have a trained professional who can help you implement it – and much more – as part of your personal recovery.
A Final Note: to the Reader with BPD
My heart goes out to you. Living with BPD is extremely painful, and I know you didn’t choose this for yourself.
If you’re reading this, that means you want to learn more about yourself. If you want to learn more about yourself, that probably means you want to get better.
Getting better is hard work, but it is absolutely possible. I see it every day.
Life in recovery is beautiful, and I’m cheering for you.
behind the scenes
About the Founder
Hi! I'm Catherine Humenuk, MSW, LCSW, C-DBT, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who primarily treats Borderline Personality Disorder, Complex PTSD, and substance use disorders. I was originally introduced to DBT (the therapy most often recommended for Borderline Personality Disorder) in my personal life, when a therapist suggested practicing radical acceptance (a DBT skill but also a great life skill in general) about a situation I could not change.
Radical acceptance completely changed my life. I was suddenly free from so much suffering, which I had caused myself by resisting reality. I continued my journey of healing by learning more about mindfulness, and I wanted to share it with others. Ultimately I became a yoga instructor and then a therapist, with the goal of helping people who struggle with overwhelming emotions. As a DBT therapist, I use DBT skills every day in a variety of situations.
In my professional work, I find that Borderline Personality Disorder symptoms just make sense. I noticed that I was able to understand people with BPD, and put some of their experiences into words. When I explained what was happening, my clients with BPD felt validated and supported; their families and loved ones felt relief because they could finally understand what was happening. I hosted some trainings for other mental health providers to share what I know, and the response was amazing.
I started BPD Education to make this information more widely available. This website is certainly not the only website out there with information about BPD, and it might not explain every individual's experience, but I truly believe it will be a starting point for healing for many.
