About this Event
Working with Complex Presentations of Borderline Personality Disorder and Co-Existing Conditions Using Good Psychiatric Management
Thursday 22nd October 2026
9.00 AM TO 4.30 PM AEDT
This workshop offers training in an empirically validated treatment approach to borderline personality disorder (BPD) known as Good or General Psychiatric Management (GPM) with a specific focus on complex presentations involving co-occurring disorders. GPM is “good enough” for most clinicians and most patients, and provides mental health professionals guidelines they need to become skilled providers who can derive satisfaction from treating patients with BPD. This workshop will provide instruction in how to adapt GPM to meet the needs of patients with significant co-occurring disorders along with BPD. Depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse disorder, eating disorders, other personality disorders, and many other disorders frequently co-occur with BPD and can significantly complicate treatment.
Many providers believe that co-occurring disorders must be treated before BPD can be addressed, or that BPD must be addressed before meaningful change can occur in co-occurring disorders. This workshop will equip attendees to consider people with complex presentations as whole people and use GPM to most effectively help them. It will review the common co-occurring disorders, the way they interact with BPD, and strategies for combined treatment.
Learning Objectives:
On completion of this workshop participants will be able to:
- Identify strategies to combine treatment approaches for BPD and some of the common co-existing conditions (including substance use disorders, PTSD / C-PTSD, other co-existing personality disorders, neurodiversity and others).
- Identify where systems and cross-sector care may contribute to complex presentations and how to apply the GPM principles to effectively work with multiple teams/systems.
Who should register? Clinicians who work with people with BPD and have some prior knowledge of GPM.
Facilitators:
Cathryn Pilcher
Associate Clinical Director, Spectrum
Cathryn Pilcher is an accomplished Occupational Therapist and is the Associate Director of Spectrum in Australia, with extensive expertise in personality disorders and complex trauma. With years of experience at the forefront of mental health, Cathryn has built a reputation for her leadership and seniority in the field. She also holds an adjunct senior lecturer position at Monash University and more recently was the co-author on a book titled, Borderline Personality Disorder; A Practical Guide for Victorian Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services.
Dr Mithira Nithianandan
Clinical Director and Consultant Psychiatrist, Spectrum
Dr Mithira Nithianandan is a consultant psychiatrist and Acting Executive Clinical Director at Spectrum Personality Disorder Service. She has had training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Metallization Based Treatment. Dr Nithianandan believes that training and support for the mental health workforce are crucial for addressing the needs of people with personality disorder. She has a particular interest in supporting primary care providers in working therapeutically with clients living with BPD.
Cost: $300 (payable by credit card only).
Lunch: A light lunch and afternoon tea will provided per your dietary requirements.
Getting to Spectrum: Spectrum is located at 110 Church Street, on the corner of Church Street and Tweedie Place. Entrance is via the front of the building, to the right of the Skoda car dealership.
Public transport:
- Tram 78 on Church Street. Alight at Tweedie Pl/Church Street (Stop 63).
- Tram 109 on Victoria Parade (about a 5 min walk to 110 Church Street)
- Tram 75 on Bridge Rd (about a 7 min walk to 110 Church Street)
Car parking:
There is very limited 2 hour street parking available in the area. All day parking is available in:
- Richmond Traders, 271 Bridge rd, Richmond – 7 minute walk ($12/day)
- 35 Elizabeth Street, Richmond – 11 minute walk ($20 a day)
- 1 Allowah Terrace, Richmond – 12 minute walk (about $26/day)
Cancellation policy: If your circumstances change and you no longer can attend this event after you have registered please email [email protected] no later than one (1) week prior to the event to cancel and/or be issued with a refund. A refund will not be issued if notification has not been received within this time frame and you will be required to pay for the event. Please note that Eventbrite booking fees cannot be refunded.
General enquiries: Spectrum on (03) 8413 8750 or email [email protected]
Event venue & nearby stays
Spectrum, 110 Church Street, Richmond, Australia
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