Tolerating, Managing, Understanding and Treating the Borderline Addict: Interpretations and Counter Transference from a Trauma Based Model

Presented by: Jerry Boriskin

We all operate from the foundations and templates of our training. Both addiction and mental health training traditions have failed to address how to conceptualize, manage and effectively treat addicts who are dealing with severe trauma-based disorders. This plenary session will provide a reframing of these conditions as well as an introduction to the integrative model that gets results. Use and misuse of diagnostic labels, reframing the problem and grasping the multiple consequences of severe trauma, as it co-occurs with addiction will be the main objective of this presentation. The emotions generated by these difficult patients, as well as the individual and institutional reactions will be examined. A balanced, accurate and integrative model for managing these difficult cases will be presented and discussed.

Learning Objectives

• Explore emotional biases attached to Axis II label of Borderline Personality Disorder
• Learn that the latest thinking is that Borderlines are really suffering from a Limbic Dysregulation Problem, a consequence of a trauma-inducing, helpless experience, including sick family, war, etc.
• Discover that simplistic, linear thinking with traditional concrete labels reinforces the very sickness we are challenged to treat. Learn that an easy to master, four dimensional way of looking at these patients will improve efficacy, outcome and lower rates of therapist burn-out

About the Speaker

Jerry Boriskin, PhD, CAS has more than 28 years of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist, certified addiction specialist, consultant, national lecturer, and treatment program designer.

He is the author of PTSD and Addiction: A Practical Guide for Clinicians and Counselors . A passionate advocate for integrated treatment, his vision anticipated the ongoing movement toward integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders, particularly those involving trauma. He has worked extensively with sexual abuse survivors and combat veterans.

Dr. Boriskin is cofounder and clinical consultant for the Advanced Recovery Center in Delray Beach, Florida, a residential extended care facility for co-occurring psychological disorders and addiction.