Daniel J. Fox - The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook: An Integrative Program to Understand and Manage Your BPD

The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook by Daniel Fox is a user-friendly, systematic, and pragmatic set of tools designed to help clients with borderline personality symptoms identify and work toward change through a variety of multidimensional activities and exercises. Supplemented by extensive online content, the positive approach of this workbook is sure to inspire hope for the most discouraged of clients.

Sherry Cormier, PhD , professor emerita in the department of counseling and counseling psychology at West Virginia University, author of Counseling Strategies and Interventions for Professional Helpers and Sweet Sorrow , and coauthor of Interviewing and Change Strategies for Helpers

Daniel Fox has bridged the gap between the classic understanding and contemporary application of the authoritative findings concerning personality pathology. In his latest book, Fox has unraveled the dual construct of personality development toward more accurate identification and effective interventionnow and for future generations. The inclusion of the information addressing online behavioral expression is timely and crucial for a culture driven by social media. Online users have practical tools to alert them to unsuspected predators, and/or dating prospects who may have underlying personality pathology. The academic, mental health, and social communities will be forever indebted to Fox.

Verdi Rountree Lethermon, PhD , retired director of the Houston Police Departments psychological services division, previous adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas and Houston Baptist University, and private practice clinician

Daniel Fox wont let you off easy. The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook is truly a book that expects you to WORK! If you think you might have some symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and are willing to address these problems, and, most of all, are truly committed to working hard at fixing them, this is the book you need.

Jerold J. Kreisman, MD , author of Talking to a Loved One with Borderline Personality Disorder , and coauthor of I Hate You - Dont Leave Me

When working with clients who present with personality disorders, it is sometimes difficult for our clients to grasp the concept of a personality disorder, and even more difficult for them to acquire, execute, and maintain the skills necessary to successfully navigate their everyday lives. As a psychologist and mental health professional, I am always seeking better and more efficient resources that assist my clients on their journey in therapy, as well as providing some structure when developing treatment plans. Well, I hit the jackpot with this resource! Fox has done a marvelous job creating a resource that really helps to better facilitate this work! This workbook is user friendly and can either be used while someone is currently in treatment with a mental health professional, or independently attempting to improve their lives. This workbook does an excellent job breaking down the who, what, when, where, and how of navigating the diagnosis of BPD, and will definitely be an excellent addition to my referral resources for both clinicians and patients!

Meagan N. Houston, PhD , licensed psychologist; owner of Houston Behavioral Health, PLLC; police psychologist for the Houston Police Department located in Houston, TX; and author of Treating Suicidal Clients and Self-Harm Behaviors

Fox has created an outstanding, comprehensive workbook for individuals suffering from BPD that is both accessible and inviting. It provides a straightforward approach to developing the skills and understanding needed to overcome this painful and emotionally crippling disorder. If you suffer from BPD, this book offers you a clear path toward creating stable and meaningful relationships, developing a compassionate and clearer understanding of yourself, and shedding your feelings of being alone and hopeless. This book will make lives better!

Russ Wood, PhD , founder and director of Clear Fork Psychology Services; has treated individuals suffering from BPD and other personality disorders since the 1980s

Fox has written a superb book that helps both people with borderline personality and the therapists who work with this disorder. In this workbook, Fox lucidly integrates evidence-based techniques and tools to help with thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationshipstreating those with borderline personality as whole people who can achieve and maintain success and recovery. Foxs work is a must-have for those who want to understand, treat, and recover from borderline personality. Enthusiastically recommended!

Lane Pederson, PsyD , author of The Expanded Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training Manual , Dialectical Behavior Therapy , and DBT Skills Training for Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment Settings

Daniel Fox has taken his extensive knowledge of this challenging clinical population and has synthesized the literature with his own therapeutic experience and style. The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook challenges the individual with this disorder to change through a series of self-examination exercises of ones beliefs and behaviors, and why these behaviors are maintained. Through a systematic process of exploring what BPD is, to understanding the nature of the problem and acting on what has been learned, the person with BPD is guided to conquering their conflicts and building and eventually maintaining a new self. The workbook may also be used by mental health professionals working with persons with the challenge of BPD.

Roy H. Tunick, EdD , licensed psychologist in West Virginia; past president of the West Virginia Psychological Association (WVPA); and professor emeritus in the department of counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and counseling psychology at West Virginia University

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2019 by Daniel J. Fox

New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

Lorna Smith Benjamins sequence of early experiences contributory to BPD (Figure 1, page 19) is used by permission of Guilford Publications, Inc.

Cover design by Amy Shoup

Acquired by Wendy Millstine

Edited by James Lainsbury

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file

This book is dedicated to my three heartbeats:

my wife, Lydia, and my two children, Alexandra and Sebastian

Contents

Acknowledgments

A huge thank you to the following individuals for all of their insight and help throughout this process:

Elizabeth Hollis Hansen for all of your help and assistance.

Clancy Drake for your thoughtful suggestions and edits on multiple versions.

Dr. Russ Wood for your insight and suggestions.

Katherine Fox (no relation to author) for your invaluable early edits and feedback.

James Lainsbury for your terrific copyediting and useful feedback.

Introduction: A New Way to See Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) was once seen as a disorder that defied treatment. Many individuals who meet criteria for this disorder, as well as those who have traits, are still inclined to believe this even today. However, this is not the case! BPD is a treatable disorder, and with proper treatment, skill building, enhancement of insight, and many other factors well discuss and explore throughout this workbook, you can put yourself on a path to reducing BPDs impact and growing beyond it.