Sashbear’s Expert Education Series is a series of free, online, monthly presentations with international experts speaking on topics related to emotion dysregulation and family skills.
Whether you are a relative or friend, a person with lived experience of BPD, or a mental health service provider, you will find something in our library of presentations to help you understand more about BPD and emotion dysregulation.
Click here to find a list of upcoming presentations in French.
Upcoming Presentations
Wendy Bamatter, PhD
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 7pm ET
Caregiver Burnout: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Move Through It
Do you sometimes, or perhaps more often than you’d like, find yourself parenting from a place of emotional reactivity? Maybe you yell or make threats because, in the moment, it feels like the only available option. Perhaps you shut down and disconnect, becoming numb as a way to cope. These reactions are common and understandable responses to caregiver burnout. When burnout goes unrecognized or unaddressed, it can take a significant toll on caregivers’ mental health, relationships, and physical well-being. Parenting today is complex and demanding, and research suggests that rates of caregiver burnout are at historic highs. For parents raising children with serious mental health challenges, the demands are even greater. In this talk, we will draw on research from psychology, neuroscience, and family systems to define caregiver burnout, explore the factors that contribute to its development and persistence, and of course, discuss ways to address it early and sustainably.
Dr. Wendy P. Bamatter is the founding Program Director of McLean Hospital’s Child Partial Hospital Program. Prior to this role, she served as Program Director of McLean’s 3East Cambridge Residence and previously a Staff Psychologist within the 3East DBT Intensive Residential Program at McLean. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Bamatter works primarily with children, adolescents, young adults and their families. She has expertise in treating individuals struggling with emotion dysregulation, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicide ideation and behaviors. She has also focused significant efforts on providing, and training others in the provision of, gender-affirming care to transgender and gender diverse individuals. She also has extensive training in delivering culturally sensitive individual and family therapy in Spanish.
Michelle Leybman, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | 7pm ET
Self-Compassion: An Antidote to Shame and Self-Criticism
This talk will discuss how humans come to relate to themselves with harshness, blame and shame and the impact this has on emotional well-being and mental health. It will offer understanding about how we evolved to criticize ourselves, and will introduce self-compassion as an alternative way to respond to the difficulties we all face. The talk draws on ideas from Paul Gilbert’s compassionate mind training, and includes examples of exercises and practices that can help a person cultivate a more compassionate relationship with oneself.
Dr. Michelle Leybman, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist working within the Borderline Personality Disorder Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and is the Co-Director of Equilibrium Mental Health and Wellness. She works with adults and adolescents, specializing in the treatment of personality disorders, eating disorders, and anxiety-related difficulties. Dr. Leybman has extensive clinical expertise in dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and mindfulness- and compassion-based approaches. She regularly works with individuals struggling with emotion dysregulation, non-suicidal self-injury, significant shame, and related challenges. In addition to her clinical practice, she is deeply involved in teaching and training, providing education and supervision across hospital and community settings. Most recently, she has worked internationally to support the dissemination of DBT to PhD and master’s-level trainees in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Recordings of Recent Presentations
Library of Recorded Presentations
Explore our library of more than 60 presentations. We are adding more all the time. Head over to YouTube to start learning.
Topics include:
- Lived experience — living with borderline personality disorder
- Skills for family members — learning about dialectical thinking, relationship mindfulness, validation, and more
- Mental health disorders — what does emotional dysregulation look like when someone also has another mental health disorder such as PTSD or OCD
- Concerning behaviours — Gain understanding and skills to cope if your loved one is dealing with substance use, self-harm, or an eating disorder
- Trauma — Learn about the intersection of trauma and BPD. Recognize the potential and impact of trauma on family members
- Suicide, grief and loss
- Evidence-based treatment modalities — Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Mentalization Based Therapy, Radically Open DBT, Mindfulness
- Indigenous cultural safety and awareness
Featured Presentations