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
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.
Dr. Skye Fitzpatrick PhD.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 7pm ET
Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 101: What is it, what causes it, and what helps it get better
This webinar will provide an overview of key information about traumatic event experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It will provide concrete information about what PTSD is, what keeps it going, and the different treatments that research shows help it get better. This will include an overview of individual psychotherapies, couple psychotherapies, and online self-help interventions that have been shown to be useful in the treatment of PTSD.
Dr. Skye Fitzpatrick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University and the director of the Treating and Understanding Life-threatening behaviour and Posttraumatic stress (TULiP lab). Dr. Fitzpatrick is focused on demystifying, destigmatizing, and broadening access to treatments for borderline personality disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Dr. Fitzpatrick has published ~100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters to these ends. She has also been awarded over $9.5 million CAD in research funding for work in these and related areas.
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