Super Feeler: A BPD Podcast

Dr. Sheetal Lakhani joins the podcast all the way from India to talk about what the landscape of mental health treatment and personality disorder understand is like in India. 

We discuss the cultural differences we see between western nations and India - including differing understandings of mental health, access to treatment, and how relational dynamics may impact how we view what is "disordered". 

We also talk about mentalization and Dr. Sheetal's very own research about MVT - a measurement of mentalization that was developed in India and is now be...

KT has had thoughts of suicide since they were a little kid. 

We get into the overlap between borderline and avoidant personality traits, fear of failure, and why finding people who actually get it through peer support can make such a difference.

Plus we get very millennial and talk about MSN, Nexopia, Chat Roulette, and sing a little bit of queen Hilary Duff. 

We talked SO much recording this so if you want a extended version of this episode on video, head over to patreon at the $5 tier! 

Find the BPD Soc...

Ashley shares her experience navigating a complicated intersection of trauma, substance use, homelessness, and the systems that are supposed to help but fail us time and time again.

Ashley talks openly about living with the effects of Fetal Alcohol Effects, BPD, anxiety, severe depression, ADHD, complex post traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), PMOS/PCOS and attachment issues stemming from her many traumatic experiences in the foster system. 

We talk about substance use, including being three years clean from meth, fentanyl, and heroin, and the realities of trying to survive while experiencing homelessness in Vancouver’s Downtown Eas...

Nelson Grey is the author of the DBT with Sherlock Holmes series and shares his personal journey through grief and complex post traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). We dive into how he used storytelling and dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT) skills to heal, help others understand their emotions and do something about them through narratives. 

If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, or just want to try a new approach to learning DBT skills I can't recommend these books enough! You can purchase them at these links: 

DBT with Sherlock Holmes Volume 1

Kat comes back on Super Feeler to share their dissociative identity disorder (DID) assessment findings with us!

We talked about a lot of resources today: 

1. Kat's very own podcast!

2. Petals of a Rose Short Film

3. Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists book 

4. Caroline's episode of Super Feeler "Rejecting the Concept of a Disordered Personality"

5. Click here for the Plural Association information

6. Skills Lab Peer Support Group upcoming sessions can be found here. 

Listen to Kat's first DID...

Dr. Shari Allen (@mentalectpharmd) is a psychiatric pharmacist and comes on the show to talk all about psych meds and the importance of personalized treatment 

Some of the questions we cover include: 

Pippa Scott is the author of Paper Girls Burn, a brand new borderline personality disorder memoir that you're going to love! 

We discuss our mutual (and often problematic) love of men, favorite people, emetophobia (the fear of vomiting), health anxiety and how DBT and learning about ourselves has changed both of our lives. 

Plus we get into the Lindsay Clancy trial a bit (note: we recorded this August 24th 2026 so what we say may be out of date).

Paper Girls Burn is out now and can be purchased at: https://caitlinpress.com/Books/P...

Dene shares his profound journey through life marked by childhood trauma, family histories of mental health and addictions, and the complexities of unknowingly living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) before being diagnosed at 50. 

Dene recently started BPD Raw, a website that aims to share unfiltered stories of BPD to create better understanding. 

We also touch on the evolving role of AI in mental health and the importance of peer support. 

Learn more about the Strangers Project that inspired Dene to start BPD Raw here: https://strangersproject.com/

We recorded this episode abo...

Dr. Kiki Fehling, a psychologist, author, influencer, and self-proclaimed super feeler joins the pod to talk all about cultivating queer joy through Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). 

We discuss the history of LGBTQ2S+ issues in psychology, the doing our own self-reflection of positioning in the world through intersectional lenses to understand minority stress, and the need for advocating for systemic change. 

*Buy the book!* (find Crows and Cross Queer Bookstore in Vancouver we discussed or your local queer owned bookstore!)

Find the free handouts that accompany the bo...

Clinical psychology PhD candidate, Jason joins the pod to talk about the impact of internalized racism, his research on self-damaging behaviours (things like self-harm, binge eating, substance use), and his experiences growing up Asian in Canada.

We touch on the concept of minority stress, how badly informed we are on the impact of racism on many health outcomes, and how important it is to participate in research! 

If you're eligible, I highly encourage you to reach out to participate in this important study.

The RISE-C study is currently recruiting people who (1) are 16 years o...

Dr. Maggie Flynn is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy specializing in psychiatric care. She explores how sensory-based interventions can transform our understanding and support for people engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (aka self harm) and those living with BPD. 

Together, we unpack the history and evolving role of occupational therapy in psychiatric settings, including how sensory modulation and planning for specific sensory activities throughout one's day can support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and limit behaviours like self-harm. 

Maggie shares innovative perspectives on understanding self-harm through the lens of unmet sensory needs, challenging common assumptions and stigma of...

Ciaran is a crisis response worker and a Director with the Canadian Mental Health Association. 

They have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and are 6 years sober. Previously they had received a BPD diagnosis, one that their mother also shares. 

We chat about the internalized stigma of recieving a BPD diagnosis - especially working in the mental health field, as well as the importance of truly listening people who are in distress. 

We also talk about the importance of housing first and the impacts of hom...

Marsha McAdam is a recipient of the esteemed Churchill Fellowship in which she traveled the world to better understand the experiences of people living with borderline personality disorder and those who treat and care for them. 

We discuss her own personal journey with BPD, the impact mentalization-based therapy has had on her life and what she learned along her journey through the UK, USA and Austrelia. 

We highlight the inadequacies of emergency care for individuals with BPD, the evolving work around young people with BPD, and the importance of hearing a wide range of voices wh...

Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala (@self-made.personality) is a clinical psychologist and the co-developer of a new personalized treatment for borderline personality disorder called BPD Compass.  This self-guided workbook is grounded in cutting-edge personality science and has demonstrated promising results in clinical trials.

We talk through the data behind this new treatment, how it compares to existing evidence based treatments like DBT, MBT, and TFT, and how BPD Compass may help with existing treatment access issues. 

*** PLUS WE'RE DOING A GIVEAWAY! ***

From August 1st - September 1st 2026 if you follow @thesuperfeeler and @se...

Tess Gecha is a doctoral researcher who is studying siblings experiences of those with personality disorder and their personal growth. We discuss the intergenerational transmission of personality disorders and how mentalization and other interventions may support families impacted by BPD and other personality disorders.

Study details - please share with anyone who may want to participate! 

The University of Houston Developmental Psychopathology Lab is looking for participants for an online research study about personal growth in siblings of individuals with personality disorder.

You a...

Violet was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder at 15 years old and it changed her life. We explore how that diagnosis happened, the family dynamics that contributed to her escalating challenges and the impact of COVID-19 on her mental health.

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page. 

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group) 

...

Dr. Glauco Valdivieso is a psychiatrist from Lima, Peru and joins the pod to share insights into the treatment of borderline personality disorder in Latin America. Topics include cultural and age influences to treatment and diagnosis, regional differences in stigma, available treatment approaches, and exciting upcoming work in the region. 

You can follow Glauco on Instagram at @dr.valdivieso.psiquiatria

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler p...

Caroline rejects the whole notion of anyone having a disordered personality which is exactly why I reached out to her to chat with me on the show. 

Sure, there are lots of things we disagree on - but there's actually far more we do agree on despite me finding tons of value of having a BPD diagnosis. 

Together we explore the complexities of labelling, Caroline's experience discovering she had autism all along, and the impact of significant trauma at the hands of psychology professionals.

We discuss tons of controversies including: 

Dr. Alec Miller is the co-creator of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) and the co-author of DBT Skills in Schools among many other books (see links below). We chat about the impact Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can have on children, youth and families and how this kind of treatment would have saved me and my family from years of trauma and crisis. 

We explore how DBT skills can be introduced earlier in life—not just in therapy, but in schools and at home—to support emotional regulation, reduce risk, and build a life worth living from...

You'll remember Katja from her previous episode about Schizotypal Personality Disorder and from the BPD Bunch podcast but this time you'll hear from her AND her wonderful husband Charles! 

Together we chat about how her BPD and STPD show up in their relationship and what healthy love looks like for them. 

We also get into a WILD story about impulsivity that had me laughing at random for weeks and how communication is the key to understanding and connection. 

Listen to Katja's episode of the BPD...

Daphnée is super passionate about Radically Open Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (RO-DBT) and shares about how it's helped her overcome overcontrol and perfectionism. Plus, Laurie has a bit of a spiral about how desperately she needs RO-DBT to help her with her own issues. 

We also chat about some tips to make the most out of therapy, parts work, and what happens when you branch out and find therapy that really works for you. 

Whether you're considering new therapeutic approaches or seeking insights into managing over-control tendencies, this conversation is for you! 

Charlene shares her journey navigating her daughter's BPD alongside some really complex family dynamics that continue to impact their lives today. 

We touch on the challenges they faces as a family and the key role that peer support and learning had for both her growth as a mother and her ability to support her daughter. 

Charlene is a facilitator of Sashbear's Family Connections program which you can learn about here. 

Join Laurie at the Sashbear Walk in Burnaby on May 9th 2026! You can donate and/or join Team Super Feeler at thi...

Katja lives with Schizotypal Personality Disorder and BPD, two diagnoses that are misunderstood and rarely (if ever) talked about together. 

Katja shares her journey of learning to manage her BPD symptoms to the point of remission without typical treatment.

We also explore what it’s like to live in the uniquely creative and magical world that comes with schizotypal personality disorder.

If you want even more Katja in your life you can find her on the BPD Bunch Podcast and buy her book at this link!

Don't forget to follow her on...

Lindsay Dow is a former investment banker, a certified peer specialist and Program Director at Silver Hill New York. She's been diagnosed with BPD and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). We dive into what both of those disorders look like, how they were diagnosed and what life looks like now. 

Lindsay discusses her early diagnoses, struggles during college, and the impact of some pretty complex parental dynamics on her mental health. 

We also talk about her innovative work in utilizing real time data in tailoring therapeutic approaches and what the future might hold for psychiatric care if...

When I read about Maya and Hilary's story in the news my heart sank. I didn't even have to finish the article to know that borderline personality disorder misunderstanding and stigma was at play. 

In this episode Hilary (Maya's mom) shares about the ways in which Maya's mental health changed, the help she tried to get, and the final days of her life where the combination of her mistrust of the health system and a subsequent FOI of her records led her to believe there was no hope left. It was that day that she tragically took h...

Dr. Steven Huprich, a leading clinical psychologist, researcher, and professor, specializing in personality disorder assessment, diagnosis and treatment. 

Together we unpack the differences between the DSM-5 and ICD-11 models of diagnosing personality disorders and how those differences impact people living with personality disorders and those who treat them. 

We also take a closer look at what a thoughtful and effective clinical assessment should include and we dive into some of the biggest challenges in diagnosing personality disorders, including:

Laura's BPD was first discussed when she was 13 years old - and from there her family started the healing process as a unit. 

They accessed DBT-A as a family, learned new skills and ways to communicate, set boundaries and have grown tremendously over the last  13 years.

Alison, Laura's mom, is a facilitator for the Sashbear Foundation and has found tremendous support through their Family Connections program. 

Their story brings so much hope that families can heal together and that love to withstand the challenges that BPD can bring. 

JOIN US O...