About this webinar
Webinar dates: January 29 and 30, 2026
Time: 1 to 4 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Anita Federici, PhD, CPsych, FAED.
CE hours: 6
This training is suitable for:
- Mental Health Professionals: psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers
- Medical Professionals: nurses, psychiatrists, pediatricians, family doctors
- Direct Service Workers: drop-in workers, shelter and hostel workers, child and youth workers, youth justice workers
- Educators: teachers, ECE, school administration, support staff
Client category: Professionals working with adult (18+) clients.
Level of training: Introductory to Intermediate
Description: Personality disorders (PDs) are complex and often misunderstood conditions marked by long-standing patterns in thinking, emotion regulation, and interpersonal behavior. While the DSM-5 categorizes ten PDs across three clusters—A (eccentric), B (emotional/erratic), and C (anxious/fearful)—real-world presentations are rarely so clear-cut. Misconceptions and stigma continue to persist, even among helping professionals.
This two-day interactive training is designed for professionals who want to improve their ability to assess, conceptualize, and compassionately respond to clients with personality disorders. We will explore how PDs intersect with trauma, eating disorders, substance use, and emotional dysregulation—and what to do when standard approaches fall short.
Drawing from current literature, neuroscience, and clinical case examples, this workshop provides practical tools to build confidence in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and client conversations. Participants will leave with a clearer framework for understanding and supporting adults with personality disorders—without pathologizing or losing hope.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the DSM-5 framework for personality disorders, including common myths and misconceptions
- Identify similarities and distinctions among the three PD clusters (A, B, and C)
- Describe how neurobiological factors shape emotional and interpersonal patterns in PDs with specific focus on borderline and narcissistic personality disorders
- Apply structured assessment tools and screening measures in your practice
- Strengthen communication skills when discussing PD diagnoses and conceptualizations with clients and teams
- Design more targeted, empathetic, and evidence-informed treatment plans for individuals with PDs
- Describe options for helping family members
Teaching Format
• Interactive didactic segments
• Case-based discussion and clinical examples
• Role-play and practice scenarios
• Q&A segments
• Take-home handouts and client-friendly resources
Audio/visual recording disclaimer: Please note that this training will be recorded. We kindly ask that you please review the audio/visual consent form.
Continuing Education (CE) Information: SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) to offer continuing education (CE) hours. Full-day programs equal six CE hours; half-day programs equal three CE hours; for less than half-day programs, one hour of programming equals one CE hour. SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute maintains responsibility for the programs.
Other licensing boards and professional organizations will grant continuing education credits for attendance at their own discretion; participants will need to submit the course outline and Certificate of Participation for their consideration.
If registration has closed and you're still interested in joining this course, please contact Mary Anne at mvanrooyen@sickkidscmhlearning.ca
What our learners have to say about this course
"This program expanded my understanding of how to approach people’s difficulties with greater compassion, humanity, and an evidence-based perspective."
-Attendee, Reframing the narrative, facilitated by Anita Federici, Ph.D., C.Psych, FAED, winter 2026.
Accessibility
We strive to ensure our online learning programs are easy for everyone, everywhere. If you have any accessibility requirements (closed-captioning, ASL interpreters, advanced access to program materials), please email Mary Anne Van Rooyen at mvanrooyen@sickkidscmhlearning.ca to let us know how we can best support your learning experience.
Photography is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the content is a model, except where indicated.