Founded in 1982, the North West Regional Psychotherapy Association is an independent association of psychotherapists, counsellors and psychoanalysts of different backgrounds, training and clinical strengths.
We are a not-for-profit association run by volunteers who organise talks, seminars and workshops on Zoom for the second Monday of the month. Events are free to members and only £7.50 per event for non-members. Membership of NWRPA costs just £30 a year. Join at any time of year and your membership lasts for 12 months. Membership is open to qualified counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals practicing or teaching in related fields. We meet online and have members from across the UK and overseas, so you do not need to be located in the north-west. NWRPA represents high quality, good value, CPD! Whilst most members are in practice, qualified or retired practitioners and those approaching graduation from accredited or registered (e.g. BACP, UKCP, BPS, HCPC, GMC) face-to-face practitioner training programmes are also invited to apply for membership.
NEXT MEETING
Monday, October 13 at 7 PM GMT
Consequences of Misdiagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder – Professional and Personal perspectives
Abbey Brocklehurst
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), is a mental health diagnosis often associated with emotional intensity, unstable relationships, impulsivity, and difficulties with identity. However, it is a highly controversial and frequently misdiagnosed condition, particularly in young women. Abbey will discuss her misdiagnosis of BPD, with a focus on the personal and professional perspectives of a therapist who was herself misdiagnosed at age 21. Abbey will explore how normal developmental struggles, trauma, and gendered stereotypes contribute to misdiagnosis, and the consequences this can have for clients, including over-medication, stigma, and barriers to effective support, while also reflecting on the ways in which such experiences have shaped her both personal identity and professional practice. 
Abbey is a BACP Registered Person-Centred Therapist with an MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice and a BA (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling. She has extensive experience working across private practice, charities, and a range of organisations. Having been misdiagnosed with BPD at the age of 21, Abbey brings both lived and counselling experience to her work, offering unique insight into the complexities and consequences of psychiatric labelling. Her practice is grounded in the values of empathy, authenticity, and respect for the client’s own capacity for growth. www.mindsthatmatter.co.uk