Super Feeler: A BPD Podcast

This week we're joined by Sashbear Foundation founder Lynn Courey and Sandy, a family partner involved in Sashbear's Family Connections Program. The Sashbear Foundation, is an internationally recognized Canadian charity focused on supporting families affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD) and emotion dysregulation.

Sashbear was created following Lynn's family's tragic loss of a daughter to suicide. Both Lynn and Sandy share about the impact of peer support for families as well as the importance of normalizing conversations about mental health, decreasing stigma and advocacy.

May is borderline personality disorder awareness month and Sashbear hosts fundraising and awareness walks across Canada (and in France!) this summer. Join the Super Feeler team and register for your local walk here!

2025 Sashbear Walks:

• Ottawa, ON: May 3
• Burnaby, BC: May 10 - Laurie will be there! Come say hi!
• Saskatoon, SK: May 24
• Steinbach, MB: May 24
• Toronto, ON: May 25
• Edmonton, AB: May 30
• St. John, NB: June 8
• St. John's, NL: June 14
• Montreal, QC: September 14
• Virtual Walk: May 1 to September 30

Even if you aren't in Canada you can still donate to this important cause to show your support.

Throughout our conversation we highlight the beauty found within the BPD community and we hope to see you out wearing orange at the walks to connect with this amazing community even further.

To learn more about Sashbear's Family Connections program click here!

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)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!
Thank you for listening!

Bora is a 31 year old engineer and a mother of two who immigrated from Albania to the USA as a child. She shares about the impacts of a variety of cultural norms (like that of her home country, xenophobia in the US, her profession, academia, and childcare services) that have had a profound impact on her mental wellness.

Stay tuned for a second episode with Bora where we'll dive into parenting.

Just a note: Laurie had some audio issues on this episode but thankfully Bora's audio is great after the 2 minute mark. Sorry about that!
Bora refers to an episode with Connor in this podcast. This is reference to an episode of a podcast called Bold Beautiful Borderline and the episode can be found here.

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)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!
Thank you for listening!

Dr. Kiki Fehling, a super feeler psychologist, author, influencer, and super feeler joins the pod to talk all about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), its accessibility, and the importance of skills for all parts of life.

Kiki shares about their journey learning DBT while training as a psychologist and their desire to develop more accessible DBT-based resources.

Laurie and Kiki also compare notes on their heart issues (Kiki’s heart attack and Laurie’s heart rhythm disorder) and how they used DBT skills to cope through the attacks themselves and the subsequent treatment and recovery.

The conversation also touches on the challenges of traditional DBT resources and the importance that accessibility is improved for people who are neurodiverse, queer or live with disabilities. Kiki shares about their transition from clinical work to creating resources for a wider audience to help meet these accessibility needs.

In this episode we talked about A LOT of things so here’s a linked list of all of it!

Kiki’s books and resources

• Self-Directed DBT Skills: A 3-Month DBT Workbook to Regulate Intense Emotions and Create Lasting Change with Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• DBT Cards for Coping Skills: 125 DBT Skills and Strategies to Find Balance, Joy, and Purpose

Upcoming event feat Laurie and Kiki

• Click here to get tickets to the BPD Society of BC’s Virtual BPD Awareness Day Event that Laurie and Kiki are speaking at on May 8th 2025!

Other DBT Resources we chatted about:

• DBT RU Videos
• DBT for Life Book
• DBT-Informed Art Therapy Book
• The Game of Real Life Game
• The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills Book
• DBT Skills: Radical Acceptance Podcast Episode

Other resources:

• Rest Is Resistance Book
• Laziness Does Not Exist Book
• Now Matters Now Website

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)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!
Thank you for listening!

This episode delves into the intricacies of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), focusing on the mindfulness unit and the 'Describe' skill.
They explore how to differentiate between facts and opinions, the challenges of gaslighting, and the importance of trusting one's own reality. The conversation emphasizes the interconnectedness of DBT skills, particularly how 'Describe' relates to radical acceptance and interpersonal effectiveness. Personal anecdotes and practical applications provide insights into navigating complex emotional landscapes and building healthier relationships.

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)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!
Thank you for listening!

Time to discuss Opposite Action! Long story short - Opposite Action means doing the opposite of what you want to do when what you want to do isn't effective.
Easier said than done of course - but an incredibly helpful tool once you're practiced at it. Part of that practice is recognizing unskillful urges, and the learning the balance between feeling emotions and taking action to improve one's situation.
Get your own copy of 'DBT for Life' by Diana Partington to follow along with us!

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)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!
Thank you for listening!