Navigator Counselling and Coaching

08/08/2025

As a therapist, I hear about a lot of negative gaslighting — “I never said that, you’re imagining it, you’re too emotional!” — but I have never seen positive gaslighting on such a scale — “You’re a genius! You’re going to save the wold!”

In the end, the impact is the same: a deep sense of betrayal and a damaged sense of self.

The major difference is ChatGPT broke this man in 21 days, whereas this kind of emotional abuse takes effect over months or years in the context of a relationship.

If you need to talk to someone, make sure it’s a person not a Bot. And if your therapist doesn’t challenge you from time to time, they are not working hard enough.

When reading the article, make sure you click in “show more” for the images. I felt physically ill by the end of it.

— Jennie

Over 21 days of talking with ChatGPT, an otherwise perfectly sane man became convinced that he was a real-life superhero. We analyzed the conversation.

29/04/2025

Building Healthy Relationships is an online course for people struggling with intense emotions and relationship difficulties.

You will learn how to:
• ask for what you need
• say no effectively while maintaining self-respect and important relationships
• manage interpersonal conflict skilfully
• get and maintain close friendships
• end unhealthy relationships
• develop mindfulness skills you can apply every day
• Learn the superpower of effective validation of self and others

The Introduction to DBT and Mindfulness module is a pre-requisite for this course.

When: Wednesdays, 4-5:30pm, June 4, 11, 18, 25
OR Mondays, 2.30-4pm, July 7, 14, 21 & 28
OR Tuesdays, 12-2.30pm, July 15, 22, 29, August 5
(all times AWST)

29/04/2025

Learn how to…
• Name your emotions to tame them
• Bring down your emotional intensity
• Check the facts of emotionally intense situations and either solve the problem, change how you feel about it, or bear it.
• Reduce your vulnerability to emotional volatility and intensity�

The introduction to DBT and Mindfulness module is a pre-requisite for this course.

When: Mondays, 2.30-4pm, June 9, 16, 23 & 30
Tuesdays, 12-2.30pm, June 17, 24, July 1 & 8

29/04/2025

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is for people struggling with intense emotions, impulsivity and relationship difficulties. It teaches skills for better mental, emotional and relationship health. It draws on the best of eastern traditions (mindfulness and acceptance) and western behavioural therapies (changing emotions and behaviours for a better life).

DBT was initially created for people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but has since been proven to be very effective with ADHD, anxiety, depression and PTSD.

The Introduction to Mindfulness and Dialectics course is a 3-week course that covers the principles of DBT and Mindfulness and is a pre-requisite for the other modules. Each online session will be for 90 minutes and will cover skills and review your practice during the week.
When: Mondays, 2.30-4pm, May 12, 19 & 26
OR Thursdays, 5-6.30pm, May 15, 22, 29

OR Tuesdays, 12-2.30pm, May 27, June 3 & 10

29/04/2025

DBT courses in May
I am excited to announce that applications are open for our three online Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Courses for people struggling with intense emotions, impulsivity and relationship difficulties.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) teaches skills for better mental, emotional and relationship health. It draws on the best of eastern traditions (mindfulness and acceptance) and western behavioural therapies (changing emotions and behaviours for a better life).

DBT was initially created for people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but has since been proven to be very effective with ADHD, anxiety, depression and PTSD.

The Introduction to DBT course is a 3-week course that covers the principles of DBT and Mindfulness and is a pre-requisite for the other modules. Each online session will be for 90 minutes and will cover skills and review your practice during the week.
When: Mondays, 2.30-4pm, May 5, 12, 19
OR Thursdays, 5-6.30pm, May 15, 22, 29

OR Tuesdays, 12-2.30pm, May 27, June 3 & 10

Befriending Your Emotions
Learn how to…
• Name your emotions to tame them
• Bring down your emotional intensity
• Check the facts of emotionally intense situations and either solve the problem, change how you feel about it, or bear it.
• Reduce your vulnerability to emotional volatility and intensity

The introduction to DBT and Mindfulness module is a pre-requisite for this course.

When: Mondays, 2.30-4pm, June 9, 16, 23 & 30
Tuesdays, 12-2.30pm, June 17, 24, July 1 & 8

Healthy Relationships Now
Learn how to:
• ask for what you need
• say no effectively while maintaining self-respect and important relationships
• manage interpersonal conflict skilfully
• get and maintain close friendships
• end unhealthy relationships
• develop mindfulness skills you can apply every day
• Learn the superpower of effective validation of self and others

The Introduction to DBT and Mindfulness module is a pre-requisite for this course.

When: Wednesdays, 4-5:30pm, June 4, 11, 18, 25
OR Mondays, 2.30-4pm, July 7, 14, 21 & 28
OR Tuesdays, 12-2.30pm, July 15, 22, 29, August 5
(all times AWST)

17/12/2024

Lifeline WA is currently taking registrations for their DBTeen Semester 1, 2025 intake.

DBTeen is an award-winning program which changes the lives of teenagers and their carers.

This is a free program delivered in a Primary Care environment, teaching mental health skills to young people aged 14-18 years who may be experiencing some or all of the following:

* Difficulties with frequent and intense emotions and mood states
* Problem behaviours such as self-injury, suicidal behaviour, substance misuse, school avoidance, disturbed eating and risky sexual behaviour
* Interpersonal difficulties which can result in frequent and intense conflict with family and peers
* Feelings of emptiness and identity confusion

Program structure:
The program is delivered in multifamily groups over 12 weeks for 3 hours per week
Carers develop the same skills alongside their teens to help embed these skills into daily life
The program is as much for carers as it is for the young person
Groups are facilitated by skilled and experienced DBT Clinicians

Key Learning outcomes:
Interpersonal effectiveness skills: Communicating your needs and wants, improving relationships, and building self-respect in relationships.
Distress tolerance skills: Coping with distressing situations and painful emotions without making things worse.
Walking the middle path skills: Balancing ways of thinking and behaving to improve the flexibility in responding to common family dilemmas.
Emotion regulation skills: Developing skills to use when faced with intense and painful emotions.
Mindfulness skills: Staying focused on the present moment without having to react.
STEP 1: Zoom introduction Session 7 January

STEP 2: Assessments 8 - 20 January (including weekends)

STEP 3: Course starts from Wednesday, 19 January

16/10/2024

Therapist Jennie Fitzhardinge recently hosted a NEA BPD Australiawebinar panel discussing "How to become a Validation superhero." Validation is such an effective way to connect with others, even when they are distressed, and it is really important to be able to validate ourselves as well. We had a great panel comprising a person with lived experience of BPD, a carer, a clinician/carer. The panel answered questions sent in from people who had someone in their lives who experiences extreme emotional dysregulation and distress. The link to the webinar is in the comments.

13/05/2024

I'll be talking about skills to build up your emotional resilience in this free webinar.

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐖𝐄𝐁𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒
------------------------
Please join us for the next instalment of our 2024 Webinar Series!

𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Monday 20th May 2023
𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄: 1.30pm [AEST]

JENNIE FITZHARDINGE
Using Nature to Nurture

Using Nature to Nurture
Simple steps to take care of ourselves so that we can care for others.

When one person in a family is suffering, it has a knock on effect for the whole family, and when everyone is running on empty, a bad situation can very quickly get worse.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which was developed to treat people with Borderline Personality Disorder, recognises that to be able to effectively regulate our own emotions, and to be able to assist others, we need to attend to our own physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

DBT therapist Jennie Fitzhardinge will go over skills from the emotion regulation module that are designed to “fill our tanks” so that we can better cope with challenging times. These skills also dovetail with some distress tolerance skills and the latest research on how reconnecting with nature improves our mental health.

REGISTRATIONS ESSENTIAL: https://drct-neabpd.prod.supporterhub.net/events/webinar-may-2024

This is a FREE webinar, but we kindly ask for a small $20 donation to support the future of our organisation.
Presentation will be recorded and recording link will be available in the fortnight following the presentation.

We look forward to welcoming you there!

Please note our disclaimer in recognition that our webinars hosted by NEABPD Australia have been prepared in good faith and for the purpose of sharing information only with our audience. All information shared is generic and should not be used as a standalone resource for accessing mental health or general health assistance, nor constitute clinical advice. You should seek your own independent professional advice concerning your situation. NEABPD Australia accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions, or decisions relating to information presented during these webinars.

11/05/2023

Next step, Medicare rebates.

01/05/2023

The recording for the webinar principal therapist Jennie Fitzhardinge presented is up.

In this presentation, Jennie Fitzhardinge gives family members and other carers of someone with BPD or BPD traits, an introduction to emotions, why we have t...

18/04/2023

You are invited to the next instalment in our our 2023 webinar series on:
Wednesday 19th April @ 7pm AEST
WISE MIND & THE FUNCTION OF EMOTIONS
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is one of the therapies that has been developed to help people to deal with extreme emotional sensitivity, low tolerance of distress and the resulting maladaptive coping strategies such as suicidality, self-harm, interpersonal struggles and impulsive, often risky behaviours.
One of the modules of DBT is devoted to making sense of our emotions, and how to be better regulate them.
This hour-long presentation, with additional time for questions, is to give family members and other carers of someone with BPD or BPD traits, an introduction to emotions, why we have them, what their functions are and how to either change them or tolerate them as needed.
Every DBT module starts with an introduction to mindfulness - the foundational skill of DBT - so we will be focusing on Wise Mind before moving onto Emotion Regulation.
PRESENTER:
Jennie Fitzhardinge is a clinical counsellor (PACFA), DBT therapist and Family Connections Leader. She has been leading Family Connections groups since 2015 and Lifeline’s DBTEEN groups (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for adolescents and their parents) since 2020.

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Attendance to this informative webinar is free, however we ask you to consider a $20 donation to support the growth and sustainability of NEABPD Australia.

Once you have registered your ticket, you will be sent through the zoom link for the event. This webinar will be recorded, and a copy of the recording will be made available within 2 weeks of the event to all registrants.

We look forward to welcoming you there!

30/09/2022

You are invited to our BPD Awareness Week 2022 webinar
Monday October 3rd: 7-8.30pm AEDST
INTRODUCTION TO 'WALKING THE MIDDLE PATH'
Jennie Fitzhardinge (Navigator Counselling / NEABPD ) presents an introduction to Middle Path Skills, and how to apply them within relationships.

Middle Path Skills are learnings from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). In DBT, 'Walking The Middle Path' means finding a balance between acceptance & change.

Alec Miller and Jill Rathus developed the Middle Path Skills specifically for teens and families completing their multi-family DBT programs. They found that families with adolescents with emotional and behavioural dysregulation were often stuck in polarised positions and behaviour patterns that were not helping anybody. The skills focus on becoming more dialectical (seeing things from more than one point of view), strengthening validation and problem solving.

Open to everyone, and would be most useful to participants who have previously completed a Family Connections group (although not required)
PRESENTER:
Jennie Fitzhardinge is a clinical counsellor (PACFA), DBT therapist and Family Connections Leader. She has been leading Family Connections groups since 2015 and Lifeline’s DBTEEN groups (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for adolescents and their parents) since 2020

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Attendance is free, however, we ask you to consider a $20 donation to support the growth and sustainability of NEABPD Australia.

Once you have registered your ticket, you will be sent through the zoom link for the event.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Aust. Registered Charity | ABN 52 603 728 650 | Donations over $2 are tax-deductible
https://drct-neabpd.prod.supporterhub.net/events/bpdaw-2022-middle-path-skills