Skills, support and hope, from people who have been there.
An evidence-based 24-hour group program for anyone in a relationship with someone who has emotion dysregulation or related problems. Free of charge.
Four kinds of skills.
Understanding
Education on emotion dysregulation and five areas of dysregulation.
Your own balance
Individual skills based on dialectical behaviour therapy to understand and manage your emotions.
Your relationship
Relationship skills to help you be effective, with compassion and empathy.
Better conversations
Communication skills to promote collaboration and effective discussion around problem situations.
Small groups, on Zoom, with leaders who understand.
Family Connections is peer-to-peer. Groups are led by trained family members and include discussion, videos and skill practice.
12-week format
Our standard small group format.
Two-weekend intensive
The same program, usually in a larger group.
The difference between fixing and validating.
Mike Menu, Sashbear’s co-founder, calls it the transformational power of validation. When your loved one says:
“That’s not true. We all try so hard.”
“It sounds really lonely right now. I’m here, and I want to understand.”
“It’s not a big deal. Just move on.”
“This really matters to you, so of course it hurts.”
“After everything I do for you?”
“You’re feeling alone in this. Tell me more about what happened.”
Example wording for this preview. Sashbear’s peer leaders would write the real thing.
Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up bringing the biggest and most rewarding step in your life.
Studied by researchers. Led by families.
Several studies show improvements in family members’ sense of grief and burden, and an increase in their sense of mastery and empowerment. The program is available in over 20 countries and coordinated internationally by NEABPD. Sashbear oversees and provides it in Canada.
- 2026BPD and Emotion Dysregulation
Online Family Connections compared with the face-to-face format
A naturalistic comparison found online groups comparably effective to in-person groups on burden and depression. Authors call for randomized replication.
Durpoix, Cohen, Slovak et al. - 2024Family Process
A randomized controlled trial of Family Connections
121 family members. No statistically significant differences against treatment as usual, though effect sizes were larger with Family Connections, and the patients of participating relatives improved significantly in stress, depression and anxiety.
Guillén, Fernández-Felipe, Marco et al. - 2024Family ProcessSashbear co-authored
What happens when caregivers become leaders
347 participants. Caregivers who went on to lead reported higher wellbeing and lower distress than those who did not. Preliminary, and supportive of caregiver-led rollout.
Hayes, Courey, Kells, Hyndman, Dempsey, Murphy
Before you sign up.
How much does it cost?
Who is it for?
Is it online?
Is it available in French?
Is the newsletter the same as signing up?
I’m a mental health provider. How do I refer a family?
What if someone is in crisis right now?
Every family deserves skills, support and hope.
Make waves with us. Join a free program, walk in your city, or help another family find their footing.