BPD Alliance’s psychoeducational programs (the “Programs”), including Family Connections™ and Managing Suicidality & Trauma Recovery (“MSTR”), are grounded in mutual trust, respect, peer validation, and evidence-based education. These Programs rely on the integrity, care, and commitment of trained Program Leaders who volunteer their time to support individuals and families impacted by borderline personality disorder and/or chronic emotion dysregulation, suicidality, and trauma.

This Code of Conduct applies to all individuals serving as Program Leaders, including family leaders, clinician leaders, co-leaders, substitute leaders, breakout room facilitators, and trainees. It governs conduct during Program sessions, related communications, and any context in which an individual represents BPD Alliance or its Programs.

This Code is designed to:

• Protect participant safety, dignity, and privacy.
• Preserve the integrity and effectiveness of BPD Alliance Programs.
• Clarify leader roles, responsibilities, and limits.
• Support ethical, respectful, and sustainable leadership.

We are deeply grateful to our Program Leaders for their service and dedication.

BPD Alliance Programs are psychoeducational and peer-supportive in nature. They are not psychotherapy, clinical treatment, crisis intervention, or a substitute for professional mental health care or emergency services.

1. Foster a Safe, Respectful, and Confidential Environment

• Provide a safe, respectful, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment for all Program participants.
• Respect and honor participants’ differences in culture, identity, political views, and religious or spiritual beliefs. Leaders must refrain from promoting personal, political, or spiritual beliefs.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all sensitive, personal, and identifying information shared by participants.
• Confidentiality applies to all forms of communication, including in-person discussions, email, text messages, online platforms, virtual sessions, and shared documents.
• Program Leaders who are licensed clinicians or otherwise legally designated as mandated reporters must comply with applicable reporting laws in their jurisdiction. Program Leaders who are not mandated reporters are not expected to assume reporting responsibilities unless required by law. Leaders should consult with BPD Alliance when questions arise regarding confidentiality or reporting obligations.

2. Uphold Curriculum and Program Integrity

• Deliver the approved Program curriculum as outlined in the official participant manual in its entirety, without additions, omissions, or modifications, unless explicitly approved in writing by BPD Alliance.
• These Programs are evidence-based and have been shown to be effective when delivered as designed.
• Teaching Notes, slides, and supplemental materials provided by BPD Alliance are intended to support curriculum delivery and may be used as optional aids.
• Leaders may share brief personal reflections when consistent with training guidelines, but must not introduce new therapeutic models, techniques, or external frameworks.
• Only BPD Alliance-approved slides, handouts, and supplemental readings may be used. All Program materials are copyrighted and may not be shared, adapted, or used outside an approved Program.
• Because the training materials are proprietary and confidential, our leaders and participants may not upload, enter, or otherwise share any portion of the content with artificial intelligence (AI) tools or platforms without prior written authorization.
• All participants must apply and register through the official BPD Alliance website (www.BPDAlliance.org) which includes signing our Participant Code of Conduct to ensure proper placement and recordkeeping.

3. Adhere to the Co-Leadership Model

• All Programs must be delivered using a co-leadership model, with a minimum of two (2) BPD Alliance-trained leaders present.
• The relationship between co-leaders is an equal partnership. Peer validation and shared leadership are foundational to Program design.
• Any disagreements between co-leaders should be addressed respectfully and privately. If alignment cannot be reached, leaders should seek guidance from BPD Alliance.

4. Maintain Professional and Personal Limits

• Program Leaders must not provide one-on-one support or guidance to participants outside of scheduled Program sessions, particularly when only one leader is involved. One-on-one support includes ongoing or individualized communication via email, text, phone calls, social media, or private meetings related to personal or mental health concerns. If asked to discuss a specific personal situation, leaders should encourage the participant to bring the topic to class so the group can learn together.
• Program Leaders are not acting as therapists, crisis counselors, or clinical providers within the Program.
• If a Program Leader has a pre-existing personal or professional relationship with a participant, the leader must either:

• • Obtain written consent from the participant acknowledging the dual relationship, or
  • Direct the participant to contact BPD Alliance to request reassignment to a different class.

• For leaders who are and/or will become clinicians, coaches, or mental health professionals, the following standards apply:

• • To avoid dual relationships and conflicts of interest, Leaders may not take on a Program participant (or a participant’s family member) as a client during the Program.
  • If a participant expresses interest in working with a leader professionally, the leader must instruct the participant to wait until the Program has concluded before discussing this possibility.
  • Clinicians, mental health professionals, and coaches are expected to follow their respective ethical guidelines regarding post-Program self-referral.

5. Avoid Conflicts of Interest and Financial Misconduct

• All BPD Alliance Programs, including Family Connections™ and MSTR, are offered free of charge to participants.
• Program Leaders serve as volunteers and are not compensated by BPD Alliance.
• Leaders may inform participants of opportunities to voluntarily support BPD Alliance through donations made directly via www.BPDAlliance.org.
• Leaders must not solicit funds for any non-BPD Alliance purpose or promote non-BPD Alliance fundraising activities to current or former participants.
• Leaders may not accept gifts, services, compensation, or favors from participants.
• Leaders may not use their role, affiliation, or access to participants to endorse or promote individuals, services, groups, or activities in which they have a personal, professional, or financial interest.
• Participant information obtained through Program leadership may not be used for any non-Program purpose.

6. Prioritize Leader and Participant Well-Being

• If personal circumstances change in a way that affects a leader’s ability to lead, the leader should promptly notify BPD Alliance so appropriate support or a substitute can be arranged.
• If a leader is ill or must miss a session, they should coordinate with BPD Alliance to ensure continuity.
• Leaders are encouraged to support participants in seeking immediate professional or emergency help when there is risk of harm to themselves or others.
• Program Leaders are not responsible for conducting suicide risk assessments, providing crisis counseling, or determining participant safety. When a participant expresses concern about imminent risk of harm to themselves or others, leaders should encourage the participant to seek immediate professional or emergency assistance and notify BPD Alliance staff if you feel escalation is necessary. Responsibility for participant safety ultimately rests with the participant and appropriate emergency or clinical services.

7. Represent BPD Alliance Responsibly

• Program Leaders recognize that their conduct reflects on BPD Alliance and its Programs.
• This includes behavior during classes, in communications with participants, and in public or online spaces (including social media) where one’s role as a Program Leader may be identified.
• Leaders must not share participant stories, experiences, or identifying information, whether anonymized or not, in public forums, presentations, publications, or social media without explicit written authorization from BPD Alliance.
• Leaders must not make public statements that could reasonably be interpreted as official clinical, legal, or policy positions of BPD Alliance.

8. Engage in Continuing Enrichment

• All Family Connections™ and MSTR Program Leaders are expected to complete a minimum of two (2) hours of enrichment annually.
• Enrichment may include Leader Hub events, webinars, training, or other BPD Alliance-approved activities.
• Enrichment is self-tracked, and leaders may be asked to attest to or document completion upon request.

Alleged violations of this Code of Conduct will be reviewed by BPD Alliance in a fair and confidential manner. Actions will be proportionate to the nature and severity of the concern and may include coaching, additional training, temporary suspension, or removal from the Program Leader role.

Nothing in this Code creates a contractual right to continued volunteer service or limits BPD Alliance’s discretion in assigning, reassigning, or removing Program Leaders.

I have read and understand the BPD Alliance Program Leader Code of Conduct for the Family Connections™ and Managing Suicidality & Trauma Recovery Programs. I agree to uphold these principles and responsibilities in my role as a Program Leader.

Approved: July 22, 2026