The Connections Place (TCP) is a job preparedness program on the Upper West Side of New
York City for
individuals who have borderline
personality disorder (BPD) or features of BPD. Under the auspices of the National
Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder*, TCP offers the community a program
for those who are
caught
between their symptoms and the desire to return to society where work is a stepping stone towards a
healthy lifestyle.
The goal of TCP is to open pathways to vocational opportunities for those individuals with
BPD.
According to the co-founders of TCP, this program is the first of its kind in the U.S.
TCP offers a four-month
program, although many clients stay longer depending
on their particular goals, which focuses on work-related
obstacles and vocational
readiness skills. The four-month program gets repeated three times during the year.
TCP uses a rolling-admissions policy. Group meetings which typically range in size from 8-12 clients
cover the two modules in the curriculum (Portals Module and Vocational Module).
In addition to its many services, TCP has a wealth of vocational resources,
computer workstations for clients, and
a professional conference room for
group meetings. The TCP center is also a place for clients to socialize
between
meetings and share their common experiences, adding to the feeling that no one is alone and that each
and every person has something to contribute, and somewhere to go that
is safe, pleasant and supportive.
