Haley Amering, the Programs Director at Emotions Matter, is a passionate mental health advocate with a deep commitment to peer support, and empowering individuals affected by Borderline Personality Disorder. With lived experience at the core of her work, Haley brings both empathy and expertise to her role, where she focuses on expanding the reach and impact of programming and administrative operations.

The birth of Haley’s career in mental health occurred after experiencing a mental health crisis during her first year of studying drumset performance at Berklee College of Music. This turning point inspired her to shift her path, earning a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Leadership from the University at Albany. Since then, she has become a recognized leader, both statewide and nationally, for her unwavering dedication toward various mental health advocacy and education initiatives. Her personal story was featured in You Are Not Alone, a book published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to highlight real voices of resilience and recovery.

Haley believes deeply in the power of human connection, storytelling, and creating inclusive spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. She often shares that the emotions which once felt like her greatest burden have become her greatest gift - allowing her to walk alongside others with authenticity, compassion, and hope.

Antoinette Del Rio serves as the Interim Executive Director of Emotions Matter. Her journey with the organization has come full circle: beginning as a peer seeking support, evolving into a dedicated volunteer and support group facilitator, and eventually serving as a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Advocacy and Outreach Committee. Today, she is honored to lead the organization through this pivotal season of growth.

Antoinette’s work is deeply personal, rooted in her own lived experience with BPD. She understands that behind every email, donation, and support group is a person or a family looking for hope. As a bilingual woman of Peruvian and Puerto Rican descent, she is also passionate about making sure recovery resources reach families from all walks of life. Her own recovery, fueled by Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and the peer connection she found at Emotions Matter, serves as the foundation for her commitment to expanding access to care and reducing the stigma surrounding the diagnosis.

Professionally, Antoinette brings a strategic, big-picture mindset shaped by over 10 years in advertising account management. Having led high-stakes campaigns in New York City for both global agencies and small businesses, she is adept at navigating complex challenges and fostering collaborative environments. Antoinette is dedicated to applying this expertise to modernize the organization’s operations and expand its reach. Her hope is to build a sustainable foundation that allows Emotions Matter to support more families, empower more individuals, and ensure that no one regardless of their background has to navigate their BPD journey alone.

Christina Byrnes serves as the Business Manager, overseeing the fiscal management of Emotions Matter.  She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in accounting from Fordham University and a Master’s of Science degree in secondary education from St. John’s University.  She has over twenty years of experience working as a secondary mathematics educator.  Christina is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Emotions Matter team to connect and empower those impacted by Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and to raise awareness about BPD.