Online 40 hrs training program Schema Therapy

Schema therapy has three distinctive elements:

• the language/concepts of basic needs, schemas, and modes;
• the therapeutic relationship of limited Reparenting;
• and finally, a wide range of cognitive, behavioral, and emotion-focused techniques.

In this online course, you will be introduced to all three elements. This training will be presented online, 20 sessions of 2 hrs each, using Zoom as an interactive platform that allows for practical demonstrations, exercises in breakout rooms and sharing clips and videos displaying some of the core elements of schema therapy. At the end of 40 hrs, the participants will be able to identify schemas and schema modes, to make a case conceptualization of the patient in terms of basic needs, schemas, coping styles and modes. Participants are also able to use the therapeutic relationship of Limited reparenting as the main tool in the working with schemas and modes.  Ultimately, students will be able to use the foremost methods and techniques, such as cognitive techniques and experiential techniques as imagery rescripting, chair work and historical role playing.

To achieve this, use is made of a diverse and vibrant curriculum in which short introductions to topics are interspersed with demonstrations (role playing or audio-visual clips) after which the students practice the skills demonstrated by themselves and then discuss these experiences in the group.

Great importance is attached to a safe and pleasant learning environment in which students learn the basics of schema therapy. At the end of the course participants will be able to, supported by peer review and supervision, perform schema therapeutic treatments.

1          Introduction, Theory, concepts & identifying schemas

2          Theory, concepts & Identifying schemas

3          Schema modes

4          Case conceptualization form and model

5          Limited Reparenting: Offering care & providing direction

6          Limited Reparenting:, Empathic confrontation & limit setting

7          Starting therapy, Cognitive techniques start of therapy

8          Imagery rescripting Parent mode-start of therapy

9          Chair work Coping mode-start of therapy

10        Chair work Parent mode-start of therapy

11        Historical roleplay

12        Angry Child mode & Abandoned/Abused child; limited reparenting

13        Cluster C: Dependent PD

14        Cluster C: Avoidant- & Obsessive-Compulsive PD

15        Anti-Social PD

16        Narcissistic PD

17        Healthy Adult-imagery rescripting end of therapy

18        Strengthening Healthy Adult-chair work end of therapy

19        Breaking through behavioural patterns-end phase of therapy

20        Putting it all into practice & evaluation of training course

Knowledge

By the end of the course, you will have learned what schemas and modes are and how they are formed from deficits in basic needs. You will also have learned the rationale behind Limited Reparenting and how the therapeutic relationship can be used as one of the most important interventions in treatment. Finally, you will have learned which methods and techniques can be used in schema therapy.

Skills

At the end of the course, you will be able to independently use the language and concepts from the therapy model. In addition, you will have learned how to apply the most commonly used techniques, such as imaginary Rescripting and the chair technique, with your clients.

The course offers you the opportunity to apply schema therapy at a basic level. For further deepening and to become a registered schema therapist, it is necessary to take a follow-up course and supervision.

Therapists who work with clients with personality disorders or other forms of persistent psychological disorders, such as persistent mood disorders.

Prior education

This training course is certified by both the Dutch Society for Schema Therapy (VSt) as a Basic training course and the International Society for Schema Therapy (ISST) as the required training part of certification towards becoming a schema therapist. Although both societies share most of the requirements for certification, there are however, some differences as well.
Below, we will describe the requirements of both societies. We will then discuss the practical implications for participants who want to sign up for this course.

Dutch Society for Schema Therapy (VSt)

Those participants who have a BIG-registration as a Mental Health Psychologist (GZ-psycholoog), Orthopedagogue (Orthopedagoog generalist), Psychotherapist, Clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist, members of specialist psychological societies or occupational therapists (RVB), who work with clients with a personality disorder and/or persistent, therapy resistant depressive- or anxiety disorders are allowed to participate in this course. Also, those in training to become one of the previously mentioned registrations are allowed to participate. One condition for participation is to have some knowledge and skills from cognitive behavioral therapy.
Others, e.g. basic psychologists, pedagogues or people following a HBO education other that occupational therapy, are only allowed to join the course, when they collaborate closely with colleagues who are registered schema therapists.
Did you follow an education that is not mentioned above, please contact us via the ‘Contact’-page.

International Society for Schema Therapy (ISST)

To qualify for certification in Schema Therapy a person must fulfill the following two qualifications:
1. Academic training: Hold at least a master’s degree in psychology, clinical social work, psychiatric nursing or a counseling area that leads to licensing; or medical degree with psychiatric residency (or residency equivalent if it is defined differently in that country).

2. License or certification for practice: In countries that certify or license the above professions, a person must be certified or licensed by either the government body or professional organization which grants this. If no such control exists in a country, the standard of one of the national or international professional psychotherapy organizations must be met to fulfill this requirement.

If you belong to another group that is licensed or certified to practice psychotherapy in your country, please submit this information with your academic qualifications to be considered for certification application. Some countries have described in detail how the ISST qualifications need to be applied for their country. The UK is one example of this and for exception requests these standards are used.

With the above-mentioned requirements, this training course is open for participation for anyone fulfilling one of the 2 societies requirements.

Accreditation for this basic course is automatically requested from the following associations and has always been granted to date:

• Association for Schema Therapy (VSt)
• International Society for Schema Therapy (ISST)

Books

(note that many of these books have been translated into Danish, German, Farsi, French, Italian, Korean, Latvian, Dutch, Polish, Rumanian, Russian, Spanish and Turkish)

• Arntz, A. & Genderen, H. van (2021). Schema Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder, Second Edition. Wiley-Blackwel.    ISBN 9781119101048.
• Artnz, A., & Jacob, G. (2013) Schema Therapy in Practice. An introductory Guide to the Schema Mode Approach. Wiley-Blackwell     ISBN 9781119962861
• Jacob, G., Genderen, H. van & Seebauer, L. (2012) Breaking negative thinking patterns, a schema therapy self-help and support book. Wiley Blackwell         ISBN 9781118877715
• Young, J. E., Klosko J.S., & Weishaar, M.E (2005) Schema Therapy, a practitioner’s guide. The Guilford Press      ISBN 9781593853723
• Specific articles and forms will be provided throughout the training course for specific elements of the training.

Audio visual productions available at www.schematherapy.nl (Required to have access to)

• Schema therapy, step by step (2018). Remco van der Wijngaart & Hannie van Genderen

Preparation for the course sessions in the form of reading the assigned literature and selecting a suitable case study for the course day should be taken into account: maximum 2 hours per session.