Schema Therapy Basic level

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 basic course, you will be introduced to all three elements. On days 1 and 2, you will become familiar with the language/concepts of Schema Therapy and the therapeutic relationship of Limited Reparenting. On day 3, you will be introduced to some of the most commonly used techniques in Schema Therapy: imaginary rescripting and the chair technique. On day 4, you will learn how to combine these three elements.

You can apply the knowledge and skills you acquire in this course directly in your clinical practice.

Course day 1 Theory and therapeutic relationship

Theory, schemas & coping styles

Case conceptualization

Limited Reparenting:

• Care
• Providing direction

Course day 2 Theory and therapeutic relationship

Schema modes

Limited Reparenting:

• Empathic confrontation
• Setting boundaries

Schema interactions between client and therapist

Course day 3 Methods and techniques

From analysis to treatment plan

Cognitive interventions

Emotion-focused techniques:

• Imagery Rescripting
• Chairwork

Course day 4 Integration of the components, middle and final phases of therapy

Working on modes Borderline Personality Disorder

The Healthy Adult and behavioral change

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) and the International Society for Schema Therapy (ISST). 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:

• 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).
• 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)

You must have the following books available during the course:

• Van Genderen H., Jacob, G. & Seebauer, L. (2023)
• Breaking Patterns, Recognizing and Changing Negative Feelings and Habits, Second updated edition. Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Nieuwezijds ISBN 9789057125898
• Van Genderen H., & Arntz, A. (2021). Schema Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder. Completely revised second edition. Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Nieuwezijds. ISBN 9789057124853
• Young, J. E., Klosko J.S., & Weishaar, M.E (2020 or 2005: both editions are identical) Schema-Focused Therapy, A Clinical Manual for Therapists. Houten: Bohn Stafleu Van Loghum. Second, unaltered edition 2020. ISBN 9789036824408 (Or: first edition 2005: ISBN 9789031343355)

Additional literature will be provided on the website for each course day.

Preparation for the course days in the form of reading the assigned literature and selecting a suitable case study for the course day should be taken into account: maximum 4 hours

The elaboration of the case conceptualization that serves as an assessment within this course: maximum 5 hours

An important part of schema therapy is creating a case conceptualization that describes how the client’s complaints can be understood in terms of deficits in basic needs in the past and the schemas and modes that have formed as a result. As an assessment for this course, students are asked to create such a case conceptualization. This assessment is therefore primarily an important learning experience in becoming familiar with the various components of schema therapy.