Welcome to the Dutch Institute for Schema Therapy: the leading trainer in schema therapy
Who we are
Remco van der Wijngaart and Hannie van Genderen were personally trained in 1996 by Jeffrey Young, founder of schema therapy. In 2000, Hannie van Genderen became the first person in the Netherlands to teach schema therapy. What began as pioneering work grew into the first and largest training institute for schema therapy in the Netherlands: Van Genderen Opleidingen BV.
Remco van der Wijngaart joined as a teacher in the early years. In addition to his teaching work in the Netherlands, he also focused on international activities from 2010 onwards. This led to the establishment of the Dutch Institute for Schema Therapy, now a globally renowned training provider in the field.
In 2022, Hannie handed over her training company to Remco. Since 2025, the two training centers have officially merged to form:
The Dutch Institute for Schema Therapy
Our team
We work with a core team of 13 specialized schema therapists. Each of them has contributed to the development of the profession through (audio)visual publications, presentations at national and international conferences, and active involvement in professional associations such as the VSt and ISST.
Every year, we also invite three to five guest lecturers to give specialist workshops, which allows us to continuously enrich our courses with current and in-depth topics.
Quality & Innovation
Quality is central to us – and that requires continuous innovation. That is why we undergo annual training during our team day with leading lecturers and researchers affiliated with universities in Amsterdam, Maastricht, Nijmegen, and Utrecht.
This ensures that our courses remain up to date with the latest insights in research, methodology, and practice.
Our courses
We believe that people learn best in an atmosphere of safety, enthusiasm, and variety. That is why our teaching days are always practical and inspiring.
Each day consists of several learning blocks (3–5), which start with a clear theoretical introduction. This is followed by a live demonstration by the instructor – often through role-playing, sometimes using video material developed in-house.
Course participants then practice in small groups, with room for personal feedback and joint reflection. This makes learning effective and meaningful.
More than 7,000 course participants have gone before you
More than 7,000 professionals have now taken one or more of our 450+ training courses and workshops.
Our participants rate our courses with an average score of 8.9 – a rating we are proud of and which motivates us to continue growing.
Our course location
Most of our training courses take place in the heart of the Netherlands: Zalencentrum Vredenburg 19 in Utrecht. This location is not only centrally located and easily accessible, but also offers a welcoming and well-equipped learning environment. Coffee, tea, and a full lunch are included. This allows you to focus fully on learning and development in a pleasant atmosphere, together with fellow professionals.
If you would prefer training within your own institution, check out our options for in-company training. Remco travels frequently to different parts of the world to provide training and supervision. So far, he presented in 16 different countries.
Blended and Online courses
In addition to our classroom training days, we also regularly offer online or blended courses.
Our secretariat
The heart of our organization is our secretariat, led by Christel van Mil. For many years, she has been the indispensable linchpin who ensures that everything runs smoothly. With her friendly approach, extensive expertise, and boundless dedication, she guides every registration down to the last detail. Thanks to her care, all practical matters—from accreditation to certificates—are arranged reliably and carefully, so that participants can focus fully on their training.