This workshop presents Group Schema Therapy model for adolescents with its core interventions - group limited reparenting, group imagery re-scripting, group mode-role-plays, experiential group work. Participants will get to know the use of storytelling and fairytale therapy techniques in group mode work, specific mode role plays with adolescents of different age, art therapy applications in group work. 

Group work helps adolescents to socialize and develop important social skills that will help them at school and in other social environments. It also counteracts alienation, helps to solve individual problems, the adolescentdoesn’t remain alone with his problems. Adolescentsbenefit from listening to others when they discuss similar problems. An ST group represents both family and the society in a miniature, it allows adolescentsto explore their modes in the safe atmosphere where they can receive positive feedback from their peers and succeed in mode change work. 

Two therapists increase the opportunity to work on family issues. It gives the adolescentsa chance to see and analyze their own behavior and the behavior of others in a very safe and comfortable atmosphere. Specially developed original techniques for adolescentsgroups facilitate open expression of thoughts and feelings with the aim toward their healthier utilization, they learn from other group members different ways to solve problems, andconsolidated exploration in a group may help them to discover more means and resources. 

At the workshop participants will learn how to use imagery and metaphors, art-therapy and mode based play therapy, to work with figurines, hand-puppets, marionettes and flashcards in the child groups. You will have an opportunity to experience new original group interventions, to play and to participate in different exercises used in Group ST-CA. Handouts will be also available.

Teaching methods: video and life demonstrations, group exercises and role plays, discussions and case presentations. 

Certification credit: This workshop provides 6 credit hours in the C-A ST curriculum of Certification offered by the Schema Therapy Institute St. Petersburg. It can also be used for 6 hours of the Continuing Education Requirement for Certified Schema Therapists. 

About the Presenter:

Maria Galimzyanova, PhD; Advanced Schema Therapist and Trainer Supervisor in Individual, Group, and Child-Adolescent Schema therapy. Being an expert and an author in the area of Child-Adolescent ST, she has developed the Group model for Children and Adolescents, consistent with the GST concept by J.Farrell and I.Shaw and C-A ST approach by C.Loose. As a professor of St.Petersburg University she lectures on schema therapy both nationally and internationally to students and professionals. Her extensive private practice is primarily focused on treating children and their parents.