Abstract:

In Jeffrey Young's work on the origins of schemas and modes, he acknowledges the possibility of various etiological sources other than that of parents. In this Round Table discussion, we would like to elaborate on this idea and put our attention onto cultural gender concepts and their contribution to the formation of maladaptive schemas and modes.

Just as early experiences with parents and with peers form self-perceptions and interpersonal expectations, parents and peers teach children - both consciously and unconsciously - how to perceive gender: what does it mean in their culture to be a male or a female, gender non-binary or not subscribe to viewing the self as gendered at all. This socialization process inevitably entails many reinforcements for “correctly” acting in accordance with societal expectations and severe punishments for any divergence with the rules. In Schema Therapy we have a myriad of clinical strategies to reparent early learnings and to replace these with more adaptive ones. But just how much are we sensitized – having grown in the same old gender-oppressive culture as our clients – to even detect the effects of gender-based early discrimination? What are some of the most common gender-based discriminations we encounter in our work with women, men, and gender non-binary individuals? Can we see what is not necessarily visible to ourselves? And if we do see these effects of gender-based discrimination – what can we do about it in therapy? In other words, what are the best ways to reparent gender-based discrimination? What results may we expect?

In this Round Table discussion, we would like to raise many questions, suggest some directions, and mostly ignite what we believe may be a fruitful discussion of the insidious ways in which gender-based discrimination is hindering our clients’ well-being and what we can do about it in our clinical work.

About the Presenters:

Dr. Offer Maurer, Ph.D. 

Dr. Nicole Manktelow

Nicole is a clinical psychologist and feminist with 25 years clinical experience. She has worked in acute mental health community and inpatient settings, correctional settings and as Clinical Director for Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia. She has an interest in feminist psychologies and supervising clinicians in person centred and collaborative practice in the service of meeting the needs of the people who come to see us.

Nicole started her schema therapy journey in 2014 and hasn't looked back. Nicole offers keen clinical insights gleaned from her years of experience as a therapist and supervisor working with complex clinical presentations. Nicole currently works in private practice where she practices schema therapy and supervises those clinicians seeking schema accreditation.