Experiencing Schema Therapy from the Inside-Out London, Farrell & Shaw

                 Experiencing Schema Therapy from the Inside-Out:              A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Workshop for therapists

Joan Farrell, Ph.D. and Ida Shaw, M.A.

Schema Therapy Institute London

An important part of training for Schema Therapists is self-therapy to understand one’s own schemas and modes, the role they play in being a schema therapist and the impact of patients’ in triggering schemas and modes. Such self-awareness is critical to the genuine, open presence required by Schema Therapy’s limited reparenting model. We think this is particularly important for therapists conducting group ST, as the impact of a number of clients at the same time can amplify therapists’ reactions and just being in a group can have triggering effects related to one’s family of origin. Self-schema therapy has personal benefits as well in terms of self-awareness and healing for one’s Vulnerable Child mode.

Joan & Ida have facilitated self-therapy groups for over 30 years leading to their book Experiencing Schema Therapy from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Workbook for Therapists, which was released by Guilford Press, January, 2018. The workshop begins with establishing safety and connection within the group and the agreement to keep confidential any personal material disclosed. Participants are encouraged to share as much or little content in the group as they feel comfortable with. They can choose to focus on a particular schema or mode issue that affects their personal or professional life or go into the day open to whatever experience they have. Just as they do with all groups, Joan & Ida assess the needs of the participants and plan the day’s work in collaboration with participants based upon the needs and modes present. The focus in the workshop is on experiential work including: exercises to identify maladaptive coping modes triggered in the group, awareness of the needs of your Vulnerable Child and self-care plans, further banishing work for the Demanding or Punitive Critic mode and evoking the Happy Child Mode to balance the hard work we do as therapists. This experience will change every time it is offered, so it is possible to attend more than once.

 Joan & Ida spent two years as members of a self-therapy for therapists in their training and consider that experience critical to their understanding of themselves, their reactions when participating in a group and what clients experience. Participation in the workshop will add new interventions to use with clients and the deeper experience of ST from the “inside – out”. They believe that what one learns from this experience cannot be taught as effectively didactically, if at all. For that reason self-therapy in a group is a requirement for ISST Group Schema Therapy certification and this workshop fulfills that requirement. It can also be used to meet the three supervision hours credit allowed to meet individual ST certification supervision requirements. This day is appropriate for therapists new to ST and for those who are experienced with it.

For more information and registration contact: STI London