Revised Online and Face to Face format outlined below
Schema Couples Therapy
Schema Therapy provides a unique model for formulating complex couple dynamics and evidence based strategies for change based on Schema Therapy for personality disorders and chronic issues, including childhood trauma.
Presenter: Dr Poul Perris, former ISST chair, founding member of the Schema Couples Therapy committee and renowned European Schema Therapy presenter. Assisted by Ruth Holt, Clinical Psychologist and Advanced Schema Couples therapist. |
Training will cover all five modules required as part of certification with ISST as a Schema Couples Therapist (see below for full curriculum) including :
Certification will be provided by the Swedish Institute for CBT and Schema Therapy. Aimed at: Therapists wanting to expand their Schema Therapy skills with couples and therapists who already work with couples and would like to have greater impact when working with complex presentations. 2021 FORMAT: 7 Webinars on Monday 4-7pm Melbourne/Sydney Australian time + 1 full day training face to face (being offered in 3 locations; Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane, travel restriction permitting). This training is open to those in the Oceania region who can travel to one of the face to face training locations. Webinar dates: Mondays 4-7pm
Melbourne: Wednesday 28/07/2021 Brisbane: Friday 30/07/2021 Canberra: Wednesday 4/08/2021 Price: Standard Registration $1000 (until February 29, 2021)
Last minute $1150 (from March 1, 2021) Covers materials and full catering for 1 day training Those already registered for 2020 training which was postponed by COVID will be refunded part of their registration cost to align with the new fees. Ruth will be contacting regarding this by mid December. Accomodation options: There are a range of accomodation options for the 1 day workshop. We encourage you to not book flights and accomodation until close to the date of the workshop to allow for possible travel restrictions.
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![]() More about Poul: Poul Perris, MD, Licensed Psychotherapist and Supervisor, is the Director of the Swedish Institute for CBT & Schema Therapy in Stockholm, Sweden. He was the Founding President of the International Society for Schema Therapy (ISST) from 2008 to 2010, and served as President of the Swedish Association for Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (SABCT) from 2010 to 2016. Poul was originally trained and supervised by Dr. Jeffrey Young in Schema Therapy and is certified as a schema therapist, supervisor & trainer for individuals and couples. He specializes in the treatment of personality disorders, and on couples therapy for complex relational problems. Poul has published a handbook on Schema Therapy (in Swedish), and also co-authored several chapters in English textbooks on schema therapy. Poul has been teaching and supervising cognitive behavioural therapists and schema therapists internationally for over a decade. Numbers will be capped to provide interactive learning, opportunity for practicing techniques with feedback and catering to the needs of the group. ISST requirements for online certification training If you register for this training you agree to adhere to the Online Training guidelines stipulated by The International Society for Schema Therapy which includes the following:
Cancellation Policy |
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I haven’t done any Schema Therapy training before?
A pre-workshop training package, providing an overview of Schema Therapy, will be sent for those who register for the prior to the Schema Couple Therapy training. This will give you a grounding in Schema Therapy ($175). Note that this is now an online component of approximately 4 hours of training, completed at your own pace, but required if you have not attended any Schema Therapy training. Ruth will run a 1 hour live Q and A 5pm (AEDT) on 22/3/2020 for those who have purchased the pre-workshop training.
What if I haven’t had much experience with couples?
The training will provide options for those with less couples experience and those with more, aiming to meet your individual learning needs.
Can I use my Gottman Method, Emotion Focused or other couples therapy skills?
Yes, Schema therapy is an integrative therapy that can build on your existing skills.
Can I attend the online component only?
The training has been designed to cover the requirements for Certification across the whole program and therefore the face to face component is necessary. We are not able to make the online training open to those who can't attend the face to face component
What if COVID travel restrictions make it impossible for me to travel to the face to face component?
We will delay the 1 day training in the event of travel restrictions and endeavour to provide a 1 day training when things are more stable. Do not book flights and accomodation until close to the date as we cannot take responsibility for cancellations that may occur due to COVID restrictions.
Other couples training opportunities
Sex and Schemas training will be happening online in 2021. Details coming.
Curriculum for Schema Couples Therapy Certification
Assessment module
- Identify schemas of each partner, and define the default relationship mode cycle
- Use assessment inventories: YSQ-3, YPI, SMI, BDI, BAI, DAS, WC, etc.
- Conceptualize schemas and the default mode cycle
- Link childhood wounds and maladaptive relationship patterns to the current relationship, and identify strengths of the relationship
- Introduce Schema Flashcard, Mode Mapping, Mode Clash Card, Needs vs. Wants Tool
- Identify Schema Chemistry and schema clashes
- Assess degree of passion, romance, intimacy, and sexual satisfaction
- Determine if any complicating factors (levels of commitment, individual past trauma or disorders, injuries in the relationship, etc.) and/or contraindications (active affairs, addictions, patterns of violence, etc.)
- Find supplemental resources or treatment, as needed
- Create "Needs Value Map"
- Identify vision of the relationship: goals, dreams, mission, desired legacy
- Establish goals of treatment, and set the time frame
- Create and maintain a secure therapeutic bond
- Practice "empathic confrontation," as needed
- Use therapeutic self-disclosure
- Intervene when therapist's own schemas and modes are activated in-session
- Differentiate between the "wants" and "needs" of the therapist and the couple
- Repair ruptures in the therapeutic relationship
- Discuss ethics and confidentiality concerns with the couple (disclosures, consultations with other therapists, conflicts of interest, confidentiality issues, etc.)
- Connecting Dialogues: provide antidotes to schemas and maladaptive modes by identifying and expressing (1) core emotions (2) urges to cope. Next, use adaptive coping modes to invite partner to meet needs
- Chair Work: use mode dialogues to address mode cycle and schemas
- Imagery Rescripting: identify childhood origins of schemas, link to current relationship, create antidote to schema origins while deepening emotional depth and increasing emotional connection
- Use tools to shift clashes: Mode Clash Cards, Schema Flashcards, Meta-perspective, "Needs vs. Wants" tool, etc.
- Couples Toolbox: assign homework to solidify work in-between sessions
- Develop a language for deeper emotional connection
- Build shared meaning in roles, rituals, goals, values, dreams
- Create a shared narrative of the couple's story, including desired legacy
- Build and sustain mutually satisfying passion, romance, intimacy, and sexual satisfaction, and address any sexual dysfunctions
- Solidify mode cycles to create antidotes to schemas with interactions involving (a.) self-and-partner soothing (b.) inviting bids (c.) successful repairs (d.) stance of curiosity and acceptance
- Address and heal relationship injuries (affairs, betrayals, other significant injuries)
- Confront addictions, aggressive modes, and patterns of physical violence
- Treat couples with survivors of childhood trauma (sexual, emotional, physical)
- Treat specific personality disorders in a couple (BPD, NPD, Avoidant, Antisocial, etc.)