Training in Schema Therapy Explained
During his time as a cognitive therapist, Dr. Jeffrey Young realized that standard cognitive therapies were unsuccessful in treating many people with complex problems involving enduring and dysfunctional patterns of thinking and feeling (Schema Therapy Institute, n.d.).
Young set out to develop a therapy that could help people identify and change deep-rooted patterns, or “schemas” – a feat that conventional cognitive therapies could not achieve (Schema Therapy Institute, n.d.).
Schema Therapy combines a variety of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, psychodynamic theory, Gestalt, and attachment models. It aims to help people resolve lifelong issues that are deeply entwined with the development of their character (Martin & Young, 2010).
Compared to CBT, Schema Therapy places greater weight on the developmental beginnings of psychological issues and the long-standing themes in a person’s life that can be seen in their behaviors, thinking patterns, and how they relate to others (Martin & Young, 2010).
What is a schema?
Schemas are mental frameworks, life beliefs, patterns, or themes that influence how we organize and make sense of our selves, experiences, and relationships with others. Schemas develop during childhood but are expanded on throughout our lives (Martin & Young, 2010).
Early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) are dysfunctional, deeply entrenched, and typically the focus of Schema Therapy (Martin & Young, 2010).
EMSs consist of memories, emotions, thinking processes, and bodily sensations that arise when our fundamental needs, such as having a secure attachment to others, freedom to express emotions, or autonomy, aren’t met during childhood (Martin & Young, 2010).
EMSs can negatively influence our behavior by driving self-defeating coping strategies (Martin & Young, 2010).
For example, individuals who experienced social isolation or alienation as children may believe they are alone, isolated from others, different, or do not belong to any group or community (Martin & Young, 2010).
To manage this, the individual may develop dysfunctional coping styles, such as only paying attention to how they differ from others, avoiding social situations, or overcompensating by changing how they act to fit into certain groups (Martin & Young, 2010).
How does Schema Therapy work?
Schema Therapy practitioners start by evaluating the client’s core needs and schemas and how these relate to the client’s current issues and the repeated themes across their lifetime (Martin & Young, 2010).
The fundamental aim of Schema Therapy is “schema healing.”
The schema healing process turns down the volume on maladaptive schemas by decreasing the power of the memories, emotions, bodily sensations, and dysfunctional thinking processes associated with them. When the client has more control over their schemas, it is more difficult for the dysfunctional schemas to be activated (Martin & Young, 2010; Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003).
Schema Therapy also helps people liberate themselves from unhelpful coping styles and explore alternative, more adaptive behaviors to get their needs met and seek out healthier relationships (Schema Therapy Institute, n.d.; Martin & Young, 2010).
The therapist uses cognitive, experiential, behavioral techniques (e.g., imagery rescripting, role-play of past events), as well as the therapeutic relationship to explore and challenge the schemas.
Schema Therapy can be extremely difficult for the client, as they need to be able to face long-standing beliefs about themselves and the world. They also need to be disciplined and committed to learning new ways of thinking and doing (Martin & Young, 2010).
Such a challenging process relies on a strong and empathetic therapeutic alliance. The therapist must be able to emphasize positive reasons for change, while also having empathy for the client’s beliefs and coping styles (Martin & Young, 2010).
Certification as a Schema Therapist
The certification body for Schema Therapy, the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), has core requirements for ‘Standard’ or ‘Advanced’ certification in Schema Therapy, including:
- At least a master’s degree in psychology, clinical social work, psychiatric nursing, or counseling or a medical degree with a psychiatric residency.
- License to practice psychotherapy independently – where certification or a license is required for any of the above professions, you must hold one. Or if this isn’t in place, you’ll need to meet the standards of one national or international professional psychotherapy organization.
- 25 didactic (traditional teaching) and 15 dyadic (supervised partnered role-play) training hours.
- At least one year of supervision, with at least 20 hours of (50–60 minute) supervision for standard certification, or 40 hours of supervision for advanced certification.
- One tape recording for standard certification or two for advanced certification, scored for competency by independent raters.
- Minimum of 80 patient sessions for standard certification or 160 for advanced certification.
- Minimum of two cases of Schema Therapy for standard certification or four for advanced certification, consisting of at least 25 hours per case. One case must be with a patient with a personality disorder or significant personality disorder features.
- Self-therapy and peer support are also highly recommended.
- Passing assessments for session competency and case conceptualization (Schema Therapy Society, 2021).
The standard international certification route allows you to practice Schema Therapy, participate in outcome studies, and train/supervise other therapists at a basic level with the supervision of an advanced trainer-supervisor (Schema Therapy Society, 2021).
Advanced-level certification means you can treat all patients, participate in outcome studies, and apply for certification as a supervisor/trainer after a specified number of years of practice (Schema Therapy Society, 2021).
You have up to three years following completion of a standard or advanced course to apply for certification. If you complete the standard route, you have up to two years to finish the advanced training and apply for certification (Schema Therapy Society, n.d.).
To work toward ISST certification, you need to attend an ISST-approved certification training program provided by certified trainers. You also need to meet ISST eligibility requirements before beginning a certification program. It’s important to check the particular requirements in your country for ISST training and certification before applying to a program (Schema Therapy Society, 2021).
Any training or workshops outside of the certification curriculum cannot count toward certification; they will only contribute to the continuing education requirements that are needed to maintain your certification as a practitioner of Schema Therapy (Schema Therapy Society, 2021). Find out more certification information from the Schema Therapy Society.
Our childhood experiences pave the way for enduring patterns and themes that can shape our relationships, coping styles, and ultimately, the direction of our lives.
