ISST APPROVED SCHEMA THERAPY TRAINING FOR THERAPISTS

Finally…the opportunity to learn Schema Therapy in CA from highly experienced, creative trainers!

Trainings are currently on pause, while we creatively update and redesign our program.

Schema Seminars will soon be offered – designed to help schema therapists further develop their skills.

We highly recommend the Schema Therapy Community for therapists seeking support in learning ST.

Learn Schema Therapy With Us

The CALIFORNIA SCHEMA THERAPY TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, located in sunny San Diego, is directed by Kathryn Rudlin, LCSW and Dr. Evangelia Anthis, passionate advocates of this approach.

There is a strong need for skilled therapists to provide Schema Therapy in the US and internationally. We receive frequent inquiries from potential clients looking for trained schema therapists; the demand far exceeds the number of therapists currently available.

The primary focus of our program is teaching therapists to facilitate Schema Therapy with individuals. We’re closely affiliated with the New Jersey Institute for Schema Therapy, directed by Dr. Jeffrey Young & Wendy Behary, LCSW – their highly skilled trainers and supervisors support and contribute to our trainings.

This program is fully approved by ISST (International Society of Schema Therapy) SchemaTherapySociety.org.

Why Schema Therapy?

Developed by Dr. Jeffrey Young in the late 1980’s, this integrative approach combines theories and strategies from attachment theory, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and experiential therapies.

In the 25 years since its inception Schema Therapy (ST) has evolved rapidly, and is now a thriving, evidence-based, well conceptualized therapy approach being used and taught internationally.

This therapy approach helps clients heal deep wounds and effectively treats a variety of client issues to include personality disorders, addiction, healing from complex trauma and much more.

About Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy creates a therapeutic flow from present to past, helps younger parts heal and provides experiential strategies to move forward. Not only understanding what’s unresolved, but safely experiencing it. Clients really like this approach; it’s empowering and provides a dynamic healing blueprint for lasting change.

How Learning Schema Therapy Enhanced My Ability to Help Clients 

By Kathryn Rudlin, LCSW | Advanced Certified Schema Therapist, Supervisor, Trainer

“Try to respect the reasons your schemas developed in the first place. In your childhood, it was essential for your emotional survival. But what was once a help to you is now hurting you, and it is time to give it up.”  Dr. Jeffrey Young, developer of Schema Therapy

It was not initially my intention to become a schema therapist.

Prior to 2011, I didn’t know this therapeutic model existed. For years my work focused on facilitating therapy for families struggling with a troubled teen. Then priorities changed, as I began to unearth why growing up in my family had left me feeling unworthy and confused.

This inquiry resulted in significant personal healing and inspired me to write Ghost Mothers: Healing From the Pain of a Mother Who Wasn’t Really There. The book attracted adults who related to this pain, and my private practice flourished. Therapy flowed well for several years; clients experienced relief in being seen and understood, healing goals were met, and important changes made.

Then difficult therapeutic moments began to emerge. Trying, without success, to create new behavior patterns and soothe the child inside. I had to admit I didn’t have a strong framework or strategies for the deep healing needed by clients struggling to resolve childhood trauma.  

When I discovered Schema Therapy, a proven therapy approach for traumatized clients, I hoped this well-conceptualized, experiential model would provide ways to create the profound changes my clients deserved.

What happened when I began using Schema Therapy with clients.

My client ‘Jodi’ grew up with a narcissistic mother who was critical, controlling, and non-nurturing. Jodi wanted to understand the dynamics of her family and the impact of constantly trying to please her mother; she hoped to change patterns to include feeling over-emotional, unloved, and doing too much for others.

(1) Identifying ‘schemas’ is an essential part of Schema Therapy. Schemas incorporate emotion, thoughts and body sensations that come to define how we view the world, based on what was experienced growing up. Jodi’s primary schema is ‘Emotional Deprivation.’

~ You were impacted in many painful ways growing up with a mother who wasn’t taking good care of you. The little girl you once were felt deprived when she needed love, nurturing or attention. You not only didn’t get this; your mom was often angry in response.

(2) Dr. Young describes the power of identifying a schema, then working with it as a ‘hot cognition;’ helping clients experience all aspects of what it feels like when their schema is activated. Emotional deprivation is Jodi’s life narrative – trying so hard and getting so little.

~ I want to help you understand this schema better. Let’s use imagery to explore what happens when you feel deprived in the present, as you did so often as a child. We’ll learn together what gets triggered inside you; what this little girl needed then, and what she longs for now.

(3) The experience of activating a schema is powerful for client and therapist. Doing so ‘links’ current emotional reactions and patterns to unresolved pain from the past.

~ We were able to re-create the experience of being emotionally ignored. This ‘bridge’ to the past helps us understand how devastating it was when your boyfriend said he didn’t want to come over last night. You strongly felt unloved and unimportant, as you often did as a child.

Schema Therapy works and I’m passionate about using and teaching this model!

Schema Therapy creates a therapeutic flow from present to past, helps younger parts heal and provides experiential strategies to move forward. Not only understanding what’s unresolved, but safely experiencing it. Clients really like this approach; it’s empowering and provides a dynamic healing blueprint for lasting change.

Jodi put it this way:

The little part of me needed healing, the adult part needed more self-compassion. My narcissistic mother had convinced me that I was worthless and had nothing to offer.

Using Schema Therapy helps traumatized people make sense of their past in effective and powerful ways. For therapists and clients this is gratifying, exciting, creative therapy work.

Suggested Resources for Therapists

Your Coping Skills Aren’t Working

Richard Brouillette, LCSW has written an engaging self-help book on Schema Therapy. How to “Break Free” from the self-destructive coping “skills” that hold you back!

Online Schema Therapy Classes

Our colleagues in Australia present a variety of excellent online classes in ST

Learn and Earn CEU’S

Collection of CEU opportunities from Wendy T. Behary, MSW, LCSW, founder of The Schema Therapy Institutes of NJ-NYC-DC.

Brief intro to Schema Therapy

What’s Unique about the California Schema Training Program?

Schema Certification: Frequently Asked Questions

Certified schema therapists learn to facilitate the schema model with confidence, creativity and a clear sense of a healing blueprint. The in-depth certification training program offers a unique opportunity to learn experientially from skilled schema therapists through a variety of teaching techniques.

To become a skilled schema therapist requires a high level of clinical experience. Those applying to the certification program are required to be licensed per their mental health qualification, and to have 2 years post-licensure experience. (Note: you may still be eligible, contact us with questions.)

Yes. We reserve several spaces for those who chose to take the training to learn ST in-depth but are not seeking certification; the tuition fee is the same. If the eligibility requirements as a clinician are met, there is still the option to pursue certification at a later date.

Prior ST experience is not required. You’ll be asked on the application to list the experience/reading you may have completed.

Note: There is required reading prior to taking the 2 workshop training:

 

The 2 levels of internationally recognized certification are established by the ISST. Upon becoming certified clinicians are eligible to be listed on their widely viewed website.

Standard certification denotes high level skills as a schema therapist.

Advanced certification denotes a higher level of skill & experience, and is the level (once additional qualifications are met)required to supervise & train others.

 

  • Successfully complete Workshops 1 and 2.
  • Individual Schema Supervision: minimum 20 hours for Standard, 40 hours for Advanced.
  • Submission process: the final step. A recorded session and case conceptualization of a client in schema terms. Completed as part of supervision, submitted to an independent rater.
  • For Advanced Schema Certification, 2 recorded therapy sessions and 2 case conceptualizations are required.

 

A unique opportunity to practice skills and strategies learned in the training, with support, feedback and mentoring. Sessions include the development of schema case conceptualizations, role-playing, feedback, learning about personal schemas and exploring specialized interests.

  • A minimum of 1 year, following completion of workshop 2.
  • For most therapists, the process takes 2-3 years, sometimes longer to achieve Advanced status.

This is a certification program; we are currently unable to offer CEU’s. We highly recommend using the knowledge learned in the workshops to earn CEU’s via this excellent resource: https://catalog.pesi.com/speaker/wendy-behary-7429

“Schema Therapy got to the core of my pain and helped relieve it after residing deep within me for years. For the first time in my life, I felt understood and validated. This approach was the gateway to becoming whole and the beginning of a new life.”

Schema Therapy Training Team

Kathryn (Kathy) Rudlin, LCSW

With over 30 years as a licensed therapist in California, I was initially trained as a family therapist and gained valuable experience working with teens in settings to include foster care, wilderness therapy and psychiatric hospitals. My passion for this population included supervising interns, writing a workbook on facilitating adolescent groups, and publishing articles on parenting at-risk teens.

Personal, educational and professional experiences finally unlocked the mystery of my own family’s dysfunction and in doing so I discovered my passion to help others do the same. In meeting Wendy Behary, who successfully uses Schema Therapy to heal narcissists, and those in relationship with them; I discovered an approach that deeply heals this pain, decreases the trauma and allows those who use it to free themselves from the pain of the past and thrive!

Kathy authored the book: Ghost Mothers, to increase awareness of the difficulties in growing up un-mothered. She has a private practice in San Diego, CA, talks about Schema Therapy any chance she gets and is thrilled to be facilitating the training program with Litsa.

International Society Schema TherapyIn addition, Kathy trained intensively with Dr. Karyl McBride, author of the book: Will I Ever Be Good Enough, and is a certified therapist through her program.

Evangelia (Litsa) Anthis, Psy.D

As the child of Greek immigrants, growing up during the Apartheid era in South Africa made a profound impact on the person Litsa is today. Driven by hope for a different future and an end to the everyday human suffering all around her, she chose to become a Social Worker.

Litsa completed her education in the UK with a PhD in Counseling Psychology, later specializing in Psychodermatolgy: supporting individuals with the impact of skin disease. In 2002, she discovered Schema Therapy; an empathic and explanatory approach that deeply resonated with her own life experiences.

After ten years in London, she moved to Greece on a mission to mitigate the stigma surrounding therapy in her native culture. Over the next ten years, she worked in private practice, promoted psychological services in various settings, became President of the Greek Psoriasis Society, and became an Advanced Schema Therapist after attending the first Schema Therapy certification training program offered by Dr. Young in 2008.

“I am so delighted to add a few words of praise and support for our California Colleagues, Kathy Rudlin & Litsa Anthis. This is a dream come true for me and many others who are working to continue to grow our reach in this country… Finally a West Coast option facilitated by two incredibly talented Advanced ST trainers.”

WENDY BEHARY, THE NJ INSTITUTE FOR SCHEMA THERAPY

Schema Therapy Supervisory Team

We are ecstatic to introduce our team of highly skilled and experienced Supervisors, all qualify as an Advanced Certified Schema Therapist, Supervisor and TrainerThey have been carefully chosen and we’re thrilled each has agreed to provide a high level of individual schema supervision to trainees in the California certification program.

Paul DelGrosso

Paul DelGrosso – DC and Bethesda, MD

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: PTSD, CBT, CPT, PE, EMDR, BOWEN FAMILY SYSTEMS

Paul is a Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience providing therapy to adults, adolescents, families and groups, and specializes in treating trauma. He teaches ST to therapists, with Wendy Behary, in the DC area.
www.pauldelgrosso.com

Merrie Pearl

Merrie Pearl – New Orleans, LA

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: MINDFULNESS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS, EMDR, ACT, GOTTMAN

Merrie has over 20 years as a Schema Therapist and has a teaching style that’s warm and authentic. She works primarily with clients suffering from depression, anxiety, stress and transitions.
www.schematherapy-nola.com

Dr. Arnie Reed

Dr. Arnie Reed – United Kingdom

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: BPD, EMDR, DBT, COMPLEX CLIENT PRESENTATIONS

Arnie is a chartered counseling Psychologist and director of Schema Therapy Training Workshops in the UK. He enjoyed a full military career before pursuing a second career in Psychology, and attended the first ST certification program in NY, facilitated by Dr. Jeffrey Young.
info@schematherapyworkshops.com

Jeff Conway

Jeff Conway – New York

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: EFT WITH COUPLES, GROUPS, MALE SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE

Jeff is a licensed clinical Social Worker in Mid-Town Manhattan, and is the President of ISST. He is certified as an advanced trainer in both individual and couples Schema Therapy. In addition he’s a founding member of the ISST, has been providing Schema Supervision since 2008, and recently completed intensive training videos with Wendy Behary.
www.schematherapysociety.org/Jeff-Conway-Personal-Statement

Harriet Achtentuch

Harriet Achtentuch – Milburn, NJ

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: TRAUMA, PHOBIA, EATING DISORDERS

Harriet is a Clinical Social Worker who primarily provides couples counseling, and provides therapy for issues of depression and anxiety to adults and adolescent girls. She has a nurturing, accepting style in treating unresolved issues.

Dr. Danielle Sauve

Dr. Danielle Sauve – Quebec, Canada

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: EATING DISORDERS, MOOD DISORDERS

Dr. Sauve is a Psychologist with special interest in helping individuals who are struggling in their relationships, with the consequences of childhood distress, and with mood disorders. She attended the first Schema Therapy certification program in NY, facilitated by Dr. Jeffrey Young, in 2008. Her interpersonal approach is flexible, collaborative, warm, and caring.
www.daniellesauvephd.com/en

Dr. John F. Gasiewski

Dr. John F. Gasiewski – NYC & NJ

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: CBT, RELATIONSHIP ISSUES, NARCISSISM, NARCISSISTIC PARTNERS, ANGER, STRESS AND ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, GRIEVING, DIVORCE AND CUSTODY, YOUNG ADULTS

John is the Regional ISST Coordinator for the US & Canada, with over 20 years experience in corporate, hospital, private practice and academic work setting. He has a warm, kind, caring presence in providing ST and supervision.
www.drjohngtherapy.com

Dr. JUDITH MARGOLIN

Dr. Judith Margolin – Princeton, NJ

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: TRAUMA, DBT, COMPLEX PTSD, PBD, DID, RELATIONSHIPS

Judith is a Psychologist with over 20 years experience. She is currently the Clinical Director of the Women’s Program, Princeton Healthcare System.
www.drjudithmargolin.com

Elizabeth Lacy

Elizabeth Lacy – New York, NY

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: NARCISSISM, SEXUAL ADDICTION, OTHER ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS, INTENSE ANXIETY DISORDERS, COUPLES

Liz is a clinical social worker licensed in New York, with over 20 years experience . She trains internationally, in New York City and through the NY/NJ Schema Institute, and has many years of experience in agency-based social work and executive management.
www.elizabethlacy.com

 Dr. SUSAN SIMPSON

Dr. Susan Simpson – Scotland

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: CHAIRWORK, COUPLES WORK, SHORTER- TERM ST, EATING DISORDERS

Susan is Director of the Schema Therapy program in Scotland, to include her specialist workshop on preventing burnout in mental health professionals. She is a Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years experience using ST with complex clinical problems and personality disorders. In addition, she has published several research papers using ST for complex eating disorders, and her current research investigates the effectiveness of using Group ST for this disorder. Dr. Simpson is also a Senior Lecturer at the Univ of South Australia.
www.schematherapyscotland.com

Marsha Blank

Marsha Blank – New York

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: CHAIRWORK, BPD, ATTACHMENT, POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, TRAUMA, SOMATIC THERAPY, PARENT GUIDANCE

Marsha Blank, MA, LCSW began her career as a Schema Therapist working at the Cognitive Therapy Center of New York/The Schema Therapy Institute, directed by Dr. Jeffrey Young. She has expertise in working with Personality Disorders, Attachment Issues, Anxiety Disorders and Intergenerational Trauma. Marsha has worked extensively with pregnant and postpartum women, mother/infant dyads and families. She is an advanced certified schema therapist, supervisor and trainer in Individual Adult and Child/Adolescent ST, and is a Certified Somatic Developmental Psychotherapist.  parentserv@gmail.com  917-974-2789

 

Jean Notaro

Jean Notaro – Ireland

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: SEX ADDICTION, CHRONIC LONG – TERM PROBLEMS, CBT, MINDFULNESS

Jean is a founding member of the Schema Therapy Association of Ireland (STAI), is in private practice and a part – time lecturer at PCI COLLEGE in Dublin; training counsellors and psychotherapists.
www.STAIreland.com

Jean Notaro

Olivia Thrift – Northern CA

SPECIAL EXPERTISE IN: DBT, CBT, COMPASSION FOCUSED THERAPY, COMPLEX TRAUMA

Olivia has worked in diverse clinical settings and founded the Psychology Company, in the UK. She successfully Integrates yoga and mindfulness into ST, and co-authored a chapter in the book, Creative Methods in Schema Therapy.
www.thepsychologycompany.co.uk

“PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH IS THE ABILITY TO GET ONE’S NEEDS MET IN AN ADAPTIVE MANNER.
The central project of children’s development is to get their core needs met; the central project of effective parenting is to help the child get these needs met: and the central project of Schema Therapy – its primary objective- is to help adults get their own needs met.”

— Dr. Jeffrey Young

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