Tools in Schema Therapy and Trauma

The course is intended for therapists with experience working with the population of the surrounding settlements who are dealing with acute and ongoing traumatic events that have damaged the fabric of life of entire communities. During the course, the opportunity will be given to become familiar with the approach and therapeutic tools in schema therapy, to enrich knowledge and treatment of trauma, with an emphasis on applying the approach with children and adolescents and their parents in situations of trauma. Schema therapy is an integrative and research-based psychotherapy approach, belonging to the third wave of cognitive psychotherapy. Developed by the American psychologist Jeffrey Young. (2003, al et Young), combines cognitive-behavioral aspects from CBT, understandings derived from neuroscience research, in-depth conceptualizations from the object relations and attachment schools, and experiential interventions. The developmental model of the approach proposes that deprivation in fulfilling basic needs creates a state of developmental trauma that is expressed in the creation of unconscious maladaptive beliefs, known as early maladaptive schemas (EMS). These will guide the person's behavior throughout their life and cause ongoing difficulties and deficits that will impair functioning and psychological well-being. Although schema therapy was not designed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there is evidence regarding the effectiveness of schema therapy on PTSD. al et Cockram.( 2010 ), Moosaviassl (2014) Moosavi and,al et Naderi .( 2015 ). The EMS has been proposed as a suitable trauma theory for measuring the effects of traumatic experiences.

The Consent Model of Therapy can be a significant addition to trauma-focused psychotherapy because it uses a range of integrative and experiential techniques to resolve the unconscious effects of past traumatic experiences. In addition, the unique concepts of early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and schema states (modes of the self) provide a new explanation for understanding the effects of trauma and traumatic experiences on personality structure.

Course Objectives: The course provides a theoretical and applied basis for formulating an effective therapeutic approach to the assessment and treatment of various trauma situations by:

• Introduction to the theoretical foundations of the developmental model in schema therapy - needs, beliefs, and schemas

• Learning the conceptualization/clinical assessment process in schema therapy

• Adapting the conceptualization in the schema to acute trauma situations and chronic trauma situations

• Exposure to interventions and therapeutic positions in schema therapy

• Implementing schema therapy-based interventions in various trauma situations