Powerful Imagery Rescripting Techniques in Schema Therapy

Speaker

Dr. Joan Farrell

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Date & Time

October 19, 2023 - 11am - 1pm

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Type

Virtual (Zoom Video)

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Brief Overview 

Traumatic experiences in childhood play a central underlying role in many psychological disorders from complex PTSD, dissociative disorders, chronic anxiety and depression to personality disorders. The critical effects of trauma on sense of self and view of others stored in maladaptive core schemas can be dramatically impacted by the psychotherapeutic intervention of imagery rescripting. Empirical evidence for the effectiveness of imagery rescripting in the treatment of these disorders is accumulating, suggesting its effectiveness even as a stand-alone
intervention. This workshop focuses on the practical use of various imagery rescripting interventions in individual and group psychotherapy. The use of imagery rescripting is compatible with most psychotherapeutic approaches including CBT and psychodynamic psychotherapy and is a core component of Schema Therapy.
 

Learning objectives include
 

1. Understand the various types of Imagery Rescripting works and how and when to implement them
 

2. Understand how to introduce imagery to clients, secure their active collaboration and get through common obstacles
 

3. Understand how to adapt imagery to individual client needs and their damaging messages from trauma
 

4. Opportunities to experience the technique in demonstration groups and to practice imagery rescripting in dyads with trainer feedback

The workshop combines brief didactic presentation with demonstrations, case examples and practice opportunities with feedback for participants.

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Biography 

Joan is a licensed clinical psychologist with 40 years of experience in training and psychotherapy practice. She is a certified Schema Therapy Trainer/Supervisor and co-directs the Schema Therapy Institute Midwest- Indianapolis. Joan has given training in individual and group ST internationally for over 20 years (24 countries to date). She receives outstanding evaluations for her enthusiastic and collaborative teaching style that includes demonstrations and group role play experiences for participants. 

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Joan is an Adjunct Professor in Clinical Psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University. She was a clinical professor at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), for 25 years. She is Research and Training director of the IUSM Center for Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment & Research. She was the elected Executive Board Member, Coordinator for Training & Certification of the ISST 2012-2018. She chairs the ISST Training & Certification Advisory Board. She was awarded an Honorary Lifetime membership by ISST 2018.

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She developed with Ida Shaw a group treatment model consistent with Schema Therapy. Influenced by clinical experience with BPD and by the work of Jeff Young, they adapted ST interventions and limited reparenting to a group and developed uniquely group interventions to accomplish ST goals. They established outpatient group ST (GST) in a specialty clinic for BPD, which was awarded an Indiana Governor’s Showcase Award in Mental Health. They developed an inpatient ST program that combines individual and group modalities and directed a dedicated BPD ST unit for twelve years at a IUSM-affiliated psychiatric hospital. Their GST model was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial with a grant award from the US National Institute of Mental Health. GST demonstrated strong effects in reduced BPD symptoms and improved global function as well as high recovery rates. Joan was co-Principal investigator with Arnoud Arntz for an international trial with 495 patients in five countries to further evaluate the GST model.

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She is the author with Ida Shaw of three books on ST: Group Schema Therapy for BPD, Wiley, 2012; The Schema Therapy Clinician’s Guide, Wiley, 2014 and Experiencing Schema Therapy from the Inside-Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflections Workbook, Guilford Press, 2018 and a DVD Set demonstrating GST (IVAH, 2011). She has contributed many book chapters and research articles on Schema Therapy. Her latest book is with Wendy Behary is The Deliberate Practice of Schema Therapy, APA Press 2023.