Overview

Schema Therapy is an evidence-based treatment for Personality Disorders and ‘hard-to-treat’ presentations and problems.

Derived from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, schema therapy incorporates and emphasises a number of affect change techniques, such as imagery rescripting and chair work, and the concept of Limited Re-parenting in addition to cognitive and behavioural techniques in order to create change. The concept of early maladaptive schemas (or traits), and modes (or states), how these derive from early experiences, and the frustration of core emotional needs, are central to schema therapy.  

This training will take participants beyond their foundational knowledge and skills in schema therapy to extend their practice in more nuanced and advanced schema therapy techniques, and will cover:

• a revision of the underlying theory and main schemas and modes,

• dealing with the angry child mode,

• fine-tuning attunement,

• working with the self-aggrandiser and other overcompensation modes through empathic confrontation,

• stage 3 imagery rescripting (where the clients healthy adult rescripts) and multiple chairwork, and

• an emphasis on over compensatory and ‘tricky’ presentations.

Workshop schedule

• Webinar 1: Thursday, 19 June 2025, 9am-4:30pm AEST
• Webinar 2: Monday, 23 June 2025, 9am-4:30pm AEST

Level of Learning

Intermediate/Advanced.

This workshop is targeted to those who have attended a previous CPD activity Schema Therapy: An Introduction and Overview, or with a minimum of foundational knowledge of schema therapy and some experience applying schema therapy conceptualisation and treatment techniques (imagery rescripting, chairwork etc). 

Duration of access

Places are limited and registration will not be available after the workshop has taken place.

The webinars will be recorded and made available only to participants of the live event. Access to the recordings and presenter slides (once available) is for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• recognise the underlying theory, 18 maladaptive schemas, and main modes of schema therapy,

• identify self-aggrandiser modes and appropriate practice of empathic confrontation,

• appropriately apply the practice of attunement,

• apply conceptualisation techniques for ‘tricky behaviours’,

• discuss anger in schema therapy and practice working with an angry child mode,

• apply stage 3 imagery rescripting and discuss common problems and solutions in imagery rescripting, and

• recognise when and how to use multiple chair work.

Presenter(s)

Christopher Hepworth MAPS

About the presenter(s)

Chris is a Clinical Psychologist and accredited advanced schema therapist, trainer and supervisor who lives in Perth, Western Australia. He has a small private practice in addition to working in the Schema Therapy Program at Hollywood Private Hospital. Chris is also the Clinical Lead on the DBTeen Program in WA, within which he provides clinical consultation and guidance to DBTeen group clinicians and to Lifeline about clinical aspects of the program. In addition to being trained in Schema Therapy, Chris has been coordinating and delivering Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programs for a number of years, and his practice is also informed by EMDR and other cognitive-behavioural therapies. Chris provides formal training in Schema Therapy both in Australia and abroad, including touring for the Australian Psychology Society in late 2019, in addition to providing training and up-skilling in DBT. From his private practice he also provides individual supervision.