Schema Therapy Workshop Part 1
Practical training to strengthen your skills with complex clients.
Schema Therapy - Part 1
Schema Therapy makes sense when you see it as “unmet needs therapy.” Learn how to turn complex theory into practical tools for your clients.
Secure your spot in our next Schema Therapy Workshop for only $400 + GST.
What You Will Get
7 hours of CPD in a face-to-face format
(Not offered online or via Zoom at this time.)
All workshop materials will be provided in hard copy on the day of the training.
Note: This training does not count towards accreditation with ISST.
Course Outline
Schemas are negative beliefs we develop about ourselves when our emotional needs in childhood aren’t met. Once you see how these beliefs form, how they’re maintained, and how they can be changed, schema therapy becomes not only clearer but genuinely usable in clinical practice.
Led by Jessica O’Garr, Clinical Psychologist and founder of The Psych Collective, this one-day, face-to-face workshop helps you answer:
- What are maladaptive schemas, and how do they develop?
- What are the core emotional needs we’re all born with, and what happens when they go unmet?
- Why do maladaptive schemas persist into adulthood, and how are they maintained?
- How do you plan a treatment approach using a schema therapy framework?
- What are the actual techniques — cognitive, behavioural and experiential — you can use in sessions?
- How do adaptive schemas support positive change and build resilience?
- What therapeutic factors do you need to consider when applying this complex model?
Traditional CBT works great until it doesn’t. When clients have chronic difficulties like treatment-resistant depression, complex trauma, or personality disorders, schema therapy offers a deeper model that explains not just what is happening, but why. It gets to the root cause.
Schemas develop early, when emotional needs like attachment, autonomy, or play aren’t met. These unmet needs shape lifelong patterns in how clients think, feel, and behave. Schema Therapy doesn’t just teach people to challenge their thoughts; it helps them change deeply held beliefs that no longer serve them.
Don’t wait — places fill quickly! Book your spot today for only $400 + GST.
Who Should Take This Course
This training is ideal for:
- Psychologists
- Clinical psychology registrars
- Counsellors
- Social workers
- Mental health nurses
- Any clinician wanting practical tools to treat entrenched client patterns
Want to strengthen your skills working with complex clients? Book your place now for $400 + GST.
Taught by Experienced Clinicians
At The Psych Collective, we’ve developed a full ecosystem to support clinicians:
- E-books, therapy cards, client worksheets, and structured modules that walk you through each phase of schema work.
- Coverage of the 20 maladaptive schemas based on the latest version of the YSQ-R (Yalcin et al., 2022).
- Treatment pathways from assessment through schema change.
- Incorporation of adaptive schemas (Louis et al., 2018) with strength-based interventions to promote resilience.
- Real-world strategies for dealing with therapeutic pitfalls and complex cases.
This workshop is all about making schema therapy feel accessible — providing you with scripts, demos, and tools you can use right away.
Schema Therapy isn’t something you can learn passively. That’s why this training is done face-to-face — so you can see the techniques in action. You’ll get to:
- Watch live demonstrations
- Ask questions as you go
- Practice in a supportive environment
From imagery rescripting to emotional bridge techniques, we walk you through how actually to do it, not just what the theory says
Note:
This workshop does not count towards ISST accreditation, as Jess has chosen not to join the association.
If you’d like to learn about ISST accreditation requirements, you can visit ISST Accreditation Info.
What Clinicians Are Saying
“Finding The Psych Collective and the schema therapy workshop was like stumbling across a pot of gold. So much invaluable, actionable knowledge was provided. I could not recommend this workshop enough.”
— Workshop Participant
“Jess presented an incredibly thorough insight into the rationale and psychoeducation associated with Schema Therapy. Her style was very easy to understand and follow. This shifted my initial hesitations into confidence.”
— Laura
Secure your spot in this workshop for only $400 + GST. Join the growing community of clinicians who have found that schema therapy finally makes sense!
Workshop Details
Location
The Psych Collective Clinic, 3/36-42 Auburn St, Wollongong NSW
Access
The training room is located on the second floor, accessible by a flight of stairs. Unfortunately, disabled access is not available.
Getting here
Wollongong is 60 minutes south of Sydney, and our clinic is 300m from Wollongong Train Station. There is street parking near the clinic.
Accommodation
If you’re travelling from interstate or out of area, we recommend:
- Hotel Toto
- Novotel Wollongong
- Sage Hotel
Cancellation Policy
Full refund minus $25 processing fee with at least 7 days’ notice. For cancellations under 7 days, booking fees will be forfeited.
Schema Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is schema therapy training?
Typically facilitated by an advanced schema therapist, schema therapy training equips mental health professionals with the skills to identify and address deep-seated patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving known as schemas. These patterns often develop in childhood and can cause substantial distress in adulthood. Through schema therapy training, practitioners learn to practice schema therapy effectively so they can help clients recognise and modify these maladaptive schemas.
What are the 5 needs in schema therapy?
In schema therapy, there are five core childhood needs necessary for healthy emotional development:
- The Need for Secure Attachment
- The Need for Autonomy
- The Need for Boundaries
- The Need for Freedom to Express
- The Need for Play
To learn more about this topic, read our blog on the List of Core Emotional Needs.
What is the difference between CBT and schema therapy?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours. In contrast, schema therapy delves deeper into the root causes of these patterns, exploring childhood experiences and long-standing beliefs. While Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is typically short-term and symptom-focused, schema therapy is more comprehensive in its approach. It involves attempting to change a person’s existing schemas so that they are no longer a hindrance.
At The Psych Collective, while we don’t have a training program for CBT, we do have one for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). DBT is an evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, particularly those associated with borderline personality disorder. It combines cognitive-behavioural techniques with mindfulness strategies, making it more comprehensive than CBT. Unlike CBT, which primarily focuses on altering thought patterns, DBT emphasises emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. This approach is often considered superior to CBT for clients who struggle with chronic emotional dysregulation.
How long does it take to do schema therapy?
The duration of schema therapy varies significantly depending on the degree of the issues being addressed. It can typically take several months to a few years. Regular sessions over this period allow for gradual exploration and modification of deeply ingrained schemas.
Who should do schema therapy?
Schema therapy is particularly beneficial for individuals with long-standing emotional and relational difficulties, often rooted in early life experiences. It is recommended for those who have not found sufficient relief through other therapeutic approaches, such as CBT, or for individuals dealing with complex issues like personality disorders, anxiety disorders, or chronic depression.
Can I book both Schema Therapy workshops together?
Yes! We offer a discounted rate if you book both Schema Therapy Part 1 and Schema Mode Therapy Part 2 together. While Part 1 is not strictly required for Part 2, it’s strongly recommended unless you already have substantial schema therapy knowledge. Book both for just $999 + GST (normally $1,200 + GST).
Special Offer!
Book Both Workshops and Save!
Normal RRP
$1200 +GST
We are offering a discounted rate if you book both Schema Therapy Part 1 and Schema Mode Therapy Part 2 workshops together.
While Part One is not a strict prerequisite for the next course, it is strongly recommended unless you have substantial knowledge of schema therapy.
Or, if you prefer to book just this single workshop:
Ready to Book?
Join this face-to-face workshop in Wollongong for only $400 + GST and gain practical schema therapy tools you can use immediately.
