Summer school 7-11 July 2025, Utrecht, the Netherlands

ABOUT THIS SUMMER SCHOOL

In 2024, the Dutch Institute for Schema Therapy, known in the Netherlands as Van Genderen Opleidingen, organized its first in person summer school and that has been a huge success; 20+ people from all over the world traveld to Utrecht for a interesting, pleasurable and fun week of schema therapy. In 2025, we will organize yet another edition of an in-person Summer School from 7-11 July in Utrecht, the Netherlands. You’re invited to join us in a week full of interesting topics in schema therapy. During 5 days, you will be emersed in various aspects of schema therapy. We want to make sure this week provides you a safe environment in which you can feel connected and validated in the process of both learning and enjoying a playful and pleasurable time in the group.

The week will start with providing you an update of the latest developments in schema therapy, e.g. the use of new core emotional needs and new schemas. Already existing skills in forming a case conceptualization will be refreshed and fine-tuned during practical demonstrations and exercises in diagnostic imagery exercises and diagnostic chairwork. During the rest of the week, each day will focus on working with a different mode or topic. The aim is to provide a more in depth and up to date understanding of the methods and techniques that are central to schema therapy and to offer inspiration in how to manage challenging situations in clinical practice. Therefore, short introductions will be followed by live demonstrations focusing on specific challenges, e.g. chairwork with strong coping modes, imagery rescripting with strong coping modes, working with guilt & loyalty, how to create corrective emotional experiences, strengthening healthy modes and more.

PRESENTERS

Besides Remco van der Wijngaart, there will be guest speakers with specific scientific or clinical knowledge. At this moment, we are in the process of organizing some expert presenters. Last year, we were proud that the following speakers have presented during the during the summer school:

Dr. Julie Krans, assistant professor in clinical psychology and associate director of the Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University; senior researcher at Pro Persona Overwaal centre for anxiety, OCD and PTSD; guest professor in clinical psychology at the KU Leuven; trained CBT therapist (VVGT); co-founder of the International consortium on Imagery rescripting and senior author of a review study on the effectiveness of Schema Therapy in treating anxiety disorders, OCD and PTSD.
Elsa van den Broek, schema therapist and drama therapist. Known as ’Lucy’ from the production ‘Schema therapy, working with modes’, Elsa is an expert in bringing emotion and felt experiences into the therapy room.

There will be a social program open for those who like to enjoy the beautiful city of Utrecht with each other. Extra (reasonable!) costs will be charged for participation in this social program. Although this program is yet not definitive, there definitely will be an opening and closing dinner.

DATES AND TIMES

This is a preliminary program, definitive program will be presented in January 2025

Day 1: Monday, July 7: 11am-4.30pm CET
Theoretical and scientific update

Day 2: Tuesday, July 8: 10am-4pm CET
Coping Modes

Day 3: Wednesday, July 9: 10am-4pm CET
Inner Critics

Day 4: Thursday, July 10: 10am-4pm CET
Child modes

Day 5: Friday, July 11: 10am-3pm CET
Healthy Adult

SOCIAL PROGRAM

Monday welcome dinner
Friday fare well dinner
Definitive social program will be presented in January 2025
Additional costs will be charged to participate in the social program. These costs will remain reasonable. Prices will be available in January 2025.

LITERATURE

Brockman, R., Simpson, S., Hayes, C., Van der Wijngaart, R., & Smout, M. (2023). Cambridge Guide to Schema Therapy (Cambridge Guides to the Psychological Therapies). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108918145

Van der Wijngaart, R. (2021) Imagery Rescripting rescripting, theory and practice. Pavilion Publishing Company

Van der Wijngaart, R. (2023) Chairwork, theory and practice. Pavilion Publishing Company

Van der Wijngaart, R., Van Genderen, H. Schema therapy for cluster C personality disorders. Treatment of the Dependent-, Avoidant-, and Obsessive-Compulsive patients. Pavilion Publishing Company ltd.

DATES, COSTS AND SUBSCRIPTION