EFT for Trauma

What if the story you tell about your life could become the key to healing it? In this lecture, Professor Gerben Westerhof introduces An Empowering Story - a narrative intervention that bridges the science of storytelling and the practice of mental health recovery. Through structured reflection, clients are guided to revisit their experiences, identify the turning points that shaped them, and imagine new possibilities for their future. The process is as simple as it is profound: write your story, share it, and begin to see yourself differently. With evidence to back it up, this approach shows measurable gains in recovery - participants report greater self-awareness, emotional relief, and a renewed sense of agency. Because sometimes the most therapeutic thing a person can do is find the words for what they've been through - and discover they're not alone in it. Thoughtful, research-grounded, and deeply humanising - this lecture makes the case that narrative is not just how we make sense of the past, but how we find our way forward.

Why do so many skilled therapists stop improving - even after years of practice? In this lecture, psychologist Aerjen Tamminga unpacks the concept of deliberate practice and its relevance to clinical work. Drawing on research into expertise and performance, he explains why experience alone rarely translates into better outcomes, and how a more structured, intentional approach to skill development can shift that pattern. Central to this approach are honest feedback, disciplined self-reflection, and an ongoing commitment to learning - not as abstract ideals, but as concrete clinical habits that measurably improve therapeutic outcomes.

Resilience isn't about being unbreakable. It's about knowing what breaks you - and choosing to move toward what matters anyway. In this talk, psychologist and author Ute Liersch dismantles the popular myth that resilience means pushing through, staying strong, and feeling nothing. Instead, she makes the case for something far more honest: yielding to stress, sitting with discomfort, and using the weight of hard emotions as a compass rather than a burden. From the quiet damage of corporate culture to the wisdom hidden inside adversity, Liersch shows that true resilience begins not with more endurance - but with deeper self-knowledge. Grounded, clear, and quietly radical - this is a guide for anyone who's tired of pretending that strength means not falling apart.

What if the key to lasting change in relationships isn't fixing behaviors - but building the flexibility to respond differently? In this opening lecture, clinical psychologist Matthias Valente introduces a powerful framework that blends schema therapy with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). He traces the evolution of schema theory, unpacks how emotional needs shape relationship dynamics, and makes the case for psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and values-clarity as the foundation of meaningful couples work. A rich theoretical grounding for everything that follows in this series.

Explore the fascinating evolution of digital mental health interventions for depression — from early digital CBT to the transformative impact of generative AI. Professor Heleen Riper traces how technology, accelerated by the pandemic, is reshaping therapy and opening the door to more personalized, accessible mental healthcare. She details the latest advancements in AI, what it can realistically do today, and the crucial ethical considerations that must guide its integration into clinical practice.

Explore the integration of psychotherapy, embodiment, and creative practice with Ben Yalom's "Your Body Knows Your Story" approach. This video delves into accessing pre-verbal knowledge through movement, gesture, and metaphorical language. Discover a two-phase framework for inner exploration, including creating personal "dances" and using these tools for therapeutic encounters. Witness a role-playing exercise externalizing "inner monsters" and learn about devising theater, somatic experiencing for trauma, and establishing safety in group therapy.

This webinar features EMDR trauma expert Robin Shapiro discussing anxiety as an early warning system and a tool for social control, particularly for Highly Sensitive People. Shapiro explores common anxiety disorders, differential diagnoses, and introduces "Silencing the Alarm," a vagal calming exercise. She delves into cognitive distortions, the "Behavior Chain," and treatment options including SSRIs and EMDR. Practical strategies for managing panic attacks and OCD are demonstrated, such as "negative breathing," "butterfly hugs," and EMDR 2.0 techniques. Shapiro emphasizes "FEEL EVERYTHING!" for improved self-protection and clear thinking, referencing polyvagal theory and her work on trauma and grief.

In this video, clinical neuropsychologist Olav Wagenaar discusses tinnitus as a common auditory perception. He explains its prevalence, the varying levels of distress it can cause, and the predictors of low distress. The discussion highlights the “stepped care” approach from the Dutch Guideline 2025, emphasizing diagnostics, psychoeducation, and multidisciplinary care for severe cases, including CBT, ACT, and EMDR.

This video explores the vital role of the therapeutic relationship in process-based case conceptualization, highlighting collaborative empiricism. It emphasizes valuing the client as the expert of their own experience, with therapists modeling curiosity and empathy. This approach integrates client expertise, practitioner knowledge, and scientific evidence for effective, evidence-based psychotherapy.

This masterclass by Professor David Veale delves into Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a condition characterized by persistent preoccupation with perceived appearance flaws. The session covers diagnosis, assessment, and effective interventions, including CBT techniques like the 'two theory technique' and addressing 'Self as an aesthetic object.' It highlights strategies for managing attentional biases, fusion with negative experiences, and rumination, emphasizing compassion and external focus.

In schema therapy we work with emotions, cognitions and behaviours, but only touch the subject of the body tangentially. However, many clients, particularly with complex histories, present with somatic symptoms. Sometimes client’s story is told more by the body than words. There may be modes that express themselves primarily somatically, sometimes the Vulnerable Child or Infant Mode is pre-verbal. Clinicians can feel quite stuck and at a loss when there is a need to go beyond words and client’s narrative, or where the client appears to be trapped in a strong coping or critic mode. This presentation will give a brief outline of integrating the body more directly in schema therapy work. It will address questions such as why we need to work with the body at all and look at the benefits as well as the risks. It will give a brief outline of the basic steps that can be taken to create a structure to work with the body, and also learn to access the body as a place of comfort, particularly where the body has been the site of trauma in the past. The aim of the presentation is to give clinicians ideas and confidence about bringing more body focus into their usual schema therapy interventions, and also use their own body as a place of guidance and resourcefulness.

Janis Briedis explores core emotional needs, schemas, and coping styles, highlighting the crucial role of the body in therapy—especially for trauma. He demonstrates techniques to interpret body signals, connect emotions with physical sensations, and integrate somatic awareness into treatment. With an emphasis on humor and playfulness, this approach helps clients access their healthy adult state and enhance self-care.

The session includes exploration of barriers (coping modes) to the Young One (Vulnerable Child mode), leading to a rapid shift to (or breaking into) a vigorous, life-filled Healthy Adult state full of vitality and feeling of expansiveness. Topics of grounding, co-regulation and object permanence are touched upon in the session.

This video explores Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), a therapeutic approach that views emotions as central to human experience. EFT helps clients become aware of, accept, and transform their emotions. The therapy combines following the client’s emotional process with guiding them through tasks like resolving unresolved feelings or self-criticism. By focusing on bodily responses and synthesizing emotions (e.g., turning shame into healthy anger), EFT fosters deep emotional change. The process is non-linear, emphasizing experiential over intellectual understanding, and aims to help clients transform core painful emotions.

In this video, Les Greenberg demonstrates Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) with Marcel, a patient who struggles with a pleasing attitude. Marcel discusses how he often stays quiet, especially around dominant individuals, and avoids expressing his true thoughts. In the first session, he also addresses his relationship with his mother, exploring its impact on his behavior. Throughout the session, Greenberg guides Marcel in unpacking these issues and shares key takeaways for therapists on how to approach similar dynamics in their own practice.

The session demonstrates the process of conceptualising client’s difficulties managing anxiety as the Demanding/Blaming Critic mode that is squashing the Vulnerable Child mode, moderated by the Catastrophizer coping mode. The chair work leads to an in-depth understanding and softening of the Demanding Critic, ability to somatically soothe the Vulnerable Child mode and the appearance of the Playful Child mode and the importance of self-compassion.

In this session a somatic sense of boundaries is explored through movement between the client and therapist. Movement towards each other allows the client to tap into the sense of their ’no’ or ’stop’ , as well as ‘yes’ in the body. As part of the exercise feelings about boundaries being set by the therapist are explored, and repair of mini-rupture in the therapeutic relationship is demonstrated.

In this fourth and final session, Elisabeth goes through the trauma once more with Willemijn to ensure she has understood everything correctly and to see if there are any missing points or adjustments needed. "Going through the movie one more time," as Elisabeth puts it.

In this second session, Elisabeth starts by asking Willemijn how she feels after their first session to assess its impact on her. Following this, they begin to lay out Willemijn's lifeline. Symbols are used in the lifeline to describe situations, such as stones (unpleasant events), flowers (beautiful events), sticks (harm done to someone), and candles (loss of loved ones).

In this first session, the participants share their experiences with couples therapy and reflect on their 23-year relationship. They explore feelings of anger, respect issues, and coping mechanisms. The discussion brings up topics such as individual roles in professional settings, feelings of being replaceable, and the effect of public conflicts. Shame is identified as a key emotion influencing their relationship. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Chris Lee shares his journey from Perth to Amsterdam and explores the integration of schema therapy with EMDR. He discusses memory mapping as a technique to help clients distance themselves from experiences and compares assessment phases in both therapies. Lee highlights the IRM study's findings on treating PTSD, showing significant improvements. He emphasizes the benefits of combining these therapies for better clinical outcomes.

Second session with Jasper – Jasper reflected on yesterday's session. This morning, he felt uncertain about himself and the topic, though he can’t quite pinpoint why these feelings arose. He has many doubts about himself. Jasper wants to be seen but shuts down, feeling a pressure to be someone he’s not. Les Greenberg delves deeper: is this what happened in the last session? They explore his childhood and the origins of these feelings.

This session is in the final phase of the treatment. After nearly 2 years of therapy, the therapist and patient work to strengthen the patient's healthy adult side by reflecting on what they learned in therapy and looking ahead to the post-treatment period.

Prof. Ad de Jongh looks back on his sessions with Victoria in this director's cut. Ad shows exactly what he does, explaining his choices during the sessions. Ad de Jongh also talks about the similarities and differences between EMDR and EMDR 2.0, and the importance of working memory theory in the latter.

In this third session of the Trauma Tapes, Ruud Jongedijk guides Victoria through a narrative exposure. Victoria tells about a traumatic experience of abuse by her father (a stone in her lifeline). Then she tells about her liberation (a flower), releasing a lot of emotion. Her grandmother turned out to be a very important source of support in her life. -Dutch with English subtitles-

During the Grief Tapes we focus on recognizing and treating grief. In this studio series, you'll see how Prof. Dr. Paul Boelen treats a patient and how cognitive restructuring can help process her loss and reduce her feelings of guilt.

This video explores critical situations that arise in group psychotherapy, highlighting the complexity of treatment and the ongoing challenge of aligning therapeutic theory with the real needs of patients. It addresses key structural issues, such as group composition and dynamics, and sheds light on common challenges therapists face — including unconstructive silence, outlier behaviors, and acute crises like suicidality. The video also examines the influence of external relationships on the therapeutic process.

The session begins with the use of a cushion to access a deeper emotional and somatic state of anger, allowing the client to more clearly articulate the underlying unmet need, the role of the anger, and process the affect deeply buried in the body. The anger exercise leads to the emergence of the Vulnerable Child state, which requires a different approach and intervention. A scarf technique is used to experiment with different forms of connection, expression, and experimentation, which helps the client access the Playful Child state. The session demonstrates a shift in Thomas' relationship with his needs and their expression, moving towards releasing the Hypervigilant mode (tension), softening the body, and using verbal experiments to deepen the sense of safety within the body.

In this roleplay, David treats Jerry, an inmate recently involved in a violent incident. He uses modes and mode cards to reflect with Jerry on what happened and explore his behavior.

In this first session, Dr. Leanne Campbell engages in conversation with Gus, focusing on building a therapeutic relationship. Together, they explore his childhood, family situation, and the reasons that brought him to therapy. Gus is already undergoing therapy, and in this session, Leanne helps him clarify and deepen his focus and pacing in EFIT.

The second session of the online demonstration group is a classical 2nd stage of a group development, where group members explore their relationship with authority. It can become a crisis and it can push the group forward to a new stage. Dr. Weinberg demonstrates how to deal with this challenge, by opening a discussion about his mistake, acknowledging and taking responsibility. It led to exploration of relationships with parental figures and the importance of keeping one's boundaries. From the online perspective it demonstrates that the group developmental stages occur online as well.

Masterclass 1: The development of EFT and relational empathy for deepening affect Rhonda Goldman is a renowned expert in the field of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). She has extensive experience in developing and teaching therapeutic approaches that focus on deepening affect and relational empathy. Her insights and knowledge will help us develop a deep understanding of EFT and the importance of empathy in therapy practice.

This role-play shows how a group member steers the bus, toward her values despite distracting thoughts.

In this roleplay, prof. dr. Anthony Bateman demonstrates how to help clients feel at ease in an online MBT session.

In this session, Drs. Edith Tjoa discusses the case that forms the basis for the continuation of the series.

In this video Else shows you how to make a leg cataleptic. We follow Maaike, who has had FND symptoms for 12 years. Important in this is patience.

In this video, speaker Lineke Tak takes a closer look at functional neurological disorders (FND). Lineke explains exactly what FND is and explores the wide range of treatment options for FND.

In this director's cut, Ruud Jongedijk looks back at three NET sessions he had with both Hans and Victoria during the week of the Trauma Tapes. Ruud discusses the various elements of NET therapy, including the lifeline, working through stones and flowers and reading the traumatic story to the patient. The life line, working through flowers, reading the traumatic story aloud and the final reporting in a life booklet are unique elements of NET.

In this ninth session of the Trauma Tapes, Prof. Agnes van Minnen adds exposure in vivo to imaginary exposure. For example, during the imaginary exposure she exposes Victoria to sounds of panting men and the smell of shag. -Dutch with English subtitles-

With Pieternel Dijkstra, Aerjen Tamminga, and Bram van der Boom

In this demonstration, Elisabeth Kaiser shows how to guide a client through the imaginary exposure exercise using the flower. This exercise is aimed at having the client bring back a significant positive memory in vivid detail.

The session begins with a warm welcome and the identification of a distressing mental image. This leads to an in-depth discussion about Carla’s emotional responses, including stress, anxiety, and feelings of powerlessness. The conversation also touches on her physical reactions — particularly a sense of tightness or disturbance in the chest. To help manage this tension, therapist Ad Kerkhof introduces grounding techniques such as the butterfly hug and counting backwards. These methods aim to support emotional regulation and prepare Carla for the next steps in treatment. The session concludes with a reflection on the progress made and a brief look ahead, ensuring that Carla feels supported and ready for what’s to come.

In this video, we see a fragment from an intake session between therapist Ad Kerkhof and patient Carla. The conversation focuses on identifying intrusive thoughts in the context of EMDR and suicide prevention. Ad Kerkhof carefully explores the nature of the intrusions — what form they take, when they occur, and what their content is. At the same time, he inquires about Carla’s current medication and how her depressive symptoms manifest. Central to the conversation is the question: what is Carla internally struggling with — which thoughts, feelings, or beliefs are fueling her sense of hopelessness?

In this second session, Elisabeth starts by asking Willemijn how she feels after their first session to assess its impact on her. Following this, they begin to lay out Willemijn's lifeline. Symbols are used in the lifeline to describe situations, such as stones (unpleasant events), flowers (beautiful events), sticks (harm done to someone), and candles (loss of loved ones).

In the eighth session, the focus is on setting new goals: becoming aware of new behavior when Lisanne encounters old patterns. Lisanne and Laurian discuss new memories and conclude with “I am realistic, I am brave”.

In this third session of the Trauma Tapes, Ruud Jongedijk guides Victoria through a narrative exposure. Victoria tells about a traumatic experience of abuse by her father (a stone in her lifeline). Then she tells about her liberation (a flower), releasing a lot of emotion. Her grandmother turned out to be a very important source of support in her life. -Dutch with English subtitles-

In this second session of the BEPP series, prof. dr. Berthold Gersons shows how to guide a patient through an imaginal exposure.

In this demonstration, Elisabeth Kaiser shows how to guide a client through the imaginary exposure exercise using the flower. This exercise is aimed at having the client bring back a significant positive memory in vivid detail.

In this clinical deep dive, Dr. Frank Yeomans explores the intricate dynamics of treating a patient with covert narcissism. The session captures a pivotal moment in treatment where the patient expresses profound dissatisfaction, feeling stagnant despite a year of intensive therapy.

In this in-depth interview, Otto Kernberg reflects on how the DSM-5 conceptualizes the severity of personality disorders through disturbances in self-functioning and interpersonal relationships. He explores why narcissistic patients often struggle in therapy, particularly due to rigid self-perceptions and difficulties with dependency and vulnerability. Kernberg discusses contemporary treatment approaches that integrate cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic methods, with special attention to complex and chronic delusional patterns. Drawing on his background and early aspirations as a neurologist, he shares insights from psychiatry and underscores the lasting value of psychoanalytic training. The interview also touches on the personal and professional challenges therapists face when working with severe personality pathology, and the ongoing need for effective, well-founded treatments. Learning objectives: -Understand DSM-5’s dimensional view on personality disorder severity -Gain insight into therapeutic challenges with narcissistic patients -Explore integrative treatment approaches combining CBT and psychodynamic therapy -Reflect on the role of psychoanalytic training in modern psychiatry

In 2009, no one around me spoke about suicide; there was no support and no resources to help normalize my experience," she shares. This turning point inspired her to co-create peer support systems that continue to provide support and learning experiences for healthcare professionals. In this masterclass, she shares the '8 Truths About Suicide'—the result of years of experience, peer support, and in-depth research into patterns in suicide cases. This session is both an educational opportunity and a call to approach this critical topic with compassion and an open heart.

After undergoing two months of therapy, a crucial session unfolds where the patient's emotions flare up, directed at the therapist. The catalyst for this outburst is the news of Frank's upcoming two-week absence, during which another therapist will be taking over. Throughout the session, Frank adeptly handles the patient's anger and unravels the underlying issue—the deep-seated fear of abandonment. Superficial reassurances prove ineffective in addressing this profound concern.

In this third webinar in the ISTDP series, Josette ten Have - de Labije explains how ISTDP can be used to treat persistent depression and emotional neglect. She also explains the meaning of the human-animal attachment. She explains these concepts in depth, how they relate to ach other, and how ISTDP can be effectively applied.

In this fifth and final webinar of the ISTDP series, prof. dr. Allan Abbass talks about the two treatment formats that can be used within ISTDP, the scope of situations in which ISTDP can be applied effectively, and the evidence-base for the effectiveness of ISTDP.

In this webinar, Graham Taylor shows how to combine schema therapy and EMDR with complex cases. Graham Taylor has many years of experience in applying different forms of therapy with this population of patients.

This e-learning is based on a webinar by prof. dr. Anthony Bateman and dr. Dawn Bales. They talk in depth about Mentalization Based Treatment, the basic principles of MBT and how this approach can be applied in an online setting.

Emotionally focused family therapy (EFT) strengthens family relationships by enhancing attachment between parents and children. It follows three stages: increasing parental responsiveness, helping children express vulnerability, and consolidating changes. The EFT Tango, a structured method, guides therapists in processing emotions and initiating new conversations. Emotions play a key role in communication, highlighting the importance of parents expressing their feelings to support their children effectively.

Gail Palmer sits down with families to explore the complexities of their relationships. Conversations touch on bringing family members closer, parental hopes for their children, and the role of trust and communication. Language preferences and emotional expression are discussed, while children share their feelings of connection and parents reflect on their involvement. Through shared experiences and suggested family activities, the importance of quality time and a supportive environment becomes clear, fostering stronger bonds and a sense of security.

In this first session, Dr. Leanne Campbell engages in conversation with Gus, focusing on building a therapeutic relationship. Together, they explore his childhood, family situation, and the reasons that brought him to therapy. Gus is already undergoing therapy, and in this session, Leanne helps him clarify and deepen his focus and pacing in EFIT.

Embracing uncertainty in order to overcome despair: An experiential-existential point of view This keynote delves into the profound experience of certainty and its inevitable counterpart, uncertainty. When certainty dissolves, we often face existential crises—fear, despair, and isolation. As we confront global challenges like climate change, this uncertainty can feel overwhelming. But there is a paradoxical path to resilience: by deeply rooting ourselves in existence and embracing the uncertainties that threaten us, we can find new meaning, courage, and wisdom. Discover how connecting beyond ourselves can empower us to face the state of our world with bravery.

During this session you will learn more about Attachment Based Family Treatment (ABFT) and you will be provided with a lot of theory and practical examples in order to gain first-hand experience.

How do you create a positive bond between yourself and your partner? In this video, the first two stages of EFT are explained and illustrated through a demonstration. Afterwards, Dr. Marlene Best and Dr. Sue Johnson discuss the therapy session with each other, so you can get some tips from it as well.

In this demonstration dr. Suzanne Levy assists to convert initial treatment goals into applicable relationship goals for Attachment Based Family Treatment (ABFT).

This e-learning is based on a webinar by prof. dr. Sue Johnson and Karin Wagenaar. During this e-learning, you will learn more about guiding Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) in an online setting. The speakers will give a solid foundation of theory and practical examples which you can use in your own therapy.

How can we best support children and adolescents with trauma and attachment issues? In this inspiring masterclass, we explore Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), a groundbreaking, relationship-focused therapeutic approach. DDP helps create safety and connection through attuned, responsive caregiving and therapeutic relationships. Deeply rooted in attachment theory, it has proven effective for children with developmental trauma.

Bram van der Boom interviews David Bernstein and Limor Navot.

In this introduction, David Bernstein and Limor Navot explain how forensic schema therapy was developed, how it works, the research supporting it, and how therapists apply it in practice.

This presentation examines the complex relationship between addiction and criminal law, particularly focusing on culpability in cases of intoxication. It discusses how various jurisdictions handle prior fault rules and the challenges faced by defendants with mental disorders or substance use issues. The role of behavioral experts is highlighted, emphasizing their impact on judicial decisions regarding addiction and culpability.

This e-learning is accredited by: FGzPt, NIP-EL, NVP, VSR, LV-POH, and V&V. Start the e-learning by clicking the yellow "start e-learning" button. In this webinar, Prof. Dr. Hedwig van Bakel and Drs. Marja Rexwinkel discuss the theoretical foundations of Infant Mental Health. They emphasize the importance of a holistic view of Infant Mental Health issues. They advise against premature pathologizing and support their points with examples from their own work.

In this roleplay Dr. Suzanne Levy shows how to discuss the attachment problems underlying behavioral problems of the adolescent. The roleplay involves a conversation between father, son and mother with the therapist in the lead.

In this webinar, dr. Tanja Su, Esther van Elswijk, and prof. dr. Anne Margriet Pot provide insight into online therapeutic treatment of elderly patients. Supporting research evidence is discussed as well as the challenges that accompany the online treatment of these patients, who are often less digitally apt than younger patients. In addition insight is provided into online diagnostic assessment and treatment of elderly individuals.

In this webinar, prof. dr. Geert van Hove, Kamiel Zijderveld, and Rianne Dekker tell us more about how to treat patients who have a mental disability. They explain how you can give this group of patients therapy in an online setting, and the important points to keep in mind when doing so.

This demonstration of online psychodynamic group therapy by Haim Weinberg en Bram van der Boom illustrates the course of the group dynamics. They also show how to adequately intervene through more extensive application of imagination and by specifically pointing out patients' facial expressions.

In this roleplay, prof. dr. Anthony Bateman demonstrates how to help clients feel at ease in an online MBT session.

In this roleplay, prof. dr. Anthony Bateman demonstrates how to assist clients in the 'pretend mode' by tackling the low level of mentalisation.

In this series, you will learn about the existing and future clinical applications of VR. In this third and last masterclass of the series, Skip Rizzo talks about how virtual reality can be used to reduce chronic pain, improve mindfulness, and how VR can be helpful in the diagnostic process of ADHD.

In this series, you will learn about the existing and future clinical applications of VR. In this second masterclass, Skip Rizzo will show us ways in which virtual reality can be used as part of PTSD treatment. He will also show ways in which VR can help patients suffering from chronic pain.

In this webinar prof. dr. Vikram Patel from Harvard University shares insight into the contribution of telehealth to global mental health through facilitating in the global dermand of psychotherapy.

In this webinar, prof. dr. Geert van Hove, Kamiel Zijderveld, and Rianne Dekker tell us more about how to treat patients who have a mental disability. They explain how you can give this group of patients therapy in an online setting, and the important points to keep in mind when doing so.

ISTDP stands for Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy. The essence of ISTDP is about gaining insight into and experiencing emotions, desires and needs, the fears that are associated with experiencing these, and the defense mechanisms that are in place against these fears. Usually these originate from painful experiences in childhood related to insecure attachment and unsafe striving for autonomy. In this webinar, prof. dr. Allan Abbass will show us different applications of ISTDP with mild to complex personality dysfunction. Special attention is given to applying this short-term therapy in an online setting.

In this video Marjolein Koementas-de Vos explains the role of questionnaires in group therapy, particularly for patients experiencing depressive symptoms. The group leader outlines the purpose of the sessions and aligns them with recovery goals. Various assessments are used to track symptoms and monitor personal progress, while individual intake sessions help establish collaborative goals. Transparency is emphasized by allowing patients to view their own results. Feedback discussions and treatment adjustments are presented as essential components for achieving effective change.

Lauren Aron, a psychotherapist specializing in eating disorders, discusses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and its application in treating conditions like anorexia nervosa. She shares insights on dietary guidance, emphasizing portion control and meal frequency. The session includes a case study and highlights the importance of psychoeducation, addressing body image issues, and developing long-term recovery strategies. Safety in therapy and the need for structured treatment plans are also emphasized.

In this third online group therapy session the demonstration group comes to a close. Intimacy and parting ways are themes that are discussed. As is typical in a termination stage, the group is back to discuss the difficult event from the first meeting, this time exploring feelings of guilt and shame. The dilemma between taking care of oneself and paying attention to other people's needs is in the center. This dilemma accompanies any relationships and is dealt better in groups than in individual treatment. Dr. Weinberg exemplifies how to work with termination in online groups.

In this first session of an online demonstration group, the group had to deal with a rare event of rejecting one of its members, who seemed not to understand enough English. The impact of this event accompanied the group life until the end and had to be elaborated and processed on different levels. It also brings to the fore issues of selection and preparation to therapy groups, especially online ones. The long-term impact showed as one of the group members, quite later in the 1st session, suddenly recalled her being rejected from a group in her past. She was surprised about her strong emotional reaction. This incident exemplifies the regressive processes of the unstructured group, which allow deep issues to surface. It also shows how the online group can be no less powerful than an in-person one in touching deep and emotional issues. We can also see the specific instructions that Dr. Weinberg gave at the beginning of the process group, adjusted to the online component by focusing on reporting body sensations.

During this session, prof. dr. Ad de Jongh gives you more insight into his choices as a therapist, illustrated by a selection of clips showing important tipping points in the therapy sessions with Lisanne.

In this roleplay Dr. Suzanne Levy shows how to discuss the attachment problems underlying behavioral problems of the adolescent. The roleplay involves a conversation between father, son and mother with the therapist in the lead.

In this demonstration, Elisabeth Kaiser shows how to guide a client through the imaginary exposure exercise using the flower. This exercise is aimed at having the client bring back a significant positive memory in vivid detail.

In this moving demonstration, prof. dr. Geert Smid guides a client to focus on the meaning of the loss of a child.