Body-Focused Schema Therapy

In this introductory session, Dr. Raymond DiGiuseppe explains the foundations of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a model developed by Albert Ellis and the Albert Ellis Institute. He outlines how REBT evolved alongside cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), integrating psychoeducation, emotive techniques, and Socratic dialogue. Core philosophical and psychological concepts—such as demandingness, self-evaluation, and the distinction between healthy and unhealthy negative emotions—are discussed. The influence of modern stoicism in psychotherapy is also explored, providing a contemporary context for REBT’s enduring relevance.

Laura works with Dr. DiGiuseppe on issues related to self-identity, self-worth, and the impact of early life experiences on current anxiety. Through REBT techniques, they examine irrational beliefs and social avoidance patterns. This session highlights the importance of challenging internalized demands, building a rational self-view, and practicing behavioral experiments to support change—all key aspects of applying REBT in clinical practice.

In this follow-up session with Laura, the focus shifts to workplace anxiety and avoidance driven by feelings of inadequacy. Dr. DiGiuseppe helps her identify irrational beliefs, affirm her professional competence, and apply visualization techniques to prepare for challenging situations. The session emphasizes the practice of self-acceptance and the development of self-affirming beliefs to reduce performance anxiety and promote growth.

Thomas explores a need to dominate conversations, stemming from fear of criticism and a belief in winning as a form of self-validation. Together with Dr. DiGiuseppe, he examines how this mindset fuels anxiety and hinders authentic connection. The session models how to foster openness to feedback, increase self-awareness, and embrace imperfection as a path toward improved communication and healthier relationships.

This session delves into Thomas’s struggles with perfectionism at home, where minor mistakes provoke disproportionate shame and anxiety. Dr. DiGiuseppe guides him through identifying underlying irrational beliefs, understanding emotional triggers, and learning to tolerate imperfection. The conversation also addresses the challenge of balancing professional and personal roles, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion, realistic expectations, and emotional insight.

Anne Hilde explains the essence of Emotion Focused Skills Training for Parents in just 5 minutes.

In this lecture, Anne Hilde provides an overview of EFT skills training for parents, sharing a very personal story to illustrate how it works.

Anne Hilde guides Judith in exploring her emotions and her 13-year-old daughter's anger and rejection in a specific situation. This fosters greater compassion for both her child and herself, empowering her to practice the skill of validation.

In this session, Judith and Ben struggle with setting boundaries for their youngest child. Using the chair technique, Anne Hilde guides them in establishing healthy, flexible limits.

In this session, Judith and Ben discuss a traumatic family event where their eldest daughter (13) was deeply affected. Through chair work and apology, Anne Hilde helps them become a healing influence in their daughter's life.

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).

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.

In the opening session, Patricia discusses the previous Zoom conversation, in which the patient shares his experiences about his time in the military and his abduction. She particularly focuses on one of his most impactful traumas, delving deeper into it. Additionally, Patricia Resick provides the patient with a detailed explanation of what CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) entails and how it can help him manage his trauma.

In this director's cut, Agnes van Minnen explains the rationale of imaginal exposure and exposure in vivo. She illustrates the protocol using the two sessions she had with Victoria. She shows that at the beginning and at the end of the session she is attentive to the feelings it evokes in the patients. During the imaginal exposure and exposure in vivo, she is primarily a coach on behavior to subvert the fear idea.

During this second session, Laurian and Lisanne go deeper into the traumatic memories and images. Central to these memories is a sense of of powerlessness. The SUD decreases gradually, and by the end of the session Lisanne is even able to say: "I can handle it".

In this 120th session, 3 years after the start of treatment, the themes of evaluation and farewell are central. Nel asks explicitly about negative comments, because it is integrative if this can be discussed within the relationship. Anne shows that she can reflect, sees the practitioner as a real person, an "other. Anne shows authentic guilt about the harm she has caused others, and talks about what she has learned and what her life looks like now.

In this first session of the therapy you will see how a treatment is started in APT by making contact and looking together for concrete goals for the therapy.

In this 29th therapy session, Steven Meijer and the patient are working towards the conclusion of the therapy. They discuss the closure of the therapy, reducing the frequency of sessions, and the impending farewell between the patient and the therapist. They also address the patient's ability to independently continue the therapeutic plan after the conclusion of therapy.

During this director’s cut of expert’s perspective, Steven Meijer provides further insight into his choices as a therapist, illustrated through excerpts from pivotal moments in the therapy sessions with Richard.

In the opening session, Patricia discusses the previous Zoom conversation, in which the patient shares his experiences about his time in the military and his abduction. She particularly focuses on one of his most impactful traumas, delving deeper into it. Additionally, Patricia Resick provides the patient with a detailed explanation of what CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) entails and how it can help him manage his trauma.

The discussion highlights the journey of self-discovery and emotional healing. It covers the impact of a difficult childhood marked by abuse and emotional constriction. Alice & Chris Lee reflect on her struggles with expressing emotions and the lack of support from family. Therapeutic goals focus on emotional expression, with techniques like EMDR and schema therapy introduced to address these issues. Establishing positive beliefs and assessing progress in therapy are also emphasized.

With Esther Haaijema, Wendy Weijts and Valentyna Parobii

On November 30 and December 7, Psyflix hosted 2 master classes given by experts Anneke Vinke and Dr. Julie Selwyn on the specific issues that can accompany adoption, how to recognize it and how to discuss/treat it. Adoption is a niche topic and these women make it accessible and tangible for us in the therapy room. This is part one of this wonderful series.

On November 30 and December 7, Psyflix hosted 2 master classes given by experts Anneke Vinke and Dr. Julie Selwyn (English) on the specific issues that can accompany adoption, how to recognize it and how to discuss/treat it. Adoption is a niche topic and these women make it accessible and tangible for us in the therapy room. This is part two of this wonderful series.

With Arjan Videler

Mental health challenges among adolescents in the UK, and many other countries, have surged over the past decade, with a particularly sharp rise among teenage girls. One factor that stands out is the rapid increase in social media usage, with currently 87% of UK teens aged 12-15 active on these platforms (Ofcom survey, 2022). While the debate on causation continues, numerous studies point to a significant link between social media use and mental health issues. Social media can offer community and connection, but it can also have a darker side. In this insightful masterclass, Dr Jon Goldin will delve into both the risks and benefits of social media on the mental health of young people. He will explore: - The potential detrimental effects of social media - The benefits of online social engagement - How to recognize the impact of social media on patients - Strategies to mitigate negative effects

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.

In this roleplay, Limor treats Jerry, an inmate recently transferred to a different clinic. She uses empathic confrontation to help him understand that his self-aggrandizer mode does not always work in his favor.

In this roleplay, Limor treats Jerry, an inmate who becomes angry with the therapist. She uses empathic confrontation and the stop technique to help him recognize that his bully and attack modes do not help him meet his needs.

Bram van der Boom interviews David Bernstein and Limor Navot.

Femke Jonker shares her expertise on recognizing and supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. She highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis through IQ and adaptive functioning assessments, emphasizing the role of social and emotional functioning in treatment. The discussion explores tailored intervention strategies, providing valuable insights on ensuring individuals receive the appropriate care and support they need.

This e-learning is based on a webinar by prof. dr. Patrick Luyten. Patrick goes deeper into online psychodynamic psychotherapy and in particular Dynamic Interpersonal psychotherapy (DIT). Extensive theory and demonstration are included.

In this roleplay, prof. dr. David Bernstein en Limor Navot demonstrate dealing with the 'detached mode' as part of borderline personality disorder using schematherapeutic techniques.

Wendy Behary is internationally renowned for her expertise and experience in treating patients with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) with schema therapy. In this webinar, she first gives an overview of what narcissism is and what science tells us about narcissism. She also explains how narcissism can be understood from a schematherapeutic perspective, and how to treat NPD with schema therapy. She also shows in a role play how to empathically confront a narcissistic patient.

In this role-play, Josette ten Have works with the patient to uncover the emotional neglect she experienced in her past and helps her get in touch with the painful emotions this caused in her.

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.

In this roleplay, David treats Jerry, an inmate who was recently involved in a violent incident. He uses empathic confrontation to help Jerry see that his conning manipulator mode works against him rather than helping him.

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

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 role-play, José Verpoort works with a patient suffering from depression. José demonstrates how she deals with anxiety symptoms that show up in the patient during their first session together.

In this fifth session of the Trauma Tapes, you'll see how Prof. Dr. Ad de Jongh applies EMDR 2.0: an EMDR method based on working memory theory. In doing so, Ad de Jongh uses a variation of tasks aimed at increasing working memory load. -Dutch with English subtitles-

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.

The concept of "Moral Injury" was explicitly brought into the limelight by Prof. Brett Litz in his 2009 seminal paper. Moral dilemmas recur frequently in the consulting room with veterans and others. An example of a moral dilemma is as a veteran witnessing sexual abuse and at the same time having the desire to shoot the perpetrator to end this unpleasant scene. The unpleasantness of such a moral dilemma is that both outcomes contradict one's moral compass. After such a dilemma - with whichever outcome - patients experience a gnawing sense of guilt, and if this guilt is not explicitly addressed, this feeling will continue to trouble the patient for life.

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 video, Sandra Kooij introduces the basic principles of the standard treatment for ADHD in adults. She discusses various treatment options, including medication, psycho-education, coaching, and behavioral interventions, and explains how these approaches are combined to support adults with ADHD in managing their daily challenges.

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

Femke has PTSD and experiences difficulties with target selection.

In this fourth session of the Trauma Tapes, you'll see Prof. Ad de Jongh apply EMDR to a traumatic experience of Victoria. He also helps change her self-blame, a common theme in traumatic experiences. It also provides insight into how quickly EMDR can be effective. -Dutch with English subtitles-

In this fifth session of the Trauma Tapes, you'll see how Prof. Dr. Ad de Jongh applies EMDR 2.0: an EMDR method based on working memory theory. In doing so, Ad de Jongh uses a variation of tasks aimed at increasing working memory load. -Dutch with English subtitles-

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-

In this director's cut, Agnes van Minnen explains the rationale of imaginal exposure and exposure in vivo. She illustrates the protocol using the two sessions she had with Victoria. She shows that at the beginning and at the end of the session she is attentive to the feelings it evokes in the patients. During the imaginal exposure and exposure in vivo, she is primarily a coach on behavior to subvert the fear idea.

The concept of "Moral Injury" was explicitly brought into the limelight by Prof. Brett Litz in his 2009 seminal paper. Moral dilemmas recur frequently in the consulting room with veterans and others. An example of a moral dilemma is as a veteran witnessing sexual abuse and at the same time having the desire to shoot the perpetrator to end this unpleasant scene. The unpleasantness of such a moral dilemma is that both outcomes contradict one's moral compass. After such a dilemma - with whichever outcome - patients experience a gnawing sense of guilt, and if this guilt is not explicitly addressed, this feeling will continue to trouble the patient for life.

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 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.

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

In this demonstration prof. dr. Wim Veling introduces nature sceneries through virtual reality, aimed to help a client fully relax.

In this roleplay, psychotherapist Remco van der Wijngaart demonstrates the chair excercise using three different chairs and client roles. He also shows how to do this technique online.

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 first webinar of the ISDTP series, José Verpoort explains what ISTDP is and how it developed from traditional psychodynamic therapy and how it was originally meant for patients with high psychological resistance. In a role play she shows how to identify anxiety symptoms with a patient during a first session.

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

In this presentation, Esther Grootenboer provides a comprehensive overview of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

In this session, Juliette engages with critical elements of Emotion-Focused Therapy, including problem reaction points, markers, and systemic evocative unfolding. A marker is identified as a specific situation that elicits a strong emotional or behavioral reaction. We revisit these moments, undertaking a narrative reprocessing task that uncovers the underlying story. This involves identifying the situational trigger and carefully tracking both the trigger and the reaction, aiming to discover the missing pieces of the puzzle that illuminate the client's experience.

Second session with Lisette – Lisette feels positive after the first session and shared it with her friends, who responded by expressing pride in her. This made her reflect, as she’s never really proud of herself and tends to see it as something ordinary. In this second session, she wants to explore with Les Greenberg how to feel pride in herself and celebrate her achievements without brushing it off as normal.

Amy demonstrates how to create an accurate case conceptualization for patients with psychosis and posttraumatic stress according to CBT principles, and how to develop a tailored treatment plan.

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.

Thomas explores a need to dominate conversations, stemming from fear of criticism and a belief in winning as a form of self-validation. Together with Dr. DiGiuseppe, he examines how this mindset fuels anxiety and hinders authentic connection. The session models how to foster openness to feedback, increase self-awareness, and embrace imperfection as a path toward improved communication and healthier relationships.

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

In this role-play, José Verpoort works with a patient suffering from depression. José demonstrates how she deals with anxiety symptoms that show up in the patient during their first session together.

Femke has PTSD, early childhood trauma, low self-image and avoidant traits.

During this session, Laurian Hafkemeijer gives you more insight into her choices as a therapist, illustrated by clips of important tipping points in the therapy sessions with Lisanne.

In this role-play, Prof. Dr. Claudi Bockting demonstrates the downward arrow technique. This technique can be used to trace the underlying beliefs of the client. Being able to find such beliefs is essential to be able to change them.

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.

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.

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.

This e-learning is based on a webinar with dr. Guy Diamond, dr. Suzanne Levy, and Christel Bouwens. In this e-learning, you will learn more about Attachment Based Family Treatment. You will also be given examples from theory and practice that you can use in your own therapy with clients.

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

A toolbox full of exercises you can immediately apply with clients. Jenny Broersen guides you through an imagination exercise on Schema Therapy & the Healthy Adult.

Brain mechanisms for certainty, uncertainty and hope: a neuropsychoanalytic perspective In this presentation, Mark Solms describes the pivotal role that is played in memory and voluntary and involuntary actions by the processing of certainty and uncertainty regarding expectations. These memory and action mechanisms will be discussed in relation to brain mechanisms for emotion, with a special focus on hopeful expectations. Finally, these issues will be linked to the process of psychotherapy.

In this second session, Gus reflects on the first session and shares how it impacted him. Together with Dr. Leanne Campbell, he explores his relationship with his parents, particularly his mother, who passed away at a young age. This session focuses on how this loss and other significant dilemmas have played a role in shaping Gus's identity.

In this third session, Dr. Leanne Campbell wants to delve into Gus's experience of the previous session. They then explore together the energy that Gus would like to feel in his life. The goal is to help Gus let go of feelings of rejection and the belief that he is unlovable, allowing him to feel freer and more empowered.

In this session, Dr. Leanne Campbell deepens her work with Nina as the therapeutic relationship grows and Nina feels more comfortable in Leanne's presence. As trust increases, new, deeply rooted memories emerge. Nina shares more about her experiences, enriching the session and allowing them to work together to explore and process these emerging emotions and memories.

A family shares their experiences in therapy, addressing issues like depression and video game addiction. Gail Palmer explores the parents' relationship and attachment history, while family members express their feelings about dynamics, emphasizing fun and fairness. They discuss communication challenges and the need for emotional support. The therapy aims to foster understanding, improve relationships, and create a supportive environment for open discussions about emotions.