Trauma Special Interest Group Mission Statement

The ISST Special Interest Group (SIG) on Trauma is a group of Schema Therapy clinicians who are interested in sharing our experience of working with  traumatized patients within the schema therapy framework. Our interests cover any clinical presentations where unresolved traumatic experiences play a role.  This includes Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, whether arising from a single adult traumatic event, or repeated traumas in childhood.  We are particularly interested in complex trauma where early traumatic events set up patterns of schemas and coping that may present as personality disorders (especially borderline personality), eating disorders, treatment resistant depression and panic disorder and dissociative disorders including Dissociative Identity Disorder. We are interested in broadening our understanding and seeing how case conceptualization with the schema therapy model can sharpen the focus of our therapy work.  Our participants have experience and expertise in several current treatment models used for working with trauma (e.g., various CBT models such as Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Reprocessing Therapy, EMDR, and approaches to working with severe dissociative states).  One of our interests is in how specific approaches or techniques can be integrated within the broader framework of Schema Therapy case conceptualization. In this way, we may also contribute to research by developing and clarifying concepts within the schema therapy approach and identifying some needed research areas in the trauma field.

Join us! You don’t have to be an expert in trauma to join the SIG and attend the online forum.  You will be part of a warm, friendly, active group of ISST colleagues who have different levels of expertise in the trauma field.  We are fortunate to have our new president, Professor Dave Edwards, as an active member as well as Dr. Arnoud Arntz as our consultant.  Several other members are leaders in the field and have presented workshops at Schema Therapy conferences.

Our meetings started in June 2016 and take place once a month (i.e., usually the second Monday of each month) at 9 AM Argentinian Time. They are one hour and we use the Zoom online platform. You will be sent a link to log in to our meetings using your computer, iPad, smart phone, or a telephone line.

During our meetings we usually have one of us present a trauma related paper which is a trigger for questions and discussion. Following the spirit of Schema Therapy, forum participants are encouraged to be polite, friendly and respectful with each other as we are sharing both what we know but also what we do not know and would like to learn. We need to take good care of our “Little Children” who may sometimes feel insecure, overwhelmed and lost when working with certain patients.  Our group will offer a safe atmosphere in which you will improve your knowledge of trauma work and feel inspired and motivated to apply what you learn to your own patients.

If you are interested in joining this SIG please contact the chairperson, Patricia Escudero Rotman at EMAIL