Sponsored by:
The Cognitive Therapy Center of NJ and

The Schema Therapy Institutes of NJ-NYC-DC

and Schema Therapy Training Canada

With Special Guest: Dr Joan Farrell

Wendy Behary, LCSW and Frances Miller MSW, RSW, Directors

The Schema Therapy Institutes of New Jersey-NYC -DC, and Schema Therapy Training Canada, are pleased to announce the 2027 International Training & Certification Program in Schema Therapy (ITCPST). The program offers a range of training opportunities in Schema Therapy. For participants who elect to complete all aspects of the training, the program will lead to either Standard or Advanced Certification through the International Society for Schema Therapy, ISST; https://schematherapysociety.org/

All Training  Institutes were established to provide quality schema therapy training to mental health practitioners, and to promote research on schema theory and treatment throughout the world. The Institutes are certified by the ISST to offer training programs that fulfill the International Society’s (ISST) Guidelines. A highly experienced faculty of trainers and supervisors (with extensive experience in schema therapy) assist the Training Directors, Wendy Behary and Frances Miller, offering training, overseeing the practice exercises and providing supervision. This program is conducted in cooperation with other approved certified schema therapy training programs throughout the world.

Our program will consider applicants who are interested in meeting all the requirements for official ISST certification, as well as those applicants who would like to obtain advanced level training in schema therapy but are not interested in completing all the requirements for certification. Thus, trainees will be able to tailor the requirements and costs of the program to their specific needs.

The curriculum offers several components, some of which are required for all trainees while others are only required for trainees who want to achieve certification. The training workshops will be offered ONLINE, conducted in English.

Supervision session requirements for certification are scheduled on a biweekly basis (by telephone, online, or in-person); readings and DVD’s; and periodic reviews/ratings of client sessions are also required.

The International Training & Certification Program in Schema Therapy is appropriate for English-speaking mental health professionals from all over the world and is open to individuals with doctoral or master’s level degrees in mental health fields (or the equivalent in each country). Additional criteria for admission are described in the Application Process section below; the criteria will vary depending on whether the applicant desires certification. Admission is competitive.

Benefits of Certification

For applicants who are interested in receiving International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST) certification, there are a variety of benefits. Certified Schema Therapists will maintain membership in the International Society for Schema Therapy (ISST), where they are distinguished from non-certified members for their competence in treating patients and for their eligibility to participate in research projects utilizing schema therapy. If you obtain certification, you will have access to a variety of professional opportunities, including the following:

• You may represent yourself as an ISST-Approved Certified Schema Therapist with patients, in other professional and academic settings, or in brochures and marketing materials.
• If you complete the Advanced Level certification, you may opt to (eventually) offer Schema Therapy Training and Supervision, once you complete all the required post-certification criteria, as set forth by the ISST.
• After you complete the certification requirements, you will be included in the ISST referral network (so long as you pay annual ISST dues and meet any continuing education requirements). With your consent, the ISST website will host your name and contact details to the list of certified schema therapists, where you may receive requests/referrals from patients, therapists, researchers, or institutions in your area.

About Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy is an innovative, integrative, and evidence-based, therapeutic approach, originally developed by Dr. Jeffrey Young as an expansion of traditional cognitive-behavioral treatments. The schema approach draws from cognitive-behavioral therapy, attachment theory, psychodynamic concepts, and emotion-focused therapies. In comparison to “standard” cognitive-behavioral therapy, schema therapy places more emphasis on self-defeating life patterns, characterological problems, deep rooted emotional themes, affective change techniques, and the therapeutic relationship, with special emphasis on limited/adaptive re-parenting, meeting core unmet needs, and re-scripting.

Schema therapy is particularly well suited for difficult, resistant clients with entrenched, chronic psychological disorders, including personality disorders (such as BPD and Narcissism), eating disorders, difficult couple’s problems, and forensic issues. It is also often effective for relapse prevention with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other (Axis I) chronic symptom disorders.

The results of randomized, controlled outcome studies have shown schema therapy to be highly effective with a large percentage of outpatients with borderline personality disorder, with a low dropout rate. Clients who have spent years gaining valuable insight with psychodynamic therapies, but who are frustrated by their lack of progress, often respond well to the active, systematic, flexible, and depth-oriented schema approach.

About Wendy Behary

With over 30 years of professional experience and advanced level certifications, Wendy Behary is the founder and director of The Cognitive Therapy Center of New Jersey and The Schema Therapy Institutes of NJ-NYC-DC. She has been treating clients, training professionals and supervising psychotherapists for more than 25 years. Wendy was on the faculty of the Cognitive Therapy Center and Schema Therapy Institute of New York (until the Institutes merged in 2012), where she trained and worked with Dr. Jeffrey Young since 1989. She is a founding fellow and consulting supervisor for The Academy of Cognitive Therapy (Aaron T. Beck’s Institute). Wendy served as the President of the Executive Board of the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST) from 2010-2014 and served as the Training and Certification Coordinator for the ISST Executive Board from 2008-2010. She is currently the chair of the Schema Therapy Development Programs Sub-Committee for the ISST.

Wendy Behary has co-authored several chapters and articles on Schema Therapy and Cognitive Therapy. She is the author of an international bestselling book, "Disarming the Narcissist...” translated in 16 languages. The Third Edition was recently released and was selected by Oprah Daily as one of the top books on the subject of Narcissism. Wendy has a specialty in treating narcissists and the people who live with and deal with them. As an author and subject matter expert on narcissism, she is a contributing chapter author of several chapters on schema therapy for narcissism for professional readers. She lectures both nationally and internationally to professional and general audiences on schema therapy, narcissism, interpersonal relationships, anger, and dealing with difficult people. She receives consistent high praise for her clear and articulate teaching style and her ability to bring the therapy to life through dramatic demonstrations of client interactions in the treatment room.

Her work industry business speaking engagements focus on interpersonal conflict resolution. Her private practice is primarily devoted to treating narcissists, partners/people dealing with them, and couples experiencing relationship problems.

About Frances Miller

Frances Miller MSW, RSW draws upon almost 40 years of experience as a therapist in Family, Marital, Group and Individual Therapy, with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. She is an active member of the OASW (Ontario Association of Social Workers), the OCSWSSW (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers), the ISST (International Society for Schema Therapy), and the JYSTA (Jeffrey Young  Schema Therapy Association).  Frances is an ISST Certified Advanced Schema Therapist, and Certified Schema Therapy Supervisor and Trainer. She is a founding member of the JYSTA serves on the Executive Board as secretary and as a member of the Training Committee.

Frances’s integrative approach to therapy is influenced by a specialty in Schema Therapy, as well as in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Treatment Perspectives, Insight Oriented/Psychodynamic, Systems and Attachment perspectives.

Early in her career, Frances worked in community children’s mental health in Toronto, Scarborough and Oakville, focusing on adult individual and family therapy with children and teens, and trauma treatment of sexual abuse. She led a multidisciplinary team approach to treatment with SASAT (Scarborough Agencies Sexual Abuse Team) and HSAP (Halton Sexual Abuse Program), with a particular interest in adult survivors of childhood abuse. Frances provided training to therapists in the multidisciplinary treatment of child abuse, and trauma treatment for adults. 

Frances initially opened  her private practice, Oakville Counselling Services, designing it to meet the needs of clients across the lifespan, including treatment of anxiety, depression, relationship issues and trauma. She continues to offer adult individual psychotherapy, marital counselling, and attachment oriented group therapy. In 2015, Frances became interested in Schema Therapy as an effective, rich and integrative approach to treatment. Mentored by Wendy Behary LCSW, and Dr Joan Farrell, Frances deepened her experience and skill in Schema Therapy and later founded the Oakville Schema Therapy Centre. Wanting to share this exciting modality more broadly, Frances went on to open Schema Therapy Training Canada, with the mission to grow ST in Canada and beyond. Presently, STTC offers Schema Therapy training to both beginner and advanced therapists, with a variety of programs, including Supervision Groups, Experiential Groups, Certification Programs, webinars and individual Supervision. STTC is involved in national and international events and programs. Frances acted as a moderator for the “Changing Lives: A Symposium Celebrating 35 Years of Jeffrey Young’s Schema Therapy”, and continues to be engaged in supporting Schema Therapy growth throughout the Americas.

Key Components & Requirements for the 2026-27 Program

Depending on whether you are interested in general training or in receiving certification, participants may choose from the following options as part of the 2026-27 International Training & Certification Program. All components are required for certification; but for non-certification trainees, some of the components are designated as optional:

1. Two extended 4-Day Sessions; each segment consisting of lectures, demonstrations, and practice exercises.
   
   
2. Candidates for certification will be required to complete individual supervision sessions (20 for Standard Certification and 40 for the Advanced level). Each session is 50-60 minutes in length, and may be conducted in person, or online. The supervision sessions must continue for at least one to two years on at least a bi-weekly basis to qualify for ISST certification.
   
   
3. Candidates for certification will submit audio recordings or video recordings of patient therapy sessions, at regular intervals, each accompanied by a completed Schema Case Conceptualization Form to be reviewed by your supervisor. To obtain ISST certification, 1 or 2 additional patient sessions must also be submitted, along with a case conceptualization, for rating, upon conclusion of the required supervision hours.
   
   
   Recordings and Case Conceptualizations will be rated/scored by an independent, advanced level certified schema therapist rater (someone other than your supervisor will be selected by the training directors). 1 recorded session plus case conceptualization are required for standard certification and 2 for advanced certification.
    
4. Viewing recorded sessions conducted by master schema therapists that you will watch in workshop days; reading books and articles drawn from schema therapy, as well as other readings that provide a broad conceptual background in a variety of approaches relevant to the schema model.
5. During the course of the program, candidates for ISST certification must have at least 4-6 patients in treatment who are willing to engage in schema therapy. More details will be provided later regarding appropriate types of patients for certification applicants.

Dates and Times:

April 1, 2, 5, 6 and June 3, 4, 7, 8, 2027

Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM, EST

Workshops will include a combination of teaching methods, including lectures, handouts, video sessions of master schema therapists, live demonstrations, question-and-answer periods, group discussions, supervised practice in dyads, discussion of supervisees’ own schemas and childhood histories, and small group exercises.

The workshop topics covered will be drawn from the following list:

• Theory and conceptual model: key terms and concepts from schema theory; group imagery exercise to identify the participants’ own schemas; discussion of the 18 specific schemas.
• Assessment and Education: multiple techniques for assessing and activating schemas and coping styles; educating the client about schemas; scoring and interpretation of schema inventories; activating schemas with experiential techniques, including emotive imagery; assessing schemas in the therapy relationship.
• Cognitive Techniques: building a case against schemas and coping styles; schema dialogues; developing flashcards.
• Emotion-Focused Techniques: emotional change through venting, imagery, dialogues, and letters to parents; breaking through common therapeutic impasses.
• Utilizing the Therapy Relationship for change: limited re-parenting; analyzing schemas when triggered in sessions.
• Behavioral Pattern-Breaking: selecting appropriate partners; graded assignments; empathic confrontation; overcoming avoidance of trigger situations.
• Mode Work: rationale for utilizing schema modes with more severe cases: reviewing common modes for specific disorders; using the Schema Mode Inventory; mode work for clients who can’t experience emotions; techniques for changing modes; dealing with angry, clinging, critical, and help-rejecting clients. A detailed protocol for mode work with borderline and narcissistic patients will be presented.
• Specialized Topics: Schema Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Narcissism (NPD), Cluster C; The therapist’s own schemas: self-reflection/self-practice; Use of Deliberate Practice in Schema Therapy
• Optional Topics—if time permits, adapting the model for work with couples; group schema therapy; discussion of other problems and disorders, depending on the interests of the participants and faculty.

Individualized Case Supervision

Trainees who want supervision may elect to receive 20 or 40 hours of individual case supervision, on at least a bi-weekly basis. Regular supervision will provide an opportunity for intensive, individualized feedback and mentoring, tailored to each candidate’s specific needs. Supervision will include case conceptualization, treatment planning, practicing specific techniques, and, on a limited basis, some sessions can be devoted to helping candidates heal their own schemas that may be interfering with treatment. A few sessions will be devoted to discussion of the supervisor’s feedback and ratings of recorded patient sessions submitted by the candidate.

Ratings of Patient Therapy Sessions

Candidates who want certification will be required to submit video or audio recordings, or transcripts, of therapy sessions on a regular basis (about every 6-8 sessions for Standard and about every 10-12 sessions for Advanced) throughout the program. Supervisors will review/rate each session using the STCRS (Schema Therapist Competency Rating Scale) and will provide detailed feedback during regularly scheduled supervision sessions.

* Tuition Costs (in Canadian Dollars) and Other Requirements:

For non-certification trainees: you will select option 1 below, but all others are optional. You will still be eligible to sign up for other components leading to certification if you want to do so later, but the training costs and requirements for certification may change in 2027.

Tuition Cost for Complete ONLINE Program: $2400.00 CDN

(1) Intensive Workshop Training Tuition

This is required for all trainees. This component includes the supervised workshop role-playing that is required for both standard and advanced certification. Candidates must attend all the training days for the 2026 program to qualify for certification.

(2) Supervision/Cost
This is paid directly to your supervisor as you go. Supervisors offer courtesy affordable rates to the candidates in the program.

Standard Level Certification – 20 Hours (plus 2 client tapes reviewed with supervisor)

Advanced Level Certification – 40 hours (plus 3 client tapes reviewed with supervisor)

Supervision will be provided by an ISST accredited advanced certified schema therapy supervisor / affiliate. Additional fees may apply if you choose to be assigned to a supervisor from outside of our Institute faculty.

(3) Final (Independent) Ratings of Patient Sessions and Case Conceptualization Forms, by Approved Master Clinician:

Final Rating of the taped session and the case conceptualization: 1 for Standard Level Certification and 2 for Advanced Level Certification)

Payment for the rating(s) is made directly to the Approved Rater.

The complete program tuition costs below do not include the ISST membership fees that are required for certification. For more information, see the ISST website: https://schematherapysociety.org/page-19653

• Payment Arrangements: $1200.00 of the tuition is paid upon    acceptance into the program
• A second payment  of $1200.00 is required by February 15, 2026

* While sensitive to the fact that unexpected emergencies are a part of life… you can probably also imagine the financial dilemma of being faced with an already accepted candidate dropping out of the program (when we cannot easily fill that seat) and asking for a refund.

Unfortunately, for us to provide this intensive program for a limited number of trainees, it is not financially possible to refund any monies we receive, regardless of the circumstances. (We will offer credit, for up to one year, to be applied toward a future program or toward supervision.)

Application Process

We plan to accept no more than 20 applicants, depending on the availability of supervisors and the eligibility of the applicants. Before applying, all applicants must have completed the following requirements:

1. Candidates should have substantial general psychotherapy experience, hold an advanced academic degree from an accredited university, and (where required) be licensed to practice, as required in their country.
2. Candidates should have prior exposure through the equivalent of a two day workshop, seminar, or audio course on Schema Therapy. (Please contact us if you have questions about how to meet this requirement or if you are not sure about your eligibility.)
3. Candidates must have read at least these two books on Schema Therapy:
   • Schema Therapy: A Practitioner’s Guide (Young, Klosko, and Weishaar, 2003)
   • Reinventing Your Life (Young and Klosko, 1994)
   • Deliberate Practice in Schema Therapy (Behary and Farrell, 2023)
   • Other equivalent reading materials – ask us about the reading list

The Application Process will consist of the following:

• Completion of the application form – available on the website: https://www.schematherapytrainingcanada.com/certificationprogram
• Submission of a recent curriculum vitae.
• Proof of professional licensure or certification in your state or   country, if required where you live.
• At least two letters of recommendation from mental health professionals who know your clinical work.
• The optional provision of any other material that you think may be of help in the evaluation process; and
• At least 2 years of clinical experience.

Selection Criteria

We will make our final selection of trainees based primarily on the following criteria: 

• Evidence of a high level of prior interest in schema therapy, as demonstrated by research, clinical, and/or training experience in schema therapy.
• Previous general clinical training and experience, demonstrating personal qualities that would contribute to becoming an effective schema therapist.
• Your letters of recommendation.
• For Advanced Certification trainees: Your level of interest in, and potential opportunities for, training new schema therapists after completion of the program. These include your current professional position or appointment, seniority, reputation, and professional credentials.
• Geographic diversity internationally.
• Your level of interest in, and ability to conduct, research on schema therapy in the future, especially outcome studies.

Application Deadlines

All applications and supporting materials for the 2027 program must be received by January 15, 2027. Applications received after this deadline will only be considered if we still have openings available.

We plan to notify applicants regarding acceptance no later than January 30, 2027, and sooner if we receive your application early.

If you have questions about the program or various options, please call or email us. We look forward to receiving your application. Once your materials have been reviewed, you will be contacted regarding your application status.

Contact Information/Email/ Information about training program updates:

Frances Miller: fmiller.schemacda@gmail.com

Postal Mailing Address:

Schema Therapy Training Canada

345 Lakeshore Rd. E

Suite 208

Oakville, Ontario

Canada L6J 1J5

Attention: Frances Miller, Director

https://www.schematherapytrainingcanada.com/

Wendy T. Behary, President (2010-2014)

The International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST)

The Cognitive Therapy Center Of NJ, Director

The Schema Therapy Institutes of NJ-NYC-DC, Director

28 Millburn Avenue, Suite 7-A

Springfield, New Jersey 07081, USA

(973) 602-9834

Specializing in Issues of Narcissism - www.disarmingthenarcissist