Neurodiversity Affirming Schema Therapy I Online Workshop I October 2023 I Schema Therapy Scotland
Event: STAND Attuned: Schema Therapy Affirming NeuroDiversity
Date: Thursday 26th October, 2023 (4pm-7pm AWST, GMT+8 )
RECORDING AVAILABLE FOR 2 MONTHS (even if you cant make it to the live event!)
Starting time converts to 8am in the UK and 9am CET
Trainers: Dr Emma DeCicco and Alyssa Garrett (Clinical Psychologists)
In Collaboration with Dr Susan Simpson, Advanced Schema Therapy Trainer/Supervisor
Registrations: Register Here
Fee: AUS$137
Participants will learn how to adjust neuro-normative assumptions to meet the needs of your neurodivergent clients
This training is for: Schema Therapy beginners, intermediates and advanced…everybody who wants to connect is welcome!
STAND ATTUNED
“With STAND Attuned, we venture into the uncharted territories of understanding and acceptance,
navigating the complexities of the human mind with compassion and expertise. Together with our
clients, we cultivate workability, unveil hidden potentials, and create an environment where
individuals can truly thrive and find harmony within themselves and the world around them.”
Overview:
Innate neurodivergence (ND), such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, represent variations in
neurocognitive styles that are important contributors to human diversity and are not inherently
disordered. Distress and disability may occur in ND individuals when environments are not suited to
the person’s way of being (i.e., distal stressors) and core needs are unmet. Many ND people develop
mental health problems (i.e., proximal stressors) due to a fundamental mismatch between
neurotype and environment.
As an integrative model founded on the recognition of early developmental experiences and the
importance of meeting a person’s core needs, Schema Therapy (ST) is well-placed as an effective
therapeutic intervention for ND people experiencing mental health difficulties. Although ST provides
fertile therapeutic soil for working with neurodivergent clients, it harbors implicit neuro-normative
biases which direct both formulation and intervention. Such biases may create misattunement
between the therapist and ND client, adversely impacting diagnostic processes, as well as
intervention effectiveness. Thus neuro-affirming adaptations to the ST model are essential to
ensure attunement to client needs. The adaptations support clinicians to adopt accurate assessment
processes, establish appropriate therapy goals, adjust interventions and better support their clients
to achieve their therapy goals.
Learning Outcomes:
At the completion of this presentation, attendees will have a better understanding in:
Neurodivergence: Definitions & affirming language use
How to identify and frame neurodivergence in therapy formulations
STAND Attuned Model: Overview of the process of assessment & interventions
Description and explanation of additional ND modes
Adjustments to practices within schema therapy interventions
Recognising barriers to treatment and strategies for overcoming these
Attuning to neurodivergent client needs
Where to find and access additional resources
Presenter Bios:
Dr Emma DeCicco
Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Director of The Dash – Health Hub, BPsych, Psy.D, MAPS FCCLP CEDC
Emma has 15+ years of experience as a psychologist, working across a variety of professional settings providing clinical care, as well as delivering workshops and seminars. Drawing from knowledge across various therapeutic modalities, including Schema Therapy and EMDR, Emma’s passion lies in working with neurodivergence, trauma and complex eating disorders across the lifespan. Emma also completes assessments for medico-legal contexts, as well as Autism and ADHD. Currently serving as Clinical Director of The Dash – Health Hub, Emma supports her wonderful team, dedicated to delivering exceptional care across neuro, gender and sexual diverse populations. Emma is a Board Approved Supervisor, Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician, and Professional Practice Fellow of UWA.