Keynote: The Evidence-Based Model of Schema Therapy by Jeffrey Young Compared with Emerging Models
This presentation provides an overview of the core evidence-based schema therapy model developed by Jeffrey Young and compares it with newer models currently being introduced. The randomized controlled trials forming the basis for the JYST model will be reviewed. Summaries of treatment effectiveness studies, manuals employed, and involved clinical populations will be included. The session will address the function of psychotherapy models in explaining the development, maintenance, and change of psychological disorders and will assess the extent to which Schema Therapy (ST) fulfills these functions. Key aspects such as the simplicity of Young’s model, its accessibility for both clients and therapists, and its clinical application will be outlined. Considerations about modifying established models, the necessity for rigorous research to support new concepts, and issues related to theoretical changes will be discussed. The importance of clearly identifying the model of Schema Therapy, which has an evidence base from “new” models will be discussed. Recent attempts to revise the Young ST model will be examined in terms of their relevance, clinical utility, and relationship to existing evidence. Dr. Joan Farrell and Dr. Paul Kasyanik serve as clinical psychologists, senior trainers and supervisors in ST, retired professors, researchers, and published authors. Joan was co-principal investigator (PI) for the randomized controlled trial comparing individual and group ST for BPD to TAU, conducted with 495 patients across five countries, and PI for the first RCT of Group ST. Paul served as psychology department chair and director of a psychotherapy institute and ST Institute. Together they have provided training in more than 34 countries.
Learning Objectives
- Attendees will be able to describe the foundational concepts of the evidence-based schema therapy model developed by Jeffrey Young.
Attendees will learn to recognize differences between recent developments in Schema Therapy and Jeffrey Young’s evidence-based concepts.
Speakers
Joan FarrellClick for moreDr. Joan Farrell, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and trainer, widely recognized for her pioneering contributions to Group Schema Therapy (GST). She co-developed the GST model alongside Ida Shaw, and their collaborative work has significantly expanded the accessibility and effectiveness of Schema Therapy, especially for complex and treatment-resistant conditions.
Joan served as Research Director for the Center for Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment and Research at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and as a clinical professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine for 25 years. She has led or contributed to numerous randomized controlled trials supporting the efficacy of Schema Therapy. Her research has helped establish Schema Therapy as an evidence-based treatment for borderline personality disorder and other complex mental health conditions.
A founding member and certified supervisor/trainer in individual and group ST with the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), Joan has played a crucial role in global training initiatives, particularly in training therapists to deliver Schema Therapy in group formats. She is co-director of the Schema Therapy Institute – Cleveland and served as Training & Certification Coordinator on the ISST Executive Board 2012-2018. She has written four books on ST: Group Schema Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: A Step-by-Step Treatment Manual, The Schema Therapy Clinician’s Guide, Experiencing ST from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice-Self-Reflection Workbook for Therapists, and The Deliberate Practice of Schema Therapy, which are widely used in clinical settings and training programs.
Paul KasyanikClick for morePaul Kasyanik, PhD, is the director and co-founder of the Schema Therapy Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is an Advanced Certified Schema Therapist, Supervisor, and Trainer in Individual, Groups, and Children-Adolescents Schema Therapy. Since 2016, Paul has served as Science & Research Coordinator and from 2018 to 2020 as Certification Coordinator on the Executive Board of the ISST. From 2020 to 2025, he led as chair of the Training and Certification Advisory Board of the ISST. He has been treating patients, training professionals, and supervising psychotherapists for more than 45 years. His advanced training workshops have been highly. Rated by hundreds of practitioners across Europe.
Paul’s multifaceted experience enables him to offer innovative training that integrates practical skills with a wide range of experiential interventions, from sensory motor therapy to fairy-tales and life rescripting, all grounded in developmental psychology and consistent with the Schema Therapy model. He has presented advanced Schema Therapy training at EABCT and ISST Conferences and Summer Schools since 2012, as well as in training programs in 14 countries, making a significant impact on the development of schema therapy internationally.
