S3SP1 - All you need is positive schema therapy: positive schemas and related interventions across the adult life span.
Tracks
Track 2
Innovation
| Saturday, June 1, 2024 |
| 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
| Track 2 - Ballroom 2 |
Overview
Symposium
Details
If the presenter suggests breaking into groups then you should access the Breakout Foyer HERE
Early maladaptive schemas (EMS) are considered core elements of schema therapy. Early adaptive schemas (EAS) or positive schemas have gained more attention recently. Like EMS, EAS consist of persistent patterns of information processing, thoughts, emotions, memories, and attention preferences. However, these EAS serve positive functions and give rise to adaptive behaviour, and they emerge during childhood, when one’s core emotional needs are adequately met by parents or other primary caregivers. In this symposium we discuss recent research and clinical advances in working with positive schemas. First, Anne-Marie Claassen will discuss the results of a scoping review into EAS and healthy modes in schema therapy. Next, Jenny Broersen will examine the clinical relevance of combining schema therapy with positive schemas and positive interventions for adult outpatients. She will share the findings from two case studies and discuss the outcomes and experiences of adult outpatients. Machteld Ouwens will present the psychometric aspects of the Dutch Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ-NL) in a large and representative panel of the Dutch population (N=650, age 18 to 80 years old). Finally, Loes van Donzel will discuss findings of her study into an adapted form of schema therapy that included interventions to reactivate positive schemas in older adults with cluster C personality disorders. She will present quantitative results from a multiple baseline case series design among nine older persons (age > 60 years) with cluster C personality disorder who were treated with modified schema therapy. After follow-up, participants were interviewed about their experiences with this modified schema therapy, and therapists were interviewed in a focus group.
First Presentation: Positive schemas and healthy modes in schema therapy: a scoping review
Anne-Marie Claasen
In recent years, more attention has been paid to the positive aspects of schema therapy and the connection with well-being and mental health (Heath & Startup, 2020). Research shows that a decrease in psychopathology does not automatically lead to an increase in well-being. This means that separate interventions are needed to increase well-being and that there is another entry point for increasing mental health. In the Netherlands, research has already been conducted into specific interventions to increase and strengthen the Healthy Adult (Versluis et. al, in press). Experience has also been gained in working with positive schemas. These results argue that within schema therapy, attention should be paid to increasing well-being with the aim of improving mental health. In a scoping review, all available literature on positive aspects within schema therapy is mapped, as well as the interventions and techniques aimed at this.
The research questions in this scoping review are:
1) What literature is available about the various positive aspects within schema therapy, such as positive schemas and positive Healthy Adult- interventions?
2) What literature is available on how the positive schemas relate to the Healthy Adult? 56 articles were included (Van Donzel et al. in prep.). Results show little research has been done in this field, especially concerning treatment of personality disorders. We discuss how these findings can contribute to improvements in the field and provide direction for further research into schema therapy with additional positive interventions.
Heath, G. & Startup, H. (red). (2020). Creative methods in schema therapy. Advances and innovation in Clinical Practice. New York: Routledge. Van Donzel, L., Claassen, A-M., Ouwens, M.A., Broersen, J., & Videler, A.C. (in prep.). Positive schemas and healthy modes in schema therapy: a scoping review.
Versluis, Y., Bol, Y. , Bouwmeester, S. & Peeters, F.P.M.L. (in prep.). Strengthening the healthy adult mode: a case experimental study exploring the effects of a new schema therapy protocol in an outpatient population.
Second presentation: Working with positive concepts in schema therapy: what are the experiences of adult outpatients?
Jenny Broersen
In recent years there has been a growing interest in the integration of positive concepts in schema therapy and the relationship with well-being and mental health. Louis et al. (2018) found evidence that the positive schemas and negative schemas are separate constructs and related in a different way with mental health. This finding suggests the need for additional interventions to activate the positive schemas and to integrate positive interventions in schema therapy. As far as we know, there is one effect study of schema therapy integrated with positive schemas. This study is specific for older outpatients with a cluster C personality disorder (Van Donzel et al., 2021). The results of this study are not published yet. Preliminary results suggest that the older patients seem to find it relevant to work with positive schemas.
The question that arises is whether it is clinically relevant to combine schema therapy with positive schemas and positive interventions for the adult outpatients. In the last year we explore this for adult outpatients with a personality disorder. In this presentation, we’ll share the findings from our pre pilot phase. What are the experiences of the adult outpatients? Which interventions are used? And what are the results?
References:
van Donzel, L., Ouwens, M.A., van Alphen, S.P.J., Bouwmeester, S., & Videler, A.C. (2021). The effectiveness of adapted schema therapy for cluster C personality disorders in older adults: integrating positive schemas. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 21, 100715.
Louis, J. P., Wood, A. M., Lockwood, G., Ho, M. H. R., & Ferguson, E. (2018). Positive clinical psychology and Schema Therapy (ST): The development of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) to complement the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form (YSQ-S3). Psychological Assessment, 30(9), 1199
Third presentation: The Young Positive Schema Questionnaire: psychometric properties
Dr. Machteld Ouwens
Besides the Early Maladaptive Schemas recently the Early Adaptive Schemas (EAS) are defined as specific patterns that consist of emotions, cognitions, physical sensations and neurobiological reactions in relation to the self and others. EAS are assumed to develop when emotional needs are being met during childhood and later in life. Louis and colleagues (2018) developed the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire in English to measure AES, the questionnaire consists of 56 items. A 14-factor model fitted the data of several samples of healthy adults and good reliability and validity were found in these samples. In 2022 the psychometric properties of the original English version were confirmed in other healthy samples. A Dutch translation showed promising reliability and validity in a representative healthy sample of 650 people. In this presentation the state of the art will be presented on the psychometric properties of the original English version and the different translated versions of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire.
References:
Louis, J. P., Wood, A. M., Lockwood, G., Ho, M. H. R., & Ferguson, E. (2018). Positive clinical psychology and Schema Therapy (ST): The development of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) to complement the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form (YSQ-S3). Psychological Assessment, 30(9), 1199.
Ouwens, M.A., Van Donzel, L., Schroevers, D., Rossi, G., Van Alphen, S.P.J., Louis, J.P., & Videler, A.C. (under review). Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ-NL).
Fourth presentation: Working with positive schemas in schema therapy with older adults: effects and experiences
Loes van Donzel
Early adaptive schemas, or positive schemas, have received increasing attention in recent years as an adjunct to regular schema therapy. Older adults in particular may benefit from incorporating positive schemas into schema therapy (Videler et al., 2020). Often, older adults with personality disorders have functioned better earlier in life because their positive schemas were validated by their social roles. We investigated whether older adults with cluster C personality disorders would benefit from an adapted form of schema therapy that included interventions to reactivate positive schemas. Through quantitative (multiple baseline case series design) and qualitative research, nine older persons (age > 60 years) with cluster C personality disorder were treated with modified schema therapy, with weekly sessions for one year. Two participants dropped out at the end of the treatment phase. Treatment was preceded by a baseline phase, which was randomly assigned to last 4 to 8 weeks, and was followed by a six-month follow-up phase. After follow-up, participants were interviewed about their experiences with this modified schema therapy, and therapists were interviewed in a focus group. Data from all participants in this study are not yet available but will be collected and analysed in the coming months. Preliminary results indicate a decrease in EMS and an increase in EAS. Results of the qualitative study are also not yet available but will be available and discussed at the Schema Therapy Conference. Rather than focusing solely on reducing negative schemas for therapeutic change, it is believed that adding positive schemas is a complementary approach. Incorporating positive schemas into schema therapy may be an important way to revive positive core beliefs in older patients, strengthen the therapeutic relationship, and also facilitate the initiation of experiential schema therapy techniques.
References:
van Donzel, L., Ouwens, M.A., van Alphen, S.P.J., Bouwmeester, S., & Videler, A.C. (2021). The effectiveness of adapted schema therapy for cluster C personality disorders in older adults: integrating positive schemas. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 21, 100715.
Videler, A.C., van Royen, R.J.J., Legra, M.J.H., & Ouwens, M.A. (2020). Positive schemas in older adults: Clinical implications and research suggestions. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 48(4), 481–491.
Early maladaptive schemas (EMS) are considered core elements of schema therapy. Early adaptive schemas (EAS) or positive schemas have gained more attention recently. Like EMS, EAS consist of persistent patterns of information processing, thoughts, emotions, memories, and attention preferences. However, these EAS serve positive functions and give rise to adaptive behaviour, and they emerge during childhood, when one’s core emotional needs are adequately met by parents or other primary caregivers. In this symposium we discuss recent research and clinical advances in working with positive schemas. First, Anne-Marie Claassen will discuss the results of a scoping review into EAS and healthy modes in schema therapy. Next, Jenny Broersen will examine the clinical relevance of combining schema therapy with positive schemas and positive interventions for adult outpatients. She will share the findings from two case studies and discuss the outcomes and experiences of adult outpatients. Machteld Ouwens will present the psychometric aspects of the Dutch Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ-NL) in a large and representative panel of the Dutch population (N=650, age 18 to 80 years old). Finally, Loes van Donzel will discuss findings of her study into an adapted form of schema therapy that included interventions to reactivate positive schemas in older adults with cluster C personality disorders. She will present quantitative results from a multiple baseline case series design among nine older persons (age > 60 years) with cluster C personality disorder who were treated with modified schema therapy. After follow-up, participants were interviewed about their experiences with this modified schema therapy, and therapists were interviewed in a focus group.
First Presentation: Positive schemas and healthy modes in schema therapy: a scoping review
Anne-Marie Claasen
In recent years, more attention has been paid to the positive aspects of schema therapy and the connection with well-being and mental health (Heath & Startup, 2020). Research shows that a decrease in psychopathology does not automatically lead to an increase in well-being. This means that separate interventions are needed to increase well-being and that there is another entry point for increasing mental health. In the Netherlands, research has already been conducted into specific interventions to increase and strengthen the Healthy Adult (Versluis et. al, in press). Experience has also been gained in working with positive schemas. These results argue that within schema therapy, attention should be paid to increasing well-being with the aim of improving mental health. In a scoping review, all available literature on positive aspects within schema therapy is mapped, as well as the interventions and techniques aimed at this.
The research questions in this scoping review are:
1) What literature is available about the various positive aspects within schema therapy, such as positive schemas and positive Healthy Adult- interventions?
2) What literature is available on how the positive schemas relate to the Healthy Adult? 56 articles were included (Van Donzel et al. in prep.). Results show little research has been done in this field, especially concerning treatment of personality disorders. We discuss how these findings can contribute to improvements in the field and provide direction for further research into schema therapy with additional positive interventions.
Heath, G. & Startup, H. (red). (2020). Creative methods in schema therapy. Advances and innovation in Clinical Practice. New York: Routledge. Van Donzel, L., Claassen, A-M., Ouwens, M.A., Broersen, J., & Videler, A.C. (in prep.). Positive schemas and healthy modes in schema therapy: a scoping review.
Versluis, Y., Bol, Y. , Bouwmeester, S. & Peeters, F.P.M.L. (in prep.). Strengthening the healthy adult mode: a case experimental study exploring the effects of a new schema therapy protocol in an outpatient population.
Second presentation: Working with positive concepts in schema therapy: what are the experiences of adult outpatients?
Jenny Broersen
In recent years there has been a growing interest in the integration of positive concepts in schema therapy and the relationship with well-being and mental health. Louis et al. (2018) found evidence that the positive schemas and negative schemas are separate constructs and related in a different way with mental health. This finding suggests the need for additional interventions to activate the positive schemas and to integrate positive interventions in schema therapy. As far as we know, there is one effect study of schema therapy integrated with positive schemas. This study is specific for older outpatients with a cluster C personality disorder (Van Donzel et al., 2021). The results of this study are not published yet. Preliminary results suggest that the older patients seem to find it relevant to work with positive schemas.
The question that arises is whether it is clinically relevant to combine schema therapy with positive schemas and positive interventions for the adult outpatients. In the last year we explore this for adult outpatients with a personality disorder. In this presentation, we’ll share the findings from our pre pilot phase. What are the experiences of the adult outpatients? Which interventions are used? And what are the results?
References:
van Donzel, L., Ouwens, M.A., van Alphen, S.P.J., Bouwmeester, S., & Videler, A.C. (2021). The effectiveness of adapted schema therapy for cluster C personality disorders in older adults: integrating positive schemas. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 21, 100715.
Louis, J. P., Wood, A. M., Lockwood, G., Ho, M. H. R., & Ferguson, E. (2018). Positive clinical psychology and Schema Therapy (ST): The development of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) to complement the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form (YSQ-S3). Psychological Assessment, 30(9), 1199
Third presentation: The Young Positive Schema Questionnaire: psychometric properties
Dr. Machteld Ouwens
Besides the Early Maladaptive Schemas recently the Early Adaptive Schemas (EAS) are defined as specific patterns that consist of emotions, cognitions, physical sensations and neurobiological reactions in relation to the self and others. EAS are assumed to develop when emotional needs are being met during childhood and later in life. Louis and colleagues (2018) developed the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire in English to measure AES, the questionnaire consists of 56 items. A 14-factor model fitted the data of several samples of healthy adults and good reliability and validity were found in these samples. In 2022 the psychometric properties of the original English version were confirmed in other healthy samples. A Dutch translation showed promising reliability and validity in a representative healthy sample of 650 people. In this presentation the state of the art will be presented on the psychometric properties of the original English version and the different translated versions of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire.
References:
Louis, J. P., Wood, A. M., Lockwood, G., Ho, M. H. R., & Ferguson, E. (2018). Positive clinical psychology and Schema Therapy (ST): The development of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) to complement the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form (YSQ-S3). Psychological Assessment, 30(9), 1199.
Ouwens, M.A., Van Donzel, L., Schroevers, D., Rossi, G., Van Alphen, S.P.J., Louis, J.P., & Videler, A.C. (under review). Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ-NL).
Fourth presentation: Working with positive schemas in schema therapy with older adults: effects and experiences
Loes van Donzel
Early adaptive schemas, or positive schemas, have received increasing attention in recent years as an adjunct to regular schema therapy. Older adults in particular may benefit from incorporating positive schemas into schema therapy (Videler et al., 2020). Often, older adults with personality disorders have functioned better earlier in life because their positive schemas were validated by their social roles. We investigated whether older adults with cluster C personality disorders would benefit from an adapted form of schema therapy that included interventions to reactivate positive schemas. Through quantitative (multiple baseline case series design) and qualitative research, nine older persons (age > 60 years) with cluster C personality disorder were treated with modified schema therapy, with weekly sessions for one year. Two participants dropped out at the end of the treatment phase. Treatment was preceded by a baseline phase, which was randomly assigned to last 4 to 8 weeks, and was followed by a six-month follow-up phase. After follow-up, participants were interviewed about their experiences with this modified schema therapy, and therapists were interviewed in a focus group. Data from all participants in this study are not yet available but will be collected and analysed in the coming months. Preliminary results indicate a decrease in EMS and an increase in EAS. Results of the qualitative study are also not yet available but will be available and discussed at the Schema Therapy Conference. Rather than focusing solely on reducing negative schemas for therapeutic change, it is believed that adding positive schemas is a complementary approach. Incorporating positive schemas into schema therapy may be an important way to revive positive core beliefs in older patients, strengthen the therapeutic relationship, and also facilitate the initiation of experiential schema therapy techniques.
References:
van Donzel, L., Ouwens, M.A., van Alphen, S.P.J., Bouwmeester, S., & Videler, A.C. (2021). The effectiveness of adapted schema therapy for cluster C personality disorders in older adults: integrating positive schemas. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 21, 100715.
Videler, A.C., van Royen, R.J.J., Legra, M.J.H., & Ouwens, M.A. (2020). Positive schemas in older adults: Clinical implications and research suggestions. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 48(4), 481–491.
Speaker
MSc Jenny Broersen
Clinical Psychologist
G-kracht And GGZ Delfland Mental Health Care Institute
Working with positive concepts in schema therapy: what are the experiences of adult outpatients?
Biography
Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist at G-Kracht Psychomedisch Centrum Amsterdam and GGZ Delfland in Delft, The Netherlands. She is senior lecturer at Rino Groep, Rotterdam and teacher at Rino Groep, Utrecht, and Rino Noord-Holland, Amsterdam. She is co-editor of the Wiley Handbook of Schema Therapy and author of several books on schema therapy. J. Broersen is certified supervisor for individual and group therapy ISST and the Dutch society of ST.
Anne-Marie Claassen
Psychotherapist
Mediant
Positive schemas and healthy modes in schema therapy: a scoping review
Biography
Anne-Marie is psychotherapist at Mediant, institute for mental health, Enschede. She has coauthored a book on increasing the healthy mode in schema therapy and is editor of PsyXpert. She is certified supervisor for individual and group therapy ISST and the Dutch society of ST.
Dr Machteld Ouwens
Clinical Psychologist, Senior Scientist
GGz Breburg, PersonaCura
The Young Positive Schema Questionnaire: psychometric properties
Biography
Machteld Ouwens, PhD, is a clinical psychologist/psychotherapist at PersonaCura, Center of clinical excellence for Personality Disorders and developmental disorders in Older Adults, at mental health care institution GGz Breburg, the Netherlands. She is also a scientist practitioner at Tranzo, the scientific center for care and wellbeing of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Science of Tilburg University, the Netherlands. She is a senior member of the Dutch Schema Therapy Association
Drs. Loes van Donzel
Clinical Psychologist
GGZ Breburg
Working with positive schemas in schema therapy with older adults: effects and experiences
Biography
Loes van Donzel is a clinical psychologist/psychotherapist at PersonaCura, Center of clinical excellence for Personality Disorders and developmental disorders in Older Adults, at mental health care institution GGz Breburg, the Netherlands. She is also a PhD student at Tranzo, the scientific center for care and wellbeing of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Science of Tilburg University, the Netherlands. She is a senior member of the Dutch Schema Therapy Association
Phd Arjan Videler
Senior Research Fellow, Psychotherapist
Ggz Breburg
Chair
Biography
Psychologist, psychotherapist and senior researcher at PersonaCura, Center of clinical excellence in personality and developmental disorders in older adults of GGz Breburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands. Senior research fellow at Tranzo, scientific center for care and wellbeing of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences of Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Q&A iPad
Brendan Keegans
Event Production Director
BK Event Production
