Session A7
Tracks
Stream A (Level 1)
| Sunday, May 18, 2025 |
| 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM |
| Room 9 | GOLD (Level 1) |
Overview
- Integrating EMDR and Schema Therapy: Combining the Power of these Transdiagnostic Psychotherapies | Liam Spicer (60 mins)
Presenter
Mr Liam Spicer
Integrating EMDR and Schema Therapy: Combining the Power of these Transdiagnostic Psychotherapies
10:30 AM - 11:30 AMAbstract
EMDR and Schema Therapy have both gained increasing focus, and clinical application as transdiagnostic psychotherapies (Dominiguez, 2023), with evidence supporting their use with a wide variety of clinical populations (Mathiesen et al., 2020; Taylor et al., 2017). Increasing attention and focus has discussed the integrative and complementary nature of these therapy approaches, with the combined theoretical models and practical applications of both EMDR and Schema proving to be a powerful approach for creating long lasting change. In this short presentation, Liam Spicer will provide an overview of the Schema Therapy Model (Young, 2003) and the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model (Shapiro, 1990) and how these theoretical frameworks can be utilised together to form a comprehensive understanding of the client’s presentation and challenges. EMDR and specific Schema Therapy change strategies such as Imagery Rescripting and Chairwork will be discussed, with reference to clinical choice points regarding what interventions may be best suited to specific clinical situations, and presentations. The recent research of both approaches will be discussed, with a focus on recent developments and advancements in the field. This will then be followed by an ask me anything session on the utilisation and integration of these approaches.
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Liam Spicer (he/him) is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the Cairnmillar Institute, co ordinating and teaching the postgraduate certificate in trauma informed care. He is a Psychologist, Researcher, EMDR Consultant and Training Facilitator and Accredited Schema Therapist with lived experience of being neurodivergent as an Autistic ADHDer. Liam has presented at both International and National conferences including the ISST Conference in Poland, the EMDR Asia Conference in Cambodia, the EMDR Australia conference two years consecutively, and the Australasian ADHD Professionals network conference among others. Liam has also delivered guest webinars and trainings for the EMDR Association of Australia, AAPi, Headspace, APS, and other organisations, and a regular podcast guest. Liam has been a contributor to the Routledge International Handbook of Child and Adolescent Grief and is currently a part of an international collaboration for the first book on Neurodiversity Affirming Schema Therapy, due for publication mid 2026. He has published in top academic journals such as Frontiers in Psychiatry, Frontiers in Psychology, Psychotherapy Research and the ISST bulletin in the areas of EMDR, Grief, Schema Therapy and Neurodivergence and is currently a part of a national working group developing Australia’s first clinical practice guideline for MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD. Liam's PhD is focused on the development and application of Schema Therapy for Prolonged Grief and he has hosted workshops across Australia on the integration of EMDR and Schema Therapy.
