Neurodiversity Affirming Schema Therapy Training
Clinically sound, sensitively and engagingly presented training delivered by Australian Clinical Psychologists with extensive experience in Schema Therapy and Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy.
Understanding how the neurodivergent experience differs from neurotypical norms and impacts every level of the therapeutic process from intake through to discharge, is essential not only for meaningful clinical change, but also to avoid causing harm to this vulnerable group.
For those with questions...
How do I work with Autistic and ADHD clients?
Why is my neurodivergent client not responding to common Schema Therapy techniques?
What am I doing wrong?
Why are they being so difficult?
Why can’t I make progress with their Critic Mode?
Why is their Detached Protector so stubborn?
These are just some of the questions frequently asked by clinicians doing their best to help their Autistic and ADHD-er clients.
Your Learning Journey
Something special happens when neurodivergents with shared interests and passions are unleashed.... So we can very confidently say that this is not just another training platform.
Join us in a dynamic and interactive learning environment where we foster a safe and engaging space for exploration and growth... whether it's at our "ask us anything" webinars, or our group and individual supervisions.
What is STAND Attuned?
STAND Attuned Training was developed to assist Schema Therapists to apply Neurodiversity Affirming principles to their practice in order to better meet the needs of Neurodivergent clients. It is aimed at clinicians who want to improve therapeutic outcomes and increase their confidence in working with this unique population.
[Image "Burning Man" by Alexander Milov]
What drives STAND Attuned?
This training program is the first of its kind and based on the STAND Attuned model developed by the authors. It combines Schema Therapy expertise with insights from the lived experience of neurodivergence to deliver education that is clinically sound, sensitively and engagingly presented.
How is This Model Different?
Standard Schema Therapy approaches have been developed from neuro-normative assumptions about psychological well-being, attachment and healing processes. These models often pathologise innate neurodevelopmental differences and may lead to the clinician unintentionally perpetuating Early Maladaptive Schemas and unhelpful life patterns.
Available trainings
Hi, I'm Dr Emma DeCicco
(Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director of the Dash Health Hub in Perth, Western Australia)
These bios are always tricky to write... How does one ignore the "ick" feeling of self-promotion, whilst sharing facts that others need to know to inform their decision-making?!
Start with a reflective quote perhaps? "Psychology expertise is a delicate blend of science and art, where evidence-based practices meet the nuanced understanding of the individual human experience." - Unknown.
Or maybe a 'Stats List":
- 15 years of experience across a variety of clinical settings
- Trained in numerous therapeutic modalities, including Schema Therapy, EMDR and ACT
- Board Approved Supervisor
- Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician
- Professional Practice Fellow of the University of Western Australia
Wait, that's not actually reflective of me, this quote is better "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Round it out with the truth: My passion lies in working with neurodivergence, trauma and complex eating disorders across the lifespan. I also have the privilege of supporting my wonderful team at The Dash - Health Hub, who are dedicated to delivering exceptional care across neuro-, gender- and sexual-diverse populations.
Essentially, as a clinician, mother, and human, at the core of my approach is a deep belief in the power of lived experience and human connection. I like to keep things real!
Hi, I’m Alyssa Garrett
I am a senior Clinical Psychologist and owner of Neurodiversity Haven Psychology in Perth, Western Australia.
Alyssa has 16 years experience in clinical settings, and specialises in working with complex and persistent psychological difficulties using evidence-based interventions. She has a busy private practice founded on neurodiversity affirming principles www.ndhaven.com.au
She is highly experienced in Schema Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In recent years Alyssa has become aware that clients who responded to interventions in unexpected ways often had undiagnosed Autism or ADHD, which led her to a deep dive into how to work in a Neurodiversity Affirming framework. Central to Alyssa's clinical practice is the presumption that the client is the expert on their own experience and is an equal collaborator in the enriching process of therapeutic change.
Clinical experience has shown Alyssa that neurodiversity affirming adaptations to Schema Therapy practice can have a profound impact on therapeutic outcomes. This knowledge inspires her to educate fellow Schema Therapists to adjust their practice to better meet their clients' needs.
STAND Attuned originated from a group of experienced Clinical and Generalist Psychologists in Perth, Western Australia.
Collectively bringing more than 80 years experience to their private clinical practices, the group originated as a peer-led learning space for advanced practice in Schema Therapy. We found a shared focus on working with clients who had complex and persistent presenting concerns.
It became apparent that many clients who responded atypically to Schema Therapy interventions had some form of undiagnosed neurodivergence. This led to exploration of ways in which the neuro-normative model of Schema Therapy did, and did not, meet the needs of neurodivergent clients.
It was through this reflective process of truly listening to neurodivergent client voices, as well as the therapists’ lived experiences of neurodivergence that STAND Attuned was born.
The name "STAND Attuned" is intended to highlight the fundamental importance of skilled therapist attunement to effective Schema Therapy intervention, which cannot be achieved without truly understanding and empathising with the experience of their client.
