When Insight Isn't Enough And Nothing Else Is Working

Pierre Cousineau, PhD

Pierre Cousineau, Ph. D., is a psychologist, psychotherapist, supervisor, and trainer who has been transforming lives through clinical practice in Montréal, Canada, for five decades. His journey with schema therapy began in 1992 when he discovered Jeffrey Young’s groundbreaking work—a pivotal moment that reshaped his entire approach to psychotherapy. As an Advanced level Certified Schema Therapist and Certified Individual Schema Trainer/Supervisor with the International Society for Schema Therapy, Pierre brings a uniquely integrative vision to his work. He is also an Associate Instructor at the Coherence Psychology Institute, where he specializes in memory reconsolidation—a cutting-edge approach that doesn’t just help clients cope with schemas, but actually transforms them at their neurological roots . Pierre’s international training reach spans Canada, France, Morocco, Norway, and Switzerland, where he shares his expertise in combining schema therapy with memory reconsolidation techniques. His scholarly contributions include chapters in The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Schema Therapy and co-authored books with Sophie Côté that bridge neuroscience, psychology, and psychotherapy: Pratiquer la thérapie des schémas (2023, Dunod) and the forthcoming Schema Therapy for Memory Reconsolidation and Transformational Change (2026, Routledge) . What distinguishes Pierre’s work is his lifelong commitment to integration. He weaves together cognitive-behavioral approaches, experiential methods, mindfulness, ACT strategies, and the latest neuroscience research on emotional memory to create lasting, transformational change for his clients. French Version: Pierre Cousineau, Ph.D., est psychologue, psychothérapeute, superviseur et formateur qui transforme des vies par sa pratique clinique à Montréal, au Canada, depuis cinq décennies . Son parcours avec la thérapie des schémas a débuté en 1992 lorsqu’il a découvert le travail révolutionnaire de Jeffrey Young—un moment charnière qui a transformé toute son approche de la psychothérapie . En tant que thérapeute des schémas certifié de niveau avancé et superviseur/formateur certifié auprès de la Société internationale de thérapie des schémas, Pierre apporte une vision intégrative unique à son travail . Il est également formateur associé au Coherence Psychology Institute, où il se spécialise dans la reconsolidation de la mémoire—une approche novatrice qui ne se contente pas d’aider les clients à composer avec leurs schémas, mais les transforme à leurs racines neurologiques .

John Gasiewski, PhD

John Gasiewski is a psychotherapist in private practice in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut and an International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST)-approved supervisor.  His areas of focus include treating narcissism, the impact of narcissism on others, and estrangement. John became interested in Schema Therapy as an integrated model of addressing core unmet needs in general and as a way to address narcissism in specific while training with and being supervised by Wendy Behary LCSW starting in the mid-2000s.  His passion for Schema Therapy has only continued to grow over the years, with presentations on Anger Modes internationally and regionally in the New York Metro area, and an interest in and publication on estrangement as a means of schema healing. His other interests include limited re-parenting and play via imagery, and working with modes to integrate them in patients in healthier ways.  He has also served as the ISST Election Committee Chair twice, spent several years as the ISST US/Canada Regional Certification Coordinator and participates as a committee member and co-trainer on the ISST’s Supervisory Skills Development Committee. For more information on him, please visit https://drjohngtherapy.com

Peregrine Kavros, PhD

Dr. Peregrine Kavros is the Director of the Schema Therapy Institute of the Southeast and an Advanced Schema Therapist Trainer and Supervisor in Individuals and Couples. She is known for clinician education and mentoring, and her contributions to the theoretical development of Schema Therapy. In addition, Peregrine is a licensed psychologist in North Carolina, a National Registered Health Psychologist, and certified as a Sex Therapist by AASECT (American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists). She was awarded a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Her dissertation investigated how brain functioning influences cognition, memory, and behavior. She holds a Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling from the California State University East Bay, a Masters in Business Administration from the College of Notre Dame du Namur, and a Masters of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary. Peregrine completed an APA-approved Internship with children, adults, and families at the Julia Dyckman Andrus Memorial, where she was a member of the Ryan White Team. Post-graduate training was obtained in Neuropsychology from Columbia University and in Human Sexuality from New York University School of Medicine Langone Medical Center. She held clinical appointments at Columbia University and New York University. In 1990, as a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Neurology at Columbia University, she contributed to developing the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Center, which has achieved international standing. At Columbia, she had the privilege of working with patients and families responding to the demands of a chronic progressive illness. In 2011, she completed her training in human sexuality and the treatment of sexual disorders at New York University Langone Medical Center and later held a staff position. Dr. Kavros’ 30-year career has featured domestic and global management positions in both the non-profit and profit sectors. As an invited speaker, she has addressed topics such as the treatment of challenging couples, mindfulness and spirituality, interdenominational complexities, managing difficult situations, and leveraging strengths in the workplace. She has contributed to book chapters, referenced works such as the Encyclopedia of Psychology & Religion, and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. In the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, she has the privilege of serving as one of the Ministry Associates at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Hillsborough. Peregrine is actively involved in the International Society for Schema Therapy and, from 2018 to 2025, served as Chair of the Ethics and Conflict Resolution Committee, Training and Certification Advisory Subcommittee, and Couples Special Interest Group. She participates in the following professional organizations: American Association of Sexuality Education, Counselors, and Therapists American Psychological Association (APA) – Divisions International Psychology, Global Psychology Alliance Society for Religion and Spirituality Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence International Council of Psychologists International Society for Schema Therapy National Register for Health Psychologists North Carolina Psychological Association Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration Society for Sex Therapy and Research She is a member of the Global Psychology Alliance of the American Psychological Association and serves as Chair of the ISST Training Directors Committee for North America. From 2018 to 2025, Peregrine served as Chair of ISST’s Ethics and Conflict Resolution and chaired the Training Development Committee in 2025. Peregrine is passionate about introducing Schema Therapy to therapists worldwide, especially in the Southeastern region of the United States. As a developmental integrative therapeutic model, Schema Therapy is well-suited for clients undergoing life changes, seeking to improve their relationships, or modifying aspects of their personality. She is grateful for those who have shared their wisdom and expertise as she trained: Travis Atkinson, LCSW; Wendy T. Behary, LCSW; Joan Farrell, Ph.D.; Victoria Luine; Poul Perris, MD; Eckhard Roediger, MD; and Ida Shaw, MA.

Maria Galimzyanova, PhD

Maria Galimzyanova, Ph.D., is a pioneering force in schema therapy for children, adolescents, and families, bringing 27 years of clinical experience to her work at the psychological center “Anima” in St. Petersburg, Russia. As a Certified ISST Trainer and Supervisor in Individual Schema Therapy, Group Schema Therapy, and Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents, Maria holds advanced-level certification that reflects her comprehensive mastery across all significant schema modalities therapy practice. Maria’s unique integration of clinical practice, research, and education distinguishes her career. For over 17 years, she served as an Associate Professor at Saint-Petersburg State University, where she shaped the next generation of mental health professionals while contributing more than 20 publications to the field in Russian and English. This academic foundation enriches her clinical work, allowing her to bridge cutting-edge research with practical application in her daily practice with children, adolescents, parents, and adults. As a St. Petersburg Institute of Schema Therapy member, Maria has been instrumental in expanding schema therapy’s reach throughout the Russian-speaking professional community. She conducts workshops internationally, sharing her specialized expertise in adapting schema therapy for younger populations and their families. Her collaborative work, including interviews and presentations with international colleagues like Christof Loose, has helped advance the global understanding of how schema therapy can effectively address developmental issues in children and adolescents. Maria’s depth of experience across the lifespan—from young children to adults—combined with her scholarly contributions and training expertise, makes her a vital voice in the schema therapy community, particularly for clinicians seeking to understand how early maladaptive schemas develop and can be transformed during formative years

Sara Trace, PhD

Sara earned her B.S. in Neuroscience from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. She completed her M.S. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where she concentrated in health psychology. Her graduate research and clinical training focused on eating disorders, psychological assessment, the genetic epidemiology of psychiatric illness, and obesity treatment and prevention.

She completed her predoctoral clinical internship at Yale University in the Department of Psychiatry, specializing in neuropsychology and assessment, followed by a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Department of Psychiatry’s Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders. There, she developed advanced expertise in treating complex psychopathology and integrating cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and schema-based approaches to promote long-term recovery.

Sara is particularly interested in how early maladaptive schemas shape self-concept, body image, and interpersonal functioning—core factors in eating disorders and related conditions. Her work reflects a schema-informed understanding of emotion, identity, and attachment in the therapeutic process.

She is an active member of the American Psychological Association, the Academy for Eating Disorders, and the American Academy of Psychotherapists.

Judith Margolin, PhD

Judith Margolin, PhD, is a Certified Advanced Schema Therapist and Supervisor of Schema Therapy, currently in private practice. She is a member of the Visiting Faculty at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, New Jersey. Dr. Margolin is a Clinical Supervisor and member of the Medical Staff at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, Princeton House Behavioral Health, where she was the former Clinical Director of the Women’s Trauma Program. Specializing in the treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, she has presented nationally and internationally on a Schema Therapy-informed approach to Complex Trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Dr. Margolin is also the author of one of the earliest books on group therapy for sexual abuse, Breaking the Silence: Group Therapy for Childhood Sexual Abuse, A Practitioner’s Manual (Haworth,1999), as well as her recently published book, Group Therapy for Complex Trauma: A Schema-Informed Approach (Routledge, 2025).

Ida Shaw, MA

Ida A. Shaw, M.A., is an International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST) Certified Supervisor-Trainer specializing in Individual, Child-Adolescent, and Group Schema Therapy (ST). She currently serves as co-director of the Schema Therapy Institute Midwest in Cleveland. Ida also co-developed Group Schema Therapy with Joan Farrell and was instrumental in the development of Child-Adolescent Schema Therapy. In recognition of her significant contributions to schema therapy, Ida was elected as an Honorary Lifetime Member of the ISST in 2020. For a decade, she held the position of Training Director at the Center for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Treatment & Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Her leadership extended to major international schema therapy trials, including supervising and training participants in a five-country study involving 495 patients focused on Group Schema Therapy for borderline personality disorder, as well as an experimental case series for dissociative identity disorder (DID). Ida has authored three influential books on schema therapy:

1. Group Schema Therapy for BPD (Wiley, 2012)
2. The Schema Therapy Clinician’s Guide (Wiley, 2014)
3. Experiencing Schema Therapy from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Workbook (Guilford Press, 2018)

Her bibliography also includes numerous book chapters and journal articles. She is widely recognized for her creativity and expertise in developing experiential interventions, which have been instrumental in advancing Group and Child-Adolescent Schema Therapy. Ida served as Chair of the Child-Adolescent Schema Therapy Certification Committee and was a member of the Training & Certification Advisory Board of ISST for many years, further shaping the field through her dedication and service

Lynda Perry, PhD

Clinical Psychologist ISST Certified Supervisor-Trainer in Individual Schema Therapy Accredited Group Schema Therapist Lynda is a Clinical Psychologist with over 40 years of experience in private practice. Trained initially as an early childhood educator, her passion for developmental psychology led her to complete four years of postgraduate study and gain accreditation in contemporary psychotherapy. Lynda has a longstanding interest in dream work, which she has integrated into her clinical and training practices for over 25 years. She presented her first paper, Dream Analysis: Is It Obsolete? at the International Psychotherapy Conference in 2010, and has continued researching and incorporating dream work into Schema Therapy ever since. Trained in psychodrama, Lynda worked at The Psychodrama Centre in Sydney for a decade. Her experience facilitating psychodrama groups and training in CBT provided a strong foundation for her embrace of the experiential elements central to Schema Therapy. She is the Director of the Schema Therapy Centre of NSW and has held multiple leadership roles within the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), including: · Past Chair of the ISST Quality Assurance Committee · Former member of the ISST Ethics Committee · Former member of the ISST Training and Certification Advisory Board · Former Co-Regional Training Coordinator for Australia · Chair of the National Training Directors Committee Lynda is also a published author. Her article Schema Therapy and Dreams: Accessing the Vulnerable Child appeared in the ISST Bulletin in December 2018. In addition to providing core Schema Therapy training, she runs workshops on Schema Therapy with Dreams and Nightmares and Experiencing Schema Therapy From the Inside Out . Her book chapter on Schema Therapy with Dreams and Nightmares is currently in progress.

Paul DelGrosso, LCSW

Paul DelGrosso is a psychotherapist in private practice in Washington, DC, and a trainer and supervisor with the Schema Therapy Institute of DC. Paul first encountered schema therapy when working as a therapist with active-duty service members at the Pentagon starting in 2010. He became interested in patients with PTSD who did not respond well to traditional therapeutic models for trauma. He began researching contributing factors, discovered personality's role in response to treatment, encountered Jeff Young’s work with schema-modes, and quickly began training in schema therapy with Wendy Behary. The results have been transformative in his practice treating trauma and many other conditions. Paul’s interest in addressing unmet needs in childhood includes applying schema therapy to work with families. He met Dr. Bart Rubin in 2018 at the ISST conference in Amsterdam. Bart discussed his conversations with Jeff Young about how learning attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) helps schema therapists improve emotionally deepening techniques. Paul began training in ABFT and, seeing how this model integrates well with schema therapy, eventually became certified in ABFT. Helping individuals and families address attachment ruptures continues to be a strong area of focus in Paul’s practice.

Robin Spiro, LCSW

Robin Spiro, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international trainer based in Springfield, New Jersey. She has over 27 years of clinical experience specializing in Complex Trauma, Dissociative Disorders, and Schema Therapy. She is an Advanced Certified Schema Therapist and a Certified Individual Schema Trainer/Supervisor. Robin’s clinical work focuses on integrating schema therapy with other trauma treatment models, including EMDR, somatic therapies, and Internal Family Systems. She has presented at ISST international conferences and has lectured internationally on complex trauma and dissociative disorders within the schema therapy framework. Robin is chair of the Supervisory Skills Development Committee within the International Society of Schema Therapy. She leads online supervision groups for clinicians working with complex trauma and dissociation, providing advanced training and clinical guidance in these specialized areas. Robin’s training initiatives span multiple countries, where she shares her expertise in adapting schema therapy for clients presenting with trauma-related disorders and dissociative symptoms.

Liz Lacy, LCSW

Elizabeth Lacy is an LCSW and certified schema therapist in New York City, NY. She is currently the Director of Lacy Mental Health, PLLC. Liz has over 23 years of post-graduate experience in mental health as a clinical director, supervisor, trainer, and therapist. She specializes in treating behavioral addictions, anxiety disorders, attachment-based psychotherapy, and couples counseling. Liz has earned advanced certifications in schema therapy, transformational chair work, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), DBT, and clinical supervision. She has also trained extensively in third-wave CBT protocols for anxiety and OCD. Liz serves as Clinical Director at a newly developed international addiction treatment program from their New York office. She also maintains a private practice specializing in schema therapy and EFT for individuals and couples. Liz provides clinical training and supervision internationally in schema therapy and attachment-based addiction treatment. Ms. Lacy is a member of the Sexuality, Attachment, and Trauma (SAT) Network and the International Society for Schema Therapy and regularly presents at conferences worldwide.

Travis Atkinson, LCSW

Travis Atkinson, LCSW, is Media Director of the Jeffrey Young Schema Therapy Association and founder of the Schema Therapy Training Center of New York and Loving at Your Best Marriage and Couples Counseling. He's a founding member of the International Society of Schema Therapy and received Honorary Lifetime Member status in 2020. Travis began training with Dr. Jeffrey Young in 1994. From 1997 to 2012, he served as a staff psychotherapist at the Cognitive Therapy Center of New York, where he worked directly with Dr. Young to co-develop Schema Therapy for Couples. What they created in the therapy room with actual couples now forms the foundation for how clinicians worldwide approach relationship wounds and repair. He helped Dr. Young establish the original Schema Therapy Institute in New York, serving as supervisor and trainer in the program. For over 25 years, Travis has trained therapists internationally across Italy, South Korea, the Netherlands, Brazil, Portugal, Russia, Austria, Scotland, and Spain. He chaired the ISST Schema Couples Therapy Workgroup from 2014 to 2017, advancing research and clinical training. Global membership quadrupled during his tenure as Media Coordinator on the ISST Executive Board (2014-2020). He holds advanced certifications as an Advanced Certified Schema Therapist, Supervisor, and Trainer; Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist and Supervisor (trained directly by Dr. Sue Johnson beginning in 2006, including 40 personal supervision sessions and two advanced externships); and Certified Gottman Method Couples Therapist (2006). He is also an Advanced Practitioner at Daniel Siegel's Mindsight Institute and a Certified Group Psychotherapist. He's a founding member of the New York Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy, where he served on the Executive Board. Travis co-authored the Schema Mode Inventory and wrote "Schema Therapy for Couples: Healing Partners in a Relationship" in The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Schema Therapy (2012). He is fluent in English and Dutch and maintains an active clinical practice while training therapists worldwide.

Leonardo Wainer, MA

Leonardo Wainer is a clinical psychologist who has shaped the landscape of schema therapy throughout Latin America. Graduating from the prestigious Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS) with registration CRP 07/31540, Leonardo pursued advanced training to position him at the forefront of psychological science in Brazil. He completed his master’s degree in clinical psychology at PUC-RS and is currently a PhD Fellow student at the same institution, where his research continues to push the boundaries of clinical practice and theory. His academic foundation is complemented by specialized training in cognitive-behavioral therapies through Wainer Psicologia and additional certification in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) from PRAXIS, creating a rich integration of evidence-based approaches. Leonardo holds Advanced Level certification as a Schema Therapist, Supervisor, and Trainer from the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), representing the highest level of professional recognition in the field. His achievement as the first Latin American Board Member of ISST marked a pivotal moment for schema therapy’s expansion across South America, opening doors for countless clinicians in the region to access world-class training and certification. Leonardo serves multiple leadership roles that amplify his impact on the field. As Coordinator of Research and Sciences at the Brazilian Association of Schema Therapy, he bridges the gap between clinical practice and empirical evidence. He directs and teaches at Wainer Psicologia, where he mentors the next generation of cognitive-behavioral and schema therapists. As Brazilian National Coordinator for certification with ISST, he ensures that Brazilian clinicians receive rigorous, standardized training that meets international excellence standards. What distinguishes Leonardo’s work is his commitment to making advanced psychological interventions accessible throughout Brazil and Latin America, building infrastructure for professional development that didn’t exist before his pioneering efforts.

Jeff Conway, LCSW

Jeff Conway, MS, LCSW, is the previous President of the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST). He is a founding member of the ISST and has served in several roles for the ISST since its foundation. His previous Executive Board positions were Vice President and Training Coordinator. He has many years of experience as a Schema Therapy Trainer and Supervisor. He has served as the Chair of the Supervisor Skills Development Committee and the Case Conceptualization Committee. Jeff is also a founding member of The NY Center for Emotion Focused Therapy and has extensive training in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), an innovative couple’s therapy model, based on Attachment Theory. He is also a Certified Couples Schema Therapy Trainer and Supervisor. Other areas of training and experience include the treatment of early childhood trauma, Object Relations Theory, and Group Therapy Models. He runs a private practice in New York City, serving individuals, couples, and groups.

Ji Young Kim, MA

Ji Young Kim, M.A., LPC-S, is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, bringing a depth of clinical expertise that transforms how clients understand and heal from developmental trauma. Based in Austin, Texas, she is an Advanced Certified Schema Therapist and Supervisor and a Certified Advanced Level Schema Therapist in Group Schema Therapy—credentials that reflect her mastery of individual and group therapeutic modalities. What sets Ji Young apart is her integrative approach, which places Schema Therapy at the foundation while weaving in her extensive expertise in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and specialized training as an ADHD-certified clinical services provider. This multifaceted clinical background allows her to address the complex interplay of personality disorders, ADHD, trauma recovery, couples dynamics, and group processes with both precision and compassion. Ji Young’s therapeutic philosophy centers on creating safe, collaborative environments where transformational change can unfold. She helps clients recognize and transform maladaptive patterns that have kept them stuck, guiding them to strengthen their Healthy Adult mode and build genuine resilience. Her work is particularly impactful for individuals who have experienced developmental trauma, where early life experiences have created persistent emotional and relational challenges. Drawing from her extensive clinical expertise, Ji Young incorporates evidence-based approaches with compassion, ensuring that each client and supervisee receives scientifically grounded and deeply human care. Whether working with individuals navigating personality disorders, couples seeking to heal their relationships, groups learning to support one another’s growth, or professionals developing their clinical skills through supervision, Ji Young creates pathways for lasting change that help people cope and thrive.