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

5.15 PM - 6.15 PM

Friday Dec 5th

THE ESTRANGEMENT “EPIDEMIC”: SCHEMA THERAPY AND THE CHALLENGES – AND OPPORTUNITIES – OF ESTRANGEMENT

Estrangement is one of the most complex and painful issues faced in therapy today. Recent research shows that more than one in four Americans report being estranged from a relative, a figure likely mirrored across other cultures. The emotional toll can be immense—feelings of grief, deprivation, and isolation—but for some, estrangement represents something different: a boundary that protects against further harm.

Through the lens of Schema Therapy, this presentation explores estrangement as both a potential wound and a form of healing. It examines the schemas and modes that drive cutoff and reconciliation, highlighting when repair may foster growth and when maintaining distance serves a healthy function.

Attendees will learn how to identify maladaptive versus protective forms of estrangement, conceptualize related schema and mode patterns, and guide clients toward either reconnection or adaptive limit setting. Integrating Schema Therapy with attachment-based family approaches, this session offers a nuanced map for helping clients navigate the tension between healing relationships and preserving self-protection.