Wendy Behary
Biography
With 25+ years of professional experience and advanced level certifications, Wendy Behary is the founder and director of The Cognitive Therapy Center of New Jersey and The Schema Therapy Institutes of NJ-NYC-DC. She has been treating clients, training professionals and supervising psychotherapists for more than 25 years. Wendy was on the faculty of the Cognitive Therapy Center and Schema Therapy Institute of New York (until the Institutes merged in 2012), where she trained and worked with Dr. Jeffrey Young since 1989. She is a founding fellow and consulting supervisor for The Academy of Cognitive Therapy (Aaron T. Beck’s Institute). Wendy served as the President of the Executive Board of the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST) from 2010-2014 and served as the Training and Certification Coordinator for the ISST Executive Board from 2008-2010. She is currently the chair of the Schema Therapy Development Programs Sub-Committee for the ISST. Wendy Behary has co-authored several chapters and articles on Schema Therapy and Cognitive Therapy. She is the author of an international bestselling book, “Disarming the Narcissist…” translated in 16 languages. The Third Edition was recently released and was selected by Oprah Daily as one of the top books on the subject of Narcissism. Wendy has a specialty in treating narcissists and the people who live with and deal with them. As an author and subject matter expert on narcissism, she is a contributing chapter author of several chapters on schema therapy for narcissism for professional readers. She lectures both nationally and internationally to professional and general audiences on schema therapy, narcissism, interpersonal relationships, anger, and dealing with difficult people. She receives consistent high praise for her clear and articulate teaching style and her ability to bring the therapy to life through dramatic demonstrations of client interactions in the treatment room. Her work industry business speaking engagements focus on interpersonal conflict resolution. Her private practice is primarily devoted to treating narcissists, partners/people dealing with them, and couples experiencing relationship problems. Publications: Behary, W. T., Farrell, J. M., Vaz, A., Rousmaniere, T., Deliberate Practice in Schema Therapy (Essentials of Deliberate Practice), American Psychological Association; 1st edition (February 28, 2023). Heath, G., Startup, H., , Chapter Author, Behary, W., Empathic Confrontation and Limit Setting, Beck, A.T., Davis D., and Freeman, A., Third Edition, Cognitive Therapy of Personality Disorders, Chapter Author, Behary, W., and Davis, D., Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Guilford Press (October 2014). Behary, W., Disarming the Narcissist…, New Harbinger Publications (Third Edition, October 1, 2021). Behary, W., Article: “Challenging the Narcissist, How to Find Pathways to Empathy”, Psychotherapy Networker, (July/August 2013). Ogrodniczuk, J., Treating Pathological Narcissism, Chapter Author, Behary, W., The Art of Adaptive Re-Parenting in the Treatment of Narcissism, APA Publications, (2013). Van Vreeswijk, M., The Handbook of Schema Therapy, Chapter Author, Behary, W., Schema Therapy for Narcissism, Wiley Publications, (2012). Campbell, W.K., and Miller, J.D., The Handbook of Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Chapter Author, Schema Therapy for Narcissism, Wiley Publications, (2011). Dieckmann, E., and Behary, W., Journal Article: German Publication: Schematherapie: Ein Ansatz zur Behandlung narzisstischer Persönlichkeitsstörungen, Translation: Pattern Therapy: A Beginning for the Treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disturbances, 2010. Behary, W., Article: The Way to Say It… Taking on Some of the Most Challenging Moments in the Treatment Room, In Consultation, Psychotherapy Networker, May/June 2010 Behary, W., Disarming The Narcissist…Surviving and Thriving With The Self- Absorbed, New Harbinger Publications, (First Edition, 2008). Schema Therapy: Advances and Innovation in Clinical Practice Routledge Press, London, (2020). Behary, W., Article: The Art of Empathic Confrontation, Case Studies, The Psychotherapy Networker, (March/April edition, 2008). Shapiro, F., EMDR, An Integrative Psychotherapy Approach, Chapter Author, Zangwill, W., Young, J., and Behary, W., Integrating Schema Therapy with EMDR, American Psychological Association, (2002). Tarrier, Wells, and Haddock, Treating Complex Cases, Chapter Author, Young, J., and Behary, W., Schema Focused Therapy for Personality Disorders, Wiley Series in Clinical Psychology, (1998).
Sustaining the Integrity of Schema Therapy – The Core Model
Co-Presented with Joan Farrell
In preparation for the publication of the second edition of the Schema Therapy Practitioner’s Guide by Jeffrey Young, Janet Klosko, Joan Farrell & Wendy Behary, this presentation will elaborate on the core model of Schema Therapy, its clinical validation and utility and what we see as the value of contemporary additions. This will include a discussion of the randomized controlled trials using protocols based upon the core model, expanding the mode model, the role of early maladaptive schemas in treatment, the theory of core needs used in the core Schema Therapy model and their validity. We will also discuss our ideas about recent additions to the core model: identifying what is consistent with the core model – and adds value – and what may not. Our hope is to foster collegial discussion and consensus on sustaining the integrity of the core model of Schema Therapy.
Fortifying the Schema Therapist’s Healthy Adult Mode Through Self-Practice, Deliberate Practice and Therapist Improv
Co-Presented with Joan Farrell & Peregrine Kavros
This pre-conference 6-hour workshop combines Self-Practice/ Self-Reflection and Schema Therapy Deliberate Practice exercises, along with improvisational drama exercises to strengthen our inner therapist skills and our good parent voice. The workshop’s goals include increased self-awareness of modes and needs, the ability to access our Healthy Adult Mode when triggered in sessions, the development of a flexible and highly attuned Good Parent, and the construction of self-care plans to use outside of sessions. The workshop will support therapists in building ST intervention mastery as well as their authentic personal style. Deliberate practice exercises and improvisational (method acting) exercises will be employed to support the practice of accessing the “Good Parent voice” of the Healthy Adult Mode when working with clients’ child modes and a firm, confident and secure Healthy Adult Mode when limits for aggressive behavior are required. We will focus on interventions and practice that facilitate mastery of being a “real person” in the treatment room: present, attuned, and genuine, aware of our own schema and mode triggering, and expressing the internal advocate, “good parent” part of the Healthy Adult mode. We will explore the components of one’s HAM, including the role of support from mindful or spiritual beliefs, and examine how early maladaptive schemas influence the quality of these beliefs. We will introduce an expanded needs assessment to assist therapists in fortifying their HAM and building an effective self-care plan. The workshop’s experiential exercises and mindful self-reflection will culminate in a plan for further HAM development. The workshop will employ brief didactic PowerPoint and demonstration. The majority of the workshop time will be spent using experiential exercises with reflection and role-play practice with feedback.