SchemXcollective launch: Tackling the psychological impact of oppression with Schema Therapy

17 Apr

An energising Sunday filled with insight, connection, tears and laughter.

The day started with Acknowledgement of Country by Dr Xi Liu, followed by the official welcome, and launch of SchemxCollective, a project founded by Xi and Dr Nicole Manktelow in 2022. In creating and bringing this event to life, we acknowledged the uncomfortable, complex nature of the issues being discussed. Nicole led the group in a safety bubble presentation as opportunity for each of us to drop anchor and make room for the proverbial elephants that were attempting to funnel into the room.

Lorraine Gordon’s recorded racial trauma presentation kicked it off for schema therapy, delving into the complexities of racial trauma through the lens of Schema Therapy. This presentation was accompanied by a pre-recorded Q & A session between Lorraine and the SchemXcollective team.

We then took a moment to break for lunch, which was catered by a local, family run café in Newtown – Khamsa. During the break we had the chance to connect with like-minded individuals (professionals and students alike), shared stories and made lasting connections in an industry where networks are so deeply valued.

After lunch, we assembled our panel of three incredible speakers, each with unique insights into the role of therapists in treating the impact of systematic oppression. Nicole, Xi and Amanda Garcia Torres each brought to the table invaluable experiences and encounters from their own professional practice; encouraging the collaboration from the entire audience on navigating the responsibilities and boundaries therapists have.

To conclude the Schema Therapy component of the day, we were lucky enough to witness Amanda’s presentation on chair work, including different elements of it and how these can be applied in a wider context of practice. To cement the presentation, Amanda then gave a live demonstration on story telling through chair work, with our very own Xi as a volunteer. The demonstration was incredibly thought provoking, not just in its content, but in the contextual awareness it brought about.

After a debrief and moment of questions for Amanda, Andrew Phipps took the group through a happy child exercise. He emphasised the importance of fun and playfulness in regulating our emotions, healing, and reconnecting with the present moment.

The finale of the day was a performance by local performance group Sydney Bollywood, who performed several Bollywood dances and shared a small part of the history and meaning behind such captivating art.

All in all, the day was incredible, having such a warm and compassionates group of individuals come together on a rainy Sunday really highlighted the deep connections we each have with psychology and each other as humans.