In schema therapy certification training, trainees can complete their supervision requirements through a combination of group supervision and individual supervision and can participate in both formats simultaneously. While individual supervision is recommended for deeper learning and personalized feedback, it is not mandatory.
Trainees are also allowed to work with more than one supervisor. Supervisors can be located anywhere in the world, as long as they are ISST-approved and maintain their ISST membership.
Supervision Requirements for Certification
According to the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), certification requires a minimum number of supervision hours depending on the level:
- Standard certification: minimum 20 supervision hours
- Advanced certification: minimum 40 supervision hours
Each supervisor must provide written confirmation of the supervision hours completed. In the final certification application, trainees are required to report the total hours received from each supervisor separately.
Conversion of Group Supervision into Individual Hours
ISST provides a structured system for converting group supervision into individual supervision credits.
The basic principle is that group supervision time is not counted one-to-one, since attention is shared between participants.
Core conversion principle
In a group of up to 6 participants:
- 3 group hours (180 minutes) in a full 6-person group are considered approximately equal to 1 individual supervision hour (50 minutes of direct equivalent credit).
How the calculation works
In group supervision, each participant receives a portion of direct supervision time, while also spending time observing others.
For example:
- In a 6-person group, a 2-hour session (120 minutes) gives each participant about 20 minutes of direct supervision.
- The remaining time is spent observing others, which is also partially credited.
- Observation time is valued at approximately 20% of direct supervision time, contributing additional credit toward total hours.
ISST credit conversion table
According to ISST certification standards:
- For each 60 minutes of group supervision:
- 2 trainees = 36 minutes credit
- 3 trainees = 28 minutes credit
- 4 trainees = 24 minutes credit
- 5 trainees = 22 minutes credit
- 6 trainees = 20 minutes credit
For comparison:
- 60 minutes of individual supervision = 60 minutes of credit
Adapted from: International Society of Schema Therapy. (2021). ISST requirements for certification as a schema therapist (individual) (Version 2.0). https://schematherapysociety.org