November 30, 2025Podcast

What’s the Schemata? Episode 60 — A Deep Dive Into Chair Work with Chris Hayes

What’s the Schemata? Episode 60 — A Deep Dive Into Chair Work with Chris Hayes

Our latest episode of What’s the Schemata? is now live, and this one features Chris in a solo exploration of something that has become central to Schema Therapy practice: chair work and experiential mode work.

In the episode, Chris talks through why chair work wasn’t emphasised in the early days of Schema Therapy, how it gradually became a core part of the model, and why so many therapists find it both powerful and challenging. He reflects on his own training, the influence of Dutch researchers and practitioners, and how experiential techniques have evolved over the past twenty years.

Chris also spends time discussing those “tricky” clinical moments — the ones where chair work feels uncertain, unusual, or hard to navigate — and offers a grounded, practical sense of how he now uses it in his own sessions.

If you’re interested in strengthening your experiential confidence or understanding how chair work really fits into the broader model, this episode is a thoughtful place to start.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0mVhjlt7KldflhBWfNqRnO?si=2AUpRNacT4asFWTaIzd2aw

Latest Courses

September 2nd (2026) Start - Online Course 1 - Schema Therapy: "The Basic Schema Model, Methods, and Strategies" course thumbnail

September 2nd (2026) Start - Online Course 1 - Schema Therapy: "The Basic Schema Model, Methods, and Strategies"

Closing Soon!- Online Course 1 - Schema Therapy: "The Basic Schema Model, Methods, and Strategies" Learn the Foundations of Schema Therapy Practice Online with this 6-Week Program (Great for getting started)

6-8 weeks
Certificate
September 2nd (2026) Start Online Course 2: The Schema Mode Model and Mode Interventions for Complex Cases course thumbnail

September 2nd (2026) Start Online Course 2: The Schema Mode Model and Mode Interventions for Complex Cases

Closing Soon: Online Course 2: The Schema Mode Model and Mode Interventions for Complex Cases

6-8 weeks
Certificate
SCHEMA THERAPY CONNECT 2026 1-Day Mini-Conference - Friday November 13th (2026) Live and Online Streaming course thumbnail

SCHEMA THERAPY CONNECT 2026 1-Day Mini-Conference - Friday November 13th (2026) Live and Online Streaming

Connect Conference- November 13th (2026) - Live and Online Streaming

6-8 weeks
Certificate
 (Brand New!!!) Inside the Room: The Schema Therapy Sessions Video Series with Chris Hayes & Rob Brockman course thumbnail

(Brand New!!!) Inside the Room: The Schema Therapy Sessions Video Series with Chris Hayes & Rob Brockman

(Brand New Release!!) 12 Full-Length Schema Therapy Sessions with ISST Accredited Schema Therapists and Schema Supervisors produced by Chris Hayes & Rob Brockman

6-8 weeks
Certificate
Schema Therapy with Autistic and ADHD Individuals: A Neuro-diversity Affirming & Relational Approach course thumbnail

Schema Therapy with Autistic and ADHD Individuals: A Neuro-diversity Affirming & Relational Approach

Delivered Live by Zoom (September 8th, 2026) and with 12-months recording access 7-Hours Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

6-8 weeks
Certificate
(Brand New Webinar!!) November 2 (2026) "Seeing Through a Schema Lens" - Advanced Case Conceptualisation Skills in Practice course thumbnail

(Brand New Webinar!!) November 2 (2026) "Seeing Through a Schema Lens" - Advanced Case Conceptualisation Skills in Practice

Designed for clinicians with foundational knowledge of Schema Therapy, this webinar strengthens the ability to develop nuanced, clinically useful case conceptualisations. Participants will explore the interplay between unmet emotional needs, schemas, coping responses and modes, with particular attention to complex or overlapping patterns. Through applied case material, participants will refine their ability to identify maintaining cycles, test formulation hypotheses and use conceptualisation to guide treatment priorities, intervention selection and the therapeutic relationship.

6-8 weeks
Certificate