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SPEAKS Therapy - An Emotion Focused intervention for anorexia and restrictive eating difficulties.

SPEAKS developed out of a recognition in the field of eating disorders that difficulties with emotion and emotion processing may underpin and maintain anorexia nervosa and thus emotion focused interventions may be beneficial (Oldershaw et al., 2015; Sala et al., 2016). In a 5 year research program funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (UK Department of Health), an emotion focused intervention for adults with anorexia (SPEAKS) was developed.

Using these research findings, Oldershaw et al. (2023) ‘mapped out’ a hypothesised sequential emotion change process to help support people to find and connect with “The Real Me”, drawing on emotion change theory developed in the field of Emotion Focused Therapy. This was translated into practice to develop the SPEAKS therapy which predominantly draws on Emotion Focused Therapy and Schema Therapy across five phases of treatment. SPEAKS is feasible to deliver in practice and has good clinical outcomes, as well as being viewed as acceptable to both clients and therapists (Rennick et al., 2024).

Objective

> Introduction to SPEAKS
Attendees will learn about:
1) The clinical and research programme to develop SPEAKS
2) The SPEAKS change, including the seuqential model of emotional change and the 5 phases of SPEAKS therapy
3) Outcome research data from our feasibility trail run in the NHS supporting the use of SPEAKS in clinical practice

> Formulation and working with ‘stuck presentations’ (SPEAKS therapy phases 1 & 2)
Attendees will be introduced to:
1) Formulation in the SPEAKS model using dynamic and interactive approaches such as toys and objects to ‘map’ the self and all its parts
2) Using the map to guide therapy
3) Unique tasks to improve stuckness and ambivalence towards change, such as the ‘Focusing for feeling stuck’ task

> Facilitating the change process (SPEAKS therapy phases 3 & 4)
Once 'stuckness' has been recognised and understood, attendees will further consider how to facilitate (emotional) change across the SPEAKS therapy. This will include working to connect with and resolve core pain using traditional EFT tasks and other tasks adapted from different therapies such as Schema Therapy.

> Consolidating the “Real Me” (SPEAKS therapy phase 5)
The final phase of therapy considers how to consolidate the changes made by maintaining self-efficacy and self-agency using a range of tasks.
It will also cover the ending of therapy and ending tasks, including letters, reformulation and transitional objects.

Target Group

This three day workshop is for clinicians

Method

The training will employ an interactive and lively format. Each SPEAKS phase and task is illustrated using videos and detailed taught descriptions, followed by small and large group experiential practice and discussion. Some tasks may be familiar to experienced EFT therapists, but adaptations for people with anorexia and those who are neurodivergent will be discussed. Other tasks will offer new perspectives on and tools for experiential, emotion-focused work. All tasks covered in the training have an associated workbook which details step-by-step instructions. Across the three days, we will follow the therapy journey and change process of a fictional, but realistic, client who will feature in the training videos.

Content

Day 1:

  • Understanding of the background and rationale for SPEAKS
  • SPEAKS therapy overview
  • SPEAKS case conceptualization and formulation (SPEAK Phase 1)

Day 2:
  • The Therapeutic Relationship & Empathic presence (SPEAKS Phase 1)
  • Seeing through the facade - Working with symptom level processes, such as with the eating disorder and 'stuck' presentations (SPEAKS Phase 2)
  • Deepening to core pain - Working with the broader critic (SPEAKS Phase 3)

Day 3:
  • Working to resolve core pain (SPEAKS Phase 4)
  • Emergence of the 'Healthy Adult' (SPEAKS Phase 5)
  • Endings (SPEAKS Phase 5)

Trainers

Dr. Anna Oldershaw

Dr Anna Oldershaw is a Clinical Psychologist and Reader in Clinical Psychology. She has 20 years of experience in the field of eating disorders. Her clinical and research work incorporate a focus on emotion and empathy.

Most recently Anna completed a clinical academic fellowship funded by the National Institute of Health Research (the UK's Department of Health), being the first psychologist in the UK to receive this prestigious award. This research saw her codevelop an EFT adaptation for anorexia nervosa and test it in a feasibility trial in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) - SPEAKS therapy.

She is Director of the Emotion Focused Therapy Institute of England, which runs from the Salomons Institute for Applied Psychology.
Anna is an accredited Emotion Focused Therapy therapist, supervisor and trainer, having trained under the supervision of Professor Robert Elliot and Professor Les Greenberg. Alongside EFT training, Anna trains future clinical psychologists for the NHS. Anna has experience and expertise across modalities; however, her passion lies in EFT, and in providing EFT training that is engaging, exciting and accessible.

Practical Information

Course Dates

30.10. - 01.11.2025

Times

09:15-17:00

Language

English

Location

Vatter Businesscenter, Bärenplatz 2, 3011 Bern, Schweiz

Costs

950 CHF

Credits

18

Recognition

One credit corresponds to a 60-minute unit. Recognition is according to the guidelines of the respective professional society.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation of the binding registration by the participant is possible up to 90 days before the start of the course. In this case, only the administrative costs (CHF 50.-) will be charged. In case of withdrawal of the registration less than 90 days before the beginning of the course, the full amount of the course will be charged.

Contact

If you have questions, we gladly help you

Registration

SPEAKS Therapy - An Emotion Focused intervention for anorexia and restrictive eating difficulties.

Vatter Businesscenter, Bärenplatz 2, 3011 Bern, Schweiz

Registration deadline: 28.08.2025
The number of participants is limited. The course will only take place if there are enough registrations.