Inleiding

Training in SPEAKS gives therapists a comprehensive understanding of the model and equips them with practical skills to integrate the model and its techniques into their clinical practice. The intervention follows a process-oriented guide that helps clients reconnect with the “Real Me” - a resilient, integrated sense of self. Clients can process emotions more effectively, build self-agency, and meet core needs in adaptive, life-enhancing ways.

Gaining SPEAKS Affiliation requires that therapists are already clinically trained and have completed additional SPEAKS training through the Emotion Speaks training programme. To support model fidelity, ongoing skill development and therapeutic effectiveness, supervision from an experienced SPEAKS-informed supervisor is strongly recommended.

 

Doelstelling

The SPEAKS training employs an interactive and lively format. SPEAKS phases and tasks are illustrated using videos, taught descriptions, and small and large group experiential practice and discussion. All tasks covered in the training have an associated workbook with detailed step-by-step instructions.

You will learn: 

• The clinical and research programme to develop SPEAKS and supporting its evidence-base;
• The SPEAKS change process, including introduction to EFT emotiontheory, the sequential model of emotional change, and the 5 phases of SPEAKS therapy;
• Introduction to and practice of key SPEAKS tasks, including: Existing traditional EFT tasks and Adapted and new tasks developed for clients with longstanding illness and neurodivergence

 

Programma

DAY 1: Background to SPEAKS & Formulation
Attendees will be introduced to SPEAKS background, evidence-base and SPEAKS phase-based structure.Case conceptualisation: attendees will learn SPEAKS case conceptualisation using dynamic and interactive approaches, such as toys and objects, to “map” the self and all its parts.

DAY 2: Working with Stuckness & Deepening to Core Pain
Working with ‘stuck presentations’: Attendees will learn tasks to improve stuckness and ambivalence towards change, such as the Focusing for Stuckness task.
Deepening to core pain: Additional barriers to change and emotional experience will be discussed and attendees will be taught tasks to work with symptomatic processes as well as increase access to emotion for client groups who struggle to connect to feelings.

DAY 3: Resolving core pain & consolidating the “Real Me”
Resolving core pain: Using EFT theory and evidence-based approaches, as well as new tasks adapted from different modalities, attendees will be guided through ‘emotion transformation’ in theory and practice.
Consolidating the “Real Me”: Attendees will learn to build on changes made to develop and maintain client’s self-efficacy and self-agency.
Therapy ending: Attendees will learn specific tasks to sensitively manage therapy ending.

 

Key Learning Aims.

• Introduction to the SPEAKS model, emotion theory, and emotion processing
• Overview of the sequential model of emotional change
• In-depth exploration of the five phases of SPEAKS, including goals and mechanisms of change for each phase
• Skills training in core therapeutic tasks used across phases, including
• Limited reparenting and advanced empathy
• Whole-self formulation using the Mode Map
• Experiential techniques to enhance motivation for change
• Chairwork with the eating disorder and broader internal critic
• Empty-chair work for emotional transformation
• Float-back and rescripting to address unmet emotional needs
• Strengthening and consolidating the ‘Healthy Adult’ self
• Review of the SPEAKS evidence base to date
• Considerations and adaptations for working with neurodivergent clients

 

Teaching Approach. 

Training is delivered in an interactive and supportive format, combining:

• Short, focused teaching sessions
• Video demonstrations of real therapy
• Small-group supervised skills practice (same groups throughout)
• Experiential exercises
• Case-based discussion

 

Voor wie?

• Psychologen, GZ-psychologen, Klinische Psychologen, Psychotherapeuten en Psychiaters werkzaam in de GGZ.

 

Accreditatie

Accreditatie is/wordt aangevraagd:

• Federatie van Gezondheidszorgpsychologen en Psychotherapeuten (FGzPt) 
• Het Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen (NIP) 
• De Nederlandse Vereniging voor Psychotherapie (NVP) 
• De Vereniging voor Persoonsgerichte Experiëntiële Psychotherapie (VPEP)
• Vereniging voor Schematherapie (VSt)
• Op verzoek: De landelijke Vereniging van Psychiaters (NVvP)

 

Erkenning

Deze training wordt door de VPeP erkend als specialisatiecursus in de opleiding tot persoonsgericht experiëntieel psychotherapeut. Zie overzicht VPeP.

 

Docent

Dr Anna Oldershaw is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Reader in Clinical Psychology. With 20 years’ experience in the field of eating disorders, Anna is the author of numerous research articles and book chapters. Her research and clinical work have utilised empirical data and lived experience resulting in development of SPEAKS therapy. The SPEAKS research programme was funded via a prestigious fellowship awarded to Anna by the National Institute of Health Research (the UK’s Department of Health). She recently co-authored the SPEAKS clinical guidebook ‘Transforming Emotional Pain and Rediscovering the Self in Anorexia Nervosa’ (Routledge, 2025). Her ongoing research centres on eating disorders, EFT, and neurodivergence.

Anna is the head of the Emotion Focused Therapy Institute of England offering accredited EFT trainings and supervision. Alongside this, she delivers SPEAKS training and offers supervision and support to NHS Eating Disorder services in the UK which are beginning to offer SPEAKS. Anna also works at the Salomons Institute for Applied Psychology, where she trains future clinical psychologists for the wider 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.

 

Studiebelasting

De studiebelasting bedraagt 18 uur aan lesuren en 12 uur aan voorbereiding.

 

Praktisch

Datum: 10-11-12 juni 2026
Tijden: 09h30 - 17h00
Prijs: € 1.125 incl. cursusmateriaal, biologische lunch, koffie/thee 
VPeP-leden en aspirant VPeP leden krijgen 10% korting, zie www.vpep.nl/scholing/kortingsregeling.
Locatie: Kloosterhotel Zin, Vught (www.kloosterhotelzin.nl)

Aanmelden

• 10 t/m 12 juni 2026