Schema Therapy Institute Midwest
Cleveland
 

ISST Members, be sure to vote
in the Executive Board Election
Oct 22-Nov 13
We are voting for:
Rita Younan for President
Cristina Sterie for Vice President
Louise Sainsbury for Secretary
Linda Parry for Training Coordinator
Roxanne Nicolau for Certification coordinator

If you are a full member of the International Society of Schema Therapy, it is time to vote! The election voting period is Oct 22 – Nov.   If you are a full member, you should have received your ballot. This is a critical point in the society, and we need to find a way to continue the values present at the founding of ISST in October of 2008 while finding ways to meet the needs of our growing international membership. Ida and I are aware of the diversity of our society from giving training in 24 countries since 2008, my six years on the executive board, Ida’s service on the Child-Adolescent committee and the Training & Certification Advisory Board and our both being elected as lifetime honorary members. Given our long involvement and leadership, we feel strongly that there is one team of nominees who best embody the spirit and goals of Schema Therapy and are the most qualified to lead the society in the future in a collegial and inclusive manner. These nominees are:  Rita Younan from Australia for President, Cristina Sterie from Romania or Vice President, Louise Sainsbury from the UK for Secretary, Linda Parry from Australia for Training Coordinator and Roxanne Nicolau from Romania for Certification Coordinator. All are very competent, dedicated, experienced members who can put the needs and goals of the society above personal interest. I will only briefly summarize their qualifications here as their personal statements are on the ISST website at: https://www.schematherapysociety.org. 

 

Rita Younan has been the ISST Training Coordinator and EB member for the last 4 years and has served on numerous other ISST committees for 10 years. I have worked closely with her during that time and know she has the necessary skill set and commitment to the spirit and values of ISST. I wholeheartedly recommend her for our president. She will be able to both lead and unite the EB. Her personal statement gives detailed information about her goals if elected in specific and realistic terms.

Cristina Sterie has served as Certification Coordinator on the EB for the last 4 years, navigating a challenging position by combining flexibility and awareness of cultural diversity while upholding the standards of ISST. I know the challenges of the training and certification roles well from my three terms in the combined role. They have both done an excellent job during a period of turmoil in the society, maintaining their personal integrity and the integrity of their EB positions.

Louise Sainsbury has long been actively involved in ISST and served on central committees. She is the kind of organized and clear person we need as secretary, representing Schema Therapy and the ISST. She has strong experience in team and leadership roles, working collegially as is needed on an international EB.

Lynda Parry has an extensive history with ISST committees, chairing the Quality Assurance Committee and serving on the Ethics and Conflict Resolution, Supervisor Skills Committee, and the Training Development Committees. She is also the reviewer of ISST certification for Australia and Southeast Asia. Her extensive experience and service make her the strongest candidate for the Training Coordinator role. In addition, she has served on Australian training committees, including as president of a national EB, representing significant leadership experience.

Roxanne Nicolau is an ideal candidate for Certification Coordinator because of her extensive service on related ISST committees: National and Regional Certification Coordinator, Vice president of the Romanian Institute of Schema Therapy, the Certification Committee for Emerging Countries, and the Individual Certification Committee. She is familiar with ISST certification requirements and can follow in the footsteps of her country-woman Cristina Sterie, bringing a similar balance to the role.

 

These five candidates are all dedicated and hard-working professionals willing to donate the time it will take to fulfill the responsibilities of their roles. They know what they are getting into and take the commitment required seriously. They would make a stellar team to lead the ISST Executive Board cooperatively with the two uncontested EB nominees.  I encourage you to read their personal statements and seriously consider voting for them. Ida and I will be voting for them with confidence.