Schema Therapy Institute Australia

What Schema Therapy Institute Australia does

Schema Therapy Institute Australia (STIA) is a private psychology practice headquartered in Essendon, Victoria, operating five clinic locations across metropolitan Melbourne (Essendon, Carlton, Werribee, Eltham, and Prahran within The Victoria Clinic). Founded and led by Dr Rita Younan as Managing Clinical Director, the practice is built on the scientist-practitioner model, integrating clinical service delivery with active collaborative research partnerships with Deakin University, Australian Catholic University, and Monash University. STIA specializes in Schema Therapy based on Jeffrey Young's model and integrates supplementary modalities including EMDR, CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness, somatic interventions, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. The team comprises approximately 22 listed practitioners including clinical psychologists, a consultant psychiatrist, a couples therapist, mental health social workers, and clinical psychology registrars.

The practice operates three integrated revenue streams. Clinical services are delivered on a fee-for-service basis at session fees ranging from A$245 (junior psychologists) to A$380 (Director), with Medicare rebates accessible via GP mental health care plans under Australia's Better Access initiative, plus telehealth delivery. Assessment services include ADHD diagnostic assessments and bundled assessment packages. Training and supervision revenue is generated through ISST-aligned Individual and Group Schema Therapy certification programs, in-person workshops, pre-recorded online courses hosted on Teachable, and clinical supervision priced at A$250-A$300 per 50-minute session. Research output includes multiple peer-reviewed meta-analyses on early maladaptive schemas, attachment, depression, suicidality, and trauma, plus a 56-expert Delphi consensus study establishing 19 schema therapy research priorities.

STIA's go-to-market is sales-led and reputation-driven, relying on clinical credentials (AHPRA registration, ISST certification, EMDRAA accreditation), GP and psychiatrist referral networks, and a content marketing blog covering mental health topics to drive organic search traffic and inbound enquiries. Dr Rita Younan's tenure on the ISST executive board as Training Coordinator (2020-2024) and Vice Presidency of the Jeff Young Schema Therapy Association embed STIA within the global schema therapy governance community. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or funding rounds, and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Schema Therapy Institute Australia

Legal name

Schema Therapy Institute Australia

Website

https://stia.com.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schema Therapy Institute Australia is a private Melbourne-based psychology practice operating five clinic locations, specializing in schema therapy, EMDR, ADHD assessments, and ISST-aligned certification training, while conducting collaborative research with Deakin, ACU, and Monash universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Trinity Beach

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Clinical Services - Individual & Group Therapy: Fee-for-service psychological therapy delivered by registered psychologists, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists. Clients access services via GP mental health care plans (Medicare rebates available) or private payment.
2. Certification & Training Programs: Schema therapy certification workshops (individual and group), other schema therapy training, pre-recorded online courses, and supervision services for psychologists seeking certification or general clinical supervision.
3. Psychological Assessments: ADHD assessment packages and other psychological assessment services billed separately from therapy sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

STIA is a private psychology practice that delivers schema therapy, EMDR, CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness, somatic, and psychedelic-assisted therapy to individuals, couples, and families across five Melbourne clinic locations and via telehealth. The practice also provides ADHD and other psychological assessments, ISST-aligned certification training for individual and group schema therapy, clinical supervision, and conducts collaborative research on schema therapy with multiple Australian universities.

Product overview

Schema Therapy Institute Australia operates as a psychology practice offering a comprehensive range of mental health services centered on Schema Therapy. The organization provides therapeutic services including Individual Therapy, Group Therapy, Schema Therapy, EMDR Therapy, Relationship Therapy, and On Demand Therapy (telehealth). Assessment services encompass ADHD Assessments and Assessment Packages. Training products include Certification Training (Individual and Group), Other Schema Therapy Training, and Pre-recorded Courses for professional development. Additional services include professional Supervision and Research collaborations with academic institutions. The integrated approach combines treatment, training, and research under the scientist-practitioner model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pre-recorded Courses (learn-schema-online-stia.teachable.com): Online learning platform offering pre-recorded schema therapy training courses

Products and services

• Individual Therapy One-on-one therapy sessions with a psychologist tailored to individual client needs, using evidence-based approaches such as schema therapy, EMDR, CBT, DBT, ACT, and somatic interventions. For adults and adolescents presenting with complex mental health conditions.
• Schema Therapy The primary therapeutic modality at STIA, working to understand developmental origins of difficulties and heal early adverse experiences that relate to current problems. Based on Jeffrey Young's schema therapy model.
• EMDR Therapy Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for processing traumatic experiences and distressing memories. Offered as a trauma treatment modality alongside schema therapy.
• Relationship Therapy Couples therapy utilising approaches including Gottman Method couples therapy and schema therapy to develop deeper understanding of unmet childhood needs and relationship dynamics. For couples and families.
• Group Therapy Therapy delivered in a group setting providing peer support and shared learning experiences for clients working on similar concerns, including group schema therapy programs.
• On Demand Therapy (Telehealth) Telehealth and online therapy sessions providing remote access to psychological services via video consultation, extending reach beyond the five Melbourne clinic locations.
• ADHD Assessments Comprehensive diagnostic assessments for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder conducted by psychologists, with referral pathways to consultant psychiatrists for medication management.
• Assessment Packages Bundled psychological assessment services for various clinical presentations and diagnostic needs, billed separately from therapy sessions.
• Certification Training - Individual Schema Therapy Structured certification program for psychologists seeking certification in Individual Schema Therapy, meeting ISST standards. For practising mental health professionals.
• Certification Training - Group Schema Therapy Structured certification program for psychologists seeking certification in Group Schema Therapy, meeting ISST standards. For practising mental health professionals.
• Other Schema Therapy Training Additional schema therapy training options including in-person and online workshops for developing immediate practice competencies in schema therapy.
• Pre-recorded Online Courses Online self-paced learning courses in schema therapy available through the Teachable learning platform for asynchronous professional development.
• Clinical Supervision Clinical supervision services for psychologists, including schema therapy certification supervision, general clinical supervision, and AHPRA board-approved supervision for registration purposes. Priced from $250 to $300 per 50 minutes.
• Research Program Collaborative research program in schema therapy conducted with Deakin University, Australian Catholic University, and Monash University, contributing peer-reviewed meta-analyses, Delphi consensus studies, and clinical trials to the scientific evidence base for schema therapy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Drop-out rate for in-patient group schema therapy program: 11% (36 participants, 60 hours group + 4 hours individual over 4 weeks)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deakin University (Prof. Gery Karantzas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Gery Karantzas serves as STIA's Head of Research and research advisor. He is a leading Australian relationship researcher and attachment theory expert. Collaborative research includes meta-analyses on attachment and early maladaptive schemas, depression, suicidality, childhood adversity, and YSQ measurement validity.
• Australian Catholic University (Dr Pam Pilkington)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Pam Pilkington is a research partner and co-author on multiple STIA research publications including the Delphi consensus study on schema therapy research priorities, meta-analyses on EMS and depression, suicidality, childhood adversity, and IPV.
• Monash University (Dr Tamara May)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Tamara May is a research partner and co-author on published research including the meta-analysis on adolescent maladaptive schemas and childhood abuse/neglect, and the systematic review on ASD and BPD overlap.
• Schema Therapy Institute Midwest-Indianapolis (Prof. Joan Farrell)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Joan Farrell is a research collaborator and author on the Group Schema Therapy for severe anxiety disorders pilot study. Represents an international connection to the broader schema therapy training community.
• International Society for Schema Therapy (ISST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTIA Director Dr Rita Younan served on the ISST executive board as Training Coordinator from 2020-2024. ISST research funding was obtained by Dr Younan to support schema therapy research. STIA offers ISST-certified training programs.
• Jeff Young Schema Therapy AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Rita Younan serves as Vice President (Events & Symposia) for the Jeff Young Schema Therapy Association, maintaining leadership ties within the global schema therapy community.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lyra Health: US-based mental health benefits platform serving employers and employees with therapy, coaching, and medication management. Comparable to STIA in offering evidence-based modalities (CBT, EMDR, etc.) delivered through vetted clinicians, but at enterprise scale via B2B contracts — a model STIA could emulate through corporate training contracts.
• BetterHelp: Largest US-based online therapy platform offering individual, couples, and teen therapy via subscription. Operates in the same behavioral health delivery space as STIA but at vastly greater scale, with a broader modality menu and asynchronous messaging — a key competitive benchmark for STIA's telehealth and on-demand therapy offering.
• Talkspace: US publicly listed online therapy platform offering individual, couples, and teen therapy via text, audio, and video. Competes with STIA on telehealth delivery of mental health services, including couples therapy and ADHD support, but at national scale rather than Melbourne-only.
• Two Chairs: US brick-and-mortar therapy group operating multiple clinics in California, Florida, and other states with a strong clinical-model identity and emphasis on therapist training. Comparable to STIA's multi-site clinic model and investment in modality-specific clinical excellence, though at larger geographic and scale footprint.

Emerging players

• Black Dog Institute: Australian medical research institute (UNSW-affiliated) that combines clinical service delivery, research, and digital mental health programs. Shares STIA's scientist-practitioner positioning and research credibility, though operates at institute scale rather than private practice.
• Smiling Mind: Australian digital mental health non-profit providing mindfulness and well-being apps and education programs. Tangentially comparable to STIA through Australian market presence, modality breadth (mindfulness), and content-driven top-of-funnel engagement, but operates at app scale rather than clinical practice.
• Mindspot Clinic: Australian digital mental health clinic affiliated with Macquarie University, offering therapist-guided online treatment courses for anxiety and depression. Adjacent to STIA in serving the Australian evidence-based mental health market via online delivery, but competes on accessibility and price rather than premium in-person clinical depth.
• THIS WAY UP (St Vincent's Hospital): Australian online cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) clinic run by St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, offering clinician-guided and self-help digital programs for anxiety and depression. Comparable to STIA as an Australian evidence-based mental health provider, with overlap in CBT and online delivery but with stronger public-sector and anxiety/depression positioning.

Direct peers

• International Society for Schema Therapy (ISST): Global professional body that originated the schema therapy certification framework and standards that STIA's training programs follow. STIA's director served on the ISST executive board as Training Coordinator (2020-2024); the two are tightly linked by modality and credentialing ecosystem.
• Schema Therapy Institute Midwest: US-based schema therapy training, supervision, and clinical practice (Indianapolis), co-founded by Prof. Joan Farrell — a documented research collaborator with STIA. Offers ISST-aligned certification in individual and group schema therapy and is one of the closest direct comparables to STIA's training/treatment/research triad.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schematherapyinstituteaustralia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schema Therapy Institute Australia