What is VSDT®?

An Overview

Visual Schema Displacement Therapy (VSDT®) is an evidence-based psychological treatment developed by British psychotherapists Nik & Eva Speakman for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The model is grounded in the premise that trauma-inducing events can create powerful maladaptive schemas within minutes; accordingly, therapeutic intervention should be precise, targeted, and capable of resolving distress with comparable efficiency.

VSDT® works by identifying and directly targeting specific trauma memories, reducing their emotional intensity and vividness, and thereby neutralising the distress associated with recall. The approach is structured, memory-focused, and designed to achieve measurable clinical change with clarity and speed.

In 2018, Professor Ad de Jongh (University of Amsterdam) and Dr Suzy Matthijssen (Utrecht University) commenced independent studies examining the effectiveness of VSDT®. The first peer-reviewed paper, published in The Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry (Matthijssen et al., 2018), reported that VSDT® was superior to an abbreviated version of EMDR in reducing the emotional disturbance associated with distressing memories.

Subsequent research has continued to strengthen the evidence base. Most notably, the 2024 clinical trials published in Frontiers in Psychiatry further demonstrated robust outcomes, contributing to the growing international recognition of VSDT® as a rapid and effective treatment for trauma.

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At present, no individual has been trained to deliver VSDT® outside of clinicians formally involved in the published research studies. Any person claiming to practise VSDT® or to have been trained without having formal certification through the VSDT International Association (VSDTIA), is making an unauthorised and inaccurate representation.

For the protection of patients and to safeguard clinical standards, professional accountability, and the preservation of clinical standards, we encourage individuals and referring professionals to verify a practitioner’s certification status directly through the VSDTIA before commencing any treatment.

Eligible psychologists and psychiatrists are trained exclusively through the VSDTIA to ensure professional integrity, consistency of delivery, and responsible international dissemination of VSDT®. If you are a qualified clinician and wish to train in VSDT®, you may register your interest by completing the form on this website.