The PRISMAS Group Therapy Handbook: A Brief Intervention Integrating Affirmative and Schema Therapy for Sexual and Gender Minorities

This handbook presents and describes how to apply the PRISMAS Group Therapy, a brief intervention that combines Affirmative and Schema Therapy for Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM). PRISMAS is a new therapeutic intervention that builds upon the concepts of Schema Therapy to create a brief group intervention aimed at helping SGM cope with the stress and prejudice they have internalized by living in societies that stigmatize and attack the LGBTQIA+ community. This intervention manual provides a detailed breakdown of the 12 therapeutic sessions in which the intervention is organized, showing practitioners how to conduct it.

The PRISMAS Group Therapy Handbook: A Brief Intervention Integrating Affirmative and Schema Therapy for Sexual and Gender Minorities will be an invaluable resource for psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals working with Sexual and Gender Minorities.

“While Schema Therapy offers a broad range of applications, there remains a gap in understanding how its principles apply to minority groups, including LGBTQIA+ individuals. Bruno’s work in this area is groundbreaking. His research on minority stress and the inner critic (oppressive sociocultural) schema mode sheds light on how societal influences shape individual experiences, schemas, and modes.” – Wendy Behary, Former President, The International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST)

“Bruno and Ana present a framework that is both sexual and gender affirming. It resonates across borders by addressing the shared experiences of minority stress, internalized oppression, and systemic barriers faced by SGM communities worldwide. By bridging societal oppression with individual healing, their approach fully leverages the integrative potential of Schema Therapy. Bruno and Ana’s work is a gift to the field of psychotherapy.” – Xi Liu, Co-Director, SchemXcollective: Integrative Schema Institute Sydney, Australia

The original manuscript of this book was written in Portuguese and translated into English with the help of artificial intelligence. A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content.

Bruno Luiz Avelino Cardoso is Adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology and in the Graduate Program in Psychology: Cognition and Behavior at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. Head of the Laboratory for Studies and Interventions in Cognitive and Contextual Therapies - LaEIC-UFMG. Certified cognitive therapist and member of the doctoral group of the Brazilian Federation of Cognitive Therapies (FBTC). President of the Brazilian Association of Schema Therapy (ABTE, 2024-2026 term) and of the Association of Cognitive Therapies of Minas Gerais (ATC-Minas, 2023-2025 term). He has training in teaching and supervising cognitive-behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy for couples and affirming LGBT lived experience from the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy (Philadelphia, USA). PhD in Psychology (social behavior and cognitive processes) from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Brazil, with a doctoral stay period at Pennsylvania State University and support from the São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP). He holds a master’s degree in psychology (clinical and health processes) from the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), Brazil, with a research internship on violence and social skills at UFSCar. Specialist in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) at the WP Institute (IWP/Faccat) and in human sexuality at the Child Behavior Institute of Miami. Trained in Schema Therapy (Wainer/NYC Institute for Schema Therapy) and in Schema Therapy for Couples (Institute of Theory and Research in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy – ITPC, Brazil). Supervisor of clinical practice in Cognitive and Contextual Therapies and author of books and resources in the areas of cognitive-behavioral therapies, schema therapy and relationships.

Ana Clara Gomes Braga is a psychologist graduated from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. She holds a master's degree in Psychology: Cognition and Behavior at UFMG. Member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Cognitive Therapies of Minas Gerais (ATC-Minas). Member of the Laboratory for Studies and Interventions in Cognitive and Contextual Therapies - LaEIC-UFMG. Specialist in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul). Training in Cognitive Sex Therapy. Trained in Schema Therapy (Wainer/NYC Institute for Schema Therapy). Currently undergoing training in Schema Therapy for Couples (Institute of Theory and Research in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy – ITPC, Brazil). Certified Mindfulness instructor.