Continuing Education Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Intervention of Patients with Personality Disorders

The Blanquerna School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, which specializes in postgraduate programs, and ITA Salut Mental, a leading network in the treatment of eating, behavioral, and personality disorders, have joined forces to offer training for future therapists who want to specialize in the interdisciplinary treatment of personality disorders. The goal is for these professionals to develop a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of personality disorders, including their clinical characteristics, explanatory theories, diagnostic and classification models, and the most effective therapeutic approaches.

Graduates in Psychology, Medicine and Surgery, or related fields. They will be assessed individually, considering their motivation, educational background, academic performance, and professional experience.

Students without a bachelor's degree are not eligible for admission.

Module 1. Conceptualization of personality disorders, historical and current perspective (4 ECTS)

• Introduction of students to the conceptual framework and psychotherapeutic context of PDs. Students will be provided with knowledge on etiology, progression, and diagnostic classification , as well as a practical approach through the study of psychopathology, clinical presentation, and current explanatory models. Clinical knowledge about the neurobiology and physiology of PDs will also be provided.

Module 2. Evaluation, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis (5 ECTS)

• Equip students with the necessary skills to perform assessments and diagnoses of personality disorders. Students will be trained in conducting interviews, administering standardized questionnaires, and gathering information about the individual's medical history and psychosocial functioning.

Module 3. Psychotherapeutic intervention (10 ECTS)

• Provide students with knowledge and skills related to psychotherapeutic interventions used in the treatment of personality disorders. Each of the therapeutic approaches has its own specific techniques and strategies to address different mental health disorders and problems. Students will learn about the theory of each approach, its practical application, how to conduct psychotherapeutic sessions and how to adapt the approach to the specific needs of each patient.

Module 4. Family and couple intervention (8 ECTS)

• Develop the basic therapeutic skills to carry out a family and couple assessment and intervention. We will begin with an introduction to the foundations of the systemic model, as well as the main schools of family therapy. We will train students in relational interviewing to conduct appropriate family assessments and formulate relational hypotheses. We will equip students to conduct family and couple interventions using strategies, skills, and techniques specific to the systemic model.

Module 5. Specific interventions (5 ECTS)

• Provide students with knowledge and skills related to specific interventions used in the treatment of personality disorders. On one hand, the course will explore how to address the impact of trauma on personality disorders. Intervention techniques will be studied to help patients process trauma, understand, and manage dissociation. On the other hand, we will study interventions aimed at addressing self-harm and suicidal behavior in personality disorders. Students will learn about risk assessment, prevention, and management of suicidal behavior, as well as specific therapeutic strategies for addressing self-harm. And finally, the applications of new technologies in the treatment of personality disorders will be explored.

Module 6. Interdisciplinary intervention (4 ECTS)

• Provide students with a solid understanding of the key aspects related to multidisciplinary intervention with patients presenting with a personality disorder, as well as the intensity of the intervention.

Module 7. Practical approach in the ethical, legal and legal framework (3 ECTS)

• Provide students with basic knowledge about the legal aspects relevant to clinical practice. In addition to collecting, studying, and correctly interpreting various psychological data that may provide important elements in a judicial process. As well as integrating practical knowledge in line with the ethical and deontological code that allows acting in highly complex situations.

Module 8. Experiential space for professional development and management skills (5 ECTS)

• Practical space focused on self-knowledge and development of psychotherapeutic skills. The personal autobiography, family history, personality, and the therapist's feared scenarios will be explored sequentially.

Module 9. Practicum (6 ECTS)

• During the training period, students will form part of an interdisciplinary team where each professional works in coordination with other specialties involved in treatment. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of a truly complex disorder while encouraging students to embrace the ITA approach—a respectful way of working that acknowledges the suffering of its users, remains deeply committed to their recovery, and upholds rigorous therapeutic processes aimed at achieving their full personal autonomy. The tasks to be performed will depend on the student's professional profile.

Module 10. Indirect clinical supervisions (4 ECTS)

• Group supervision of practice or work center cases. The supervisions will be carried out by a professional from the practice center together with an external supervisor. The aim is to improve the clinical skills of the supervised student, as well as to promote professional growth and competence.

Module 11. Master degree thesis (6 ECTS)

• Supervised preparation of the final master's project, individually or in pairs. The types of projects to choose from will include: systematic review, research project, intervention proposal or single case study. With possibility of linking the research to the internships carried out or active lines of research.

Coordination

Dr. Teresa Pretel Luque. PhD in Psychology. General Health Psychologist. Associate Professor at the Blanquerna School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences. Member of the Blanquerna School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences Communication and Health (ComSal) research group. Director or Clinical Innovation at the Institute of Psychology and Development (IPSIDE). Specialized in Family Therapy.

Dr. Mariona Roca Santos. PhD in Psychology. General Health Psychologist. Associate Professor at the Blanquerna School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences. Member of the Blanquerna School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences Couple and Family (GRPF) research group. Specialized in Family Therapy.

Lic. Ana Rodríguez Ruiz. Assistant to the clinical director of ITA mental health specialists. Specialized in Family Therapy. Teaching supervisor accredited by the FEAT. Director of the master's degree in Systemic Therapy at ISEP. Coordinator of the WG on Impulse-Control Disorders of the COPC.

Dr. Jessica Navarro Garrido. PhD in Psychology. Specialist in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT). Psychologist at ITA Previ in Valencia, a center specializing in personality disorders and eating disorders. Coordinator of the ITA Campus.

Faculty

Ana Gil. Clinical psychologist. Family therapist. FEAP and FEATF teaching supervisor. Associate Professor at the Blanquerna-URL FPCEE.

Dr. Anna Vilaregut. PhD in Psychology. Family therapist. FEAP and FEATF lecturer. URL full professor. Coordinator of master's degrees at Blanquerna-URL FPCEE. Couple and Family Research Group (GRPF).

Dr. Carles Pérez-Testor. Doctor of Medicine and Surgery. Specialist in psychiatry. URL professor. Psychotherapist of the FVB-URL Couple and Family Unit. Head Researcher of the Couple and Family Research Group (GRPF).

Dr. Iolanda de Ascenzo. Graduate in Psychiatry. Family therapist. Teaching supervisor at the FEAP and FEATF, School of Family Therapy, Psychotherapy Unit, at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau.

Dr. Núria Farriols. PhD in Psychology. Clinical psychologist at Mataró Hospital (Maresme Health Consortium). Psychotherapist. URL full professor.

Francisco Javier Barón. Graduate in Psychiatry. Family therapist. Associate professor at the Blanquerna-URL FPCEE.

Dr. Lourdes Artigas. PhD in Psychology. Psychotherapist. Family therapist. Associate professor at the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences.

Dr. Meritxell Campreciós. PhD in Psychology. Family therapist. Professor at the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences.

Dr. Cristina Günther. PhD in Psychology. Psychotherapist. Family therapist. Associate professor at the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences.

Dr. Clara Mateu. PhD in Psychology. Psychotherapist. Family therapist. Associate professor at the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences.

Dr. José Antonio Castillo. PhD in Psychology. Psychologist specializing in clinical psychology. Full Professor of the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences.

Dr. Marc Ferrer. PhD in Psychiatry, Degree in Medicine and Surgery, specializing in psychiatry. Consultant Psychiatrist at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (HUVH). Associate professor at the Department of Psychiatry of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Adjunct professor of the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences.

Dr. Natàlia Calvo. PhD in Psychology. Assistant clinical psychologist at the Psychiatry service at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (HUVH). Associate professor at the Department of Psychology of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Adjunct professor at the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences.

Dr. Álvaro Frías. PhD in Psychology. Clinical psychologist at Mataró Hospital (Maresme Health Consortium). Associate professor of the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences.

Dr. Maria José Pubill. PhD in Psychology. Clinical psychologist. Family therapist. Adjunct professor for master's and postgraduate programs at the University of Girona (UdG) and the University of Barcelona (UB). Adjunct professor at the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences.

Dr. Teresa Pretel. PhD in Psychology. Psychotherapist specialized in Family Therapy. Associate professor and member of the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences Communication and Health (COMSAL) research group.

Dr. Mariona Roca. PhD in Psychology. Psychotherapist specialized in Family Therapy. Collaborator and member of the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences Couple and Family (GRPF) research group.

Lic. Clara Andrés. PhD Candidate in Psychology. Psychotherapist. Associate professor at the University of Barcelona (UB) and Open University of Catalonia (UOC). Member of the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences Communication and Health (COMSAL) research group.

Lic. Judith Lorente. PhD Candidate in Psychology. Psychotherapist at the Vidal i Barraquer psychological medical center. Member of the Blanquerna-URL School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences Couple and Family (GRPF) research group.

Dr. Jessica Navarro. PhD in Psychology. Specializing in personality disorders and eating disorders. General health psychologist at the Personality Disorders and Eating Disorders Unit ITA PREVI, and head of the Ita Campus. Adjunct professor at private universities. Accredited by Behavioral Tech (Linehan Institute) for the application of Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Dr. Mercedes Jorquera. PhD in Psychology. Specializing in personality disorders and eating disorders. Director of the ITA PREVI Valencia hospitalization unit. Associate professor at the Valencia Catholic University Saint Vincent Martyr and collaborator in postgraduate and master's programs at various Spanish universities. Accredited by Behavioral Tech (Linehan Institute) for the application of Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Dr. Cristina Borra. PhD in Psychology from the University of Valencia; sexologist and couples therapist, specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and the practical application of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), the treatment of choice for personality disorders. Director of the ITA PREVI VALENCIA HD center.

Laura García. ITA psychologist, specialized in complex trauma, dissociation, post-traumatic stress, and personality disorders.

Dr. Esteve Montasell. Doctor and clinical and forensic neuropsychologist. Coordinator of Neuropsychology of ITA Mental Health. Head of Innovation and SAE (School Counseling Service). Accredited as an Expert in Clinical Neuropsychology by the General Council of Psychology of Spain. Specialist in Intervention and Diagnosis of Eating Disorders (UB) and in Forensic Psychology. Accredited European Psychotherapist (Europsy). Accredited for use of the ADOS-2 and the ADI-r interview for the diagnosis of ASD. Collaborating teacher in different master's and postgraduate programs at different universities.

Lic. Juan Pablo Muñoz. ITA psychologist, specialist in Social Cognitive Therapy, more than twenty years of experience as a clinician and fifteen years in the treatment of patients with Eating Disorders and Personality Disorders at individual, group and family level.

Lic. Ángel Ramón Ruiz. Medical graduate, specializing in family medicine and psychiatry. Over the course of 25 years, he has worked in different areas such as Crisis Intervention Units, Specialized Addictions Centers, Hospitalization Units for Behavioral Disorders in adolescents and Neurodevelopmental Units. In recent years, he has been working at ITA PREVI in Valencia, in the full hospitalization unit for Personality and Eating Disorders, as well as at ITA-Godella in a full hospitalization unit for general psychiatry specializing in chronic cases.

Lic. Antoni Grau. Psychologist. Clinical director of Korian Spain. Member of the Board of Directors of the AETCA. Member of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Cluster. Member of the Academy of Eating Disorders.

Lic. Ana Rodríguez. Psychologist and family therapist. Assistant to the clinical director of ITA. Director of the COPC Behavioral Disorders Working Group.

Lic. Javier López. Psychologist and psychotherapist at the inpatient unit of USMA Alcalá. Expert in clinical practice. Master's degree in systemic therapy with a psychodramatic approach.

Lic. Daniel Navarro. Psychologist. Head of the technical area of ​​Grup 5. Professor of the master's degree in Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Community Mental Health at Jaume I University, in Castelló.

Lic. Francesca Rubio. PhD in clinical and health-related psychology. Coordinator of the Hospitalization Unit for Eating Disorders ITA Previ in Valencia. Specializing in Personality Disorders, certification in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Basic training in Systemic Family Therapy. Teacher at Valencia International University (VIU).

The admission process for the school's own degree studies is developed in 3 stages:

1. Pre-enrollment
2. Admission
3. Enrollment

For any doubts or queries about the pre-enrollment or enrollment process, please contact the School's Student Information and Orientation Service
[email protected]

Since 1998, Ita has been dedicated to the treatment, prevention, and research of mental disorders, quickly becoming a leading authority in the treatment of eating disorders, behavioral disorders, and personality disorders (PD). With Ita's growth and evolution, along with the progressive addition of centers and specialized teams across various pathologies and regions in Spain, the Ita Group was established.

The care network includes 50 facilities, comprising hospitals, day hospitals, and outpatient clinics. While these centers are primarily located across Spain, Ita is expanding internationally, particularly in Latin America. In the past year, approximately 200 students from across Spain have trained with us and joined our job placement pool.
We have an interdisciplinary and specialized team (including psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, nutritionists, neuropsychologists, social educators, and occupational therapists) that adapts to each patient’s needs, providing effective solutions for even the most complex cases. During your training period with us, you will become part of an interdisciplinary team where each professional works in coordination with other specialties involved in the treatment. We want you to gain insight into the activities of each discipline, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of a truly complex disorder. The program includes 150 hours of practical training, which will take place at one of Ita's centers. Specifically, internships will be offered in Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville.