Schema Therapy is an integrative approach to treatment that combines the best aspects of cognitive-behavioural, experiential, interpersonal and psychoanalytic therapies into one unified model. Schema Therapy has shown remarkable results in helping people to change long-standing unhelpful deeper patterns or themes in thinking, feeling and behaving/coping, even when other methods and efforts they have tried before have been largely unsuccessful.
The schemas that are targeted in treatment are enduring and self-defeating patterns that typically begin early in life. These patterns consist of negative/dysfunctional thoughts and feelings, have been repeated and elaborated upon, and pose obstacles for accomplishing one’s goals and getting one’s needs met. Some examples of schema beliefs are: “I’m unlovable,” “I’m a failure,” “People don’t care about me,” “I’m not important,” “Something bad is going to happen,” “People will leave me,” “I will never get my needs met,” “I will never be good enough,” and so on.
Although schemas are usually developed early in life (during childhood or adolescence), they can also form later, in adulthood. These schemas are maintained behaviourally through the coping styles of schema maintenance, schema avoidance and schema compensation. The Schema-Focused model of treatment is designed to help the person to break these negative patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving, which are often very tenacious, and to develop healthier alternatives to replace them.
Initially in Schema Therapy an assessment takes place to identify which schemas are present. Questionnaires may be used to help get a clearer picture of various patterns involved. Becoming aware in the moment, engaging in experiential work and being able to identify which schemas are being triggered follows. This allows for change in negative thoughts & behaviours with new healthy ways of thinking and behaving the goal.
A typical Schema Therapy session is approximately 50 minutes. A course of Schema Therapy varies in length depending on need.
Schema Therapy has been found to be helpful in:
Schema Therapy is used in the treatment of:
Schema therapy is especially helpful in treating chronic depression and anxiety and relationship difficulties.
50 minutes starting from £105.00
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