Schema Therapy

Schema therapy was developed for those people with more chronic conditions, such as personality disorders and long term depression, and for those who have not responded to CBT or repeatedly relapsed after treatment with CBT. Schema therapy draws on a range of existing therapies such as cognitive therapy, behavioural therapy, gestalt therapy, and psychoanalytic therapy. 'Schemas' are long- standing patterns of emotions, sensations, beliefs, and expectations regarding oneself, other people, or the world in general. Examples of problem schemas are abandonment, mistrust or abuse, defectiveness, or failure. Problematic schemas are thought to develop early in life through repeated negative experiences and lead to negative patterns of self defeating behaviours. Schema therapy involves identifying problem schemas, working on understanding the underlying belief and emotional system supporting the schema, spotting how schemas are effecting your current life, and making active and positive changes in thinking, emotions, and behaviours. Treatment strategies include thought monitoring, challenging negative thinking patterns, gradually changing unhelpful behaviours, emotive techniques to deal with difficult emotions, imagery, and interpersonal techniques. Schema therapy is likely to be a longer-term therapy choice compared to CBT or ACT, as very long standing patterns such as schemas often take some time to change