Schema Therapy at Kind Mind: What is Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy is a treatment approach developed by psychologist Jeffery E. Young that integrates elements of cognitive-behavioural (CBT), psychodynamic, attachment, and experiential therapies.

Schema Therapy addresses deeply ingrained patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving known as ‘early maladaptive schemas’ or ‘schemas’, which develop in childhood and persist into adulthood.

These schemas, when triggered, affect how we think, feel and act in unhelpful and distressing ways. If untreated, these schemas continue to be triggered, causing recurring episodes of anxiety, depression, and other disorders. There have been 18 schemas identified.

Kind Mind Psychologists are trained and continually trained in Schema Therapy to deliver this therapy to their clients online. This approach is highly effective in treating recurring disorders which have been resistant to other methods of treatment.

How does Schema Therapy differ from other types of therapy?

Schema Therapy has four main elements that differ from other types of therapy they are:

1. Focus on early maladaptive schemas: Schema Therapy targets the underlying core beliefs and schemas that develop in childhood due to unmet emotional needs or traumatic experiences. These beliefs influence how individuals perceive themselves, others, and the world. For instance, if a child grows up feeling inferior to their peers or is compared to a sibling in a negative light, then this child may develop a ‘Failure’ schema, a core belief that they are not as good as others or will never experience success. This schema is the lens this person sees the world through, limiting their ability to reach their goals in life.

2. The use of Limited reparenting: This is a central aspect of Schema Therapy where the therapist becomes a nurturing and empathetic figure to help individuals reprocess unresolved childhood needs and experiences. This vital support and guidance may have been lacking in the client’s early life. This is called ‘limited’ reparenting because the therapist slowly steps out of this role of the nurturer and teaches the client to meet their emotional needs for themselves.

3. Mode-based approach: Modes represent different ‘parts’ of us that may be in conflict as a result of unmet emotional needs. For example, the ‘detached protector’ mode may be activated to protect the vulnerable part that might feel lonely. Instead of meeting their core need to feel connected, the detached protector might avoid their feelings through excessive gaming instead, causing even more disconnection from loved ones.  Schema Therapy helps you to identify, understand and weaken unhelpful coping modes as well as learn ways to strengthen the healthier coping modes to meet any unmet core emotional needs.

4. Emotion-focused techniques: Schema Therapy uses imagery techniques, role playing and chair work to help clients to access and process emotions and memories associated with their schemas. Through validating and reprocessing difficult emotional memories from the past, positive changes are often experienced in a person’s current life. 

How Schema Therapy Works

Therapy focuses on identifying any unmet core emotional needs from childhood stemming from abuse, neglect or traumatic experiences.  Identifying any schemas that may have developed as a result, then identifying the maladaptive coping behaviours that may have developed. 

Once needs, schemas and behaviours are mapped out. Treatment is planned to weaken these schemas and to meet core emotional needs through the use of cognitive, experiential, and limited reparenting strategies.

The Effectiveness of Schema Therapy

Mental Health Disorders Treated by Schema Therapy

• Personality Disorders 

• Anxiety  Disorders

• Major Depressive Disorder and other Mood Disorders

• Eating Disorders

• Perinatal Disorders

• Addiction Disorders

• Anger management difficulties

• OCD

• PTSD

• Relationship difficulties

Research and Evidence Supporting Schema Therapy

Kind Mind Psychology provides only evidence-based therapies to treat their clients. Hence, it is important to have the research to support using Schema Therapy.

There is a growing body of research evidence internationally that supports the use of Schema Therapy to treat a range of difficulties.

For instance, several authors have reported Schema Therapy as an effective treatment for anxiety and mood disorders (Young & Mattila, 2002) (Wang et al. 2010), (Morrison, 2000).  Furthermore, when compared to other treatment modalities, Schema Therapy significantly reduced symptoms of PTSD in war veterans (Cockram et al. 2010).

Schema Therapy Services at Kind Mind

What to Expect in Your Sessions

Initial assessment: In-depth assessment is vital to understanding our client’s issues and this can take up to 3 sessions as well as the completion of questionnaires regarding schemas and childhood.

Sessions are between 45 and 50 minutes in duration and focused on weakening unhelpful coping modes and beliefs that are impacting your current life. Techniques and strategies used in Schema Therapy are cognitive strategies, experiential, and limited reparenting techniques.

Contact us now to find out how schema therapy can help improve your mental health.

Meet Our Therapist

Jodie Marchant - BPsych (Hons.) MAPS

Jodie is an experienced psychologist who has worked in a variety of locations and has helped improve the lives of many people going through difficulties in life or having Mental Health issues. With a warm, compassionate, and client-centred disposition, Jodie is highly experienced in using evidence-based interventions to help people overcome difficulties and heal from their past traumas.