Schema therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that helps individuals address deep-rooted negative patterns and beliefs about themselves and the world. It was developed by Dr Jeffrey E. Young in the 1980s and has become a popular treatment for various mental health conditions.
Schemas are unhelpful beliefs and patterns of thinking, feeling and acting that are formed early in a person’s life and continue to the present day. The beliefs are so deeply held that they are just felt as ‘the way things are’. An example might be the ‘mistrust/abuse’ schema, where the person believes that ‘others will just let you down, you can’t trust anyone’. Another is the ‘unrelenting standards’ schema, believing that one must always strive to be their absolute best and achieve, or else they don’t feel good enough about themselves. These become ways of seeing the world, oneself and other people, and then the person is driven to act in ways associated with the schema. For instance, a person who holds an unrelenting standards schema may push themselves so hard at work and in other areas that they never have time to relax and have fun or procrastinate a lot to avoid all the tasks they feel overwhelmed by.
Schema therapy with a psychologist can help people recognise which schemas and problematic coping styles affect them most, understand the origins and how to make lasting changes.
Schemas are the ‘lenses’ through which individuals view themselves and their world. Schemas or ‘negative life beliefs’ can lead to low self-esteem, relationship issues, and problems expressing feelings and emotions, among other issues. These beliefs can also create strong attraction to inappropriate partners and lead to dissatisfying careers.
There are several types of schemas. Examples include:
Schema therapy helps deal with long, unhelpful, repeating life patterns in which people can become stuck.
Schema therapy often involves helping a person understand the repeating patterns in their life and the origins of these, and then challenging them using discussion, ‘experiential’ techniques such as imagery and chair role-play, and behaviour change strategies, such as learning how to become more assertive, to set limits on work, or to change the way they approach relationships.
Schema therapy can provide several personal benefits for individuals seeking treatment with a trained psychologist. Here are some of the main benefits that individuals can achieve:
Schema therapy is available in Brisbane and is offered by a number of qualified psychologists in private practice.
Schema therapy is delivered through individual counselling sessions and can be tailored to meet your specific needs. Many psychologists in Brisbane who offer Schema therapy also have experience working with a range of evidence-based methods, such as CBT Therapy, ACT Therapy, EMDR Therapy, among others.
You can find a Schema psychologist online and call or send them an online booking request to learn about their experience, fees and availability. You can also ask for a referral from your GP. It is important to ensure that the Schema therapist you choose is well-experienced and trained in Schema therapy.
Young, J.E. & Klosko, J.S. (1993,1994). “Reinventing Your Life”.
