Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy, developed by Jeffrey Young in the 1990s, is a talk therapy that combines elements of cognitive behavioural therapy, gestalt therapy, attachment theory, and emotion-focused therapy. A schema is a pattern of behaviours or thoughts that is developed early in the life span which we continue to apply in adulthood that may be helpful or unhelpful. The goal of schema therapy is to identify and understand early maladaptive schemas – self-defeating patterns that often arise when core emotional needs are not met in the childhood.
These schemas can trigger maladaptive coping modes, leading individuals to act in a ways that end up hurting themselves or the needs of others. Schemas or negative life beliefs can lead to low self-esteem, lack of connection to others, problems expressing feelings and emotions, substance use, chronic depression, personality related issues, and excessive worrying about basic safety issues.
Schema Therapy was specifically designed for individuals who have not benefited from other therapies. It is a in depth and intensive long-term psychotherapy.

Schema therapy found benefit for range of issues:

• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem/self-worth
• Chronic depression
• Eating disorders
• Personality-related conditions
• Post Traumatic Stress
• Relationship issues
• Substance abuse

Schema therapy enables changes in clients who feel hopeless about their self-destructive patterns, because these problematic behaviours may seem so entrenched that they appear to be part of their very identity.