What is Schema Therapy?

Schemas are core beliefs developed as a result of our early experiences. They have a long-standing impact on how we see others, ourselves, and the world. Schemas activate in times of stress and while false, feel true. A person may feel they will always be abandoned, are defective, or will face inevitable catastrophe, even if they know logically this is false. These beliefs feel core to us because they activate painful feelings, negative body sensations and unpleasant memories.

 

To cope with these unpleasant states, many engage in survival coping mechanisms such as avoidance, overthinking or people-pleasing. This usually makes things worse in the long run because survival mechanisms do not satiate our core psychological need to feel connected, competent, or emotionally safe.

 

The aim of Schema Therapy is to constructively satiate psychological needs, break self-defeating patterns and better manage painful feelings, not merely change thinking.

 

Schema Therapy Resources for Clients

 

Podcasts

The Good Mood Clinic Podcast

www.goodmood.com.au
E5: What are core emotional needs
E7: What exactly is a schema?
A psychology and schema therapy podcast by Drs Gemma Gladstone and Justine Corry from Sydney, Australia. Focusing on topics including schema chemistry, dating, narcissism, breaking relationship patterns, reparenting your inner child, abandonment and the inner critic. This podcast is suitable for therapists and clients in schema therapy.

 

What’s the Schemata Podcast

www.schematherapytraining.com
Hosted by Chris Hayes and Rob Brockman who are both schema therapy supervisor-trainers based in Australia. Interviews with schema therapy experts and discussions about the application of schema therapy for schema therapists.

 

Self Help Books

Breaking Negative Thinking Patterns - Gitta Jacob et al.
A schema therapy self-help and resource book which explains the mode approach
to schema therapy and provides examples and exercises to help you work on your relationship with yourself and others.
 
Reinventing your Life - Jeff Young & Janet Klosko
This very accessible self-help book looks at 11 schema based 'life traps' which underlie emotional and relationship difficulties.

 

Videos

What is schema therapy? A video explaining some of the elements of schema therapy. 

 

Seven Minute Schemas & Modes
Video discussions with Ruth Holt and Rita Younan about each schema and mode https://www.schematherapycanberra.com.au

Websites

www.attachmentproject.com
Detailed descriptions of the different attachment styles. 

 

www.schematherapyonline.com
Small video clips of each schema