Skip to main content

Schema Therapy

What is Schema Therapy?

Schema therapy seeks to address long-standing emotional and behavioral patterns, which may be the root cause of personality disorders or longstanding interpersonal difficulties. In schema therapy, your psychologist will work with you to identify these schemas and help you develop new ways of thinking and behaving that promote emotional well-being. Schema therapy is often long term and requires more investment in the therapeutic relationship that traditional forms of therapy such as CBT. This is an essential part of the process and drives the transformational change as it pertains to meeting unmet needs and correcting maladaptive coping responses.

Ready to engage in Schema Therapy?

Here's what the road-map loooks like

1

Book in a session

Suggest the idea of Schema Therapy and your psychologist will discuss the process and if it is appropriate for your presenting problems.
2

Take the Assessment

A Questionaire and follow-up assessment session will then be booked to identify what schemas you have.
3

Awareness and Psychoeducation

Build awareness by understanding the developmental origins of your schemas and how they play out in your current life
4

Experiential Techniques

Beyond awareness of your schemas and maladaptive coping patterns, there are a range of experiential techniques that can be used to help address the developmental origins of your schemas
5

Maintenance and change

Once therapeutic milestones are met (e.g., improvements in coping resposnes), the sessions are spaced out more infrequently and maintenance of healthy behaviours is monitored.

Frequently asked questions

Why Schema Therapy?

Schema therapy may be more appropriate for pervasive conditions such as personality disorders, trauma, and cases of anxiety and depression where CBT has not been effective

How many sessions are typically needed for change?

Every case is different, however, clients typically gain awareness around the 10th session and see lasting change around the 20th session. Schema therapy is designed as a long term therapy and may not be appropriate for those looking for a quick fix.

Can I engage in Schema Therapy if my condition does not fit with the above?

Yes. There is a lot of value in understanding what your schemas are and how that contribute to the maintenance of coping responses.

Book an appointment