Schema Therapy

A schema is a deep unconditional belief about ourselves, our relationships, or the wider environment, or an organised pattern or behaviour. They often form when our basic emotional needs are not met. Schema therapy was developed to tackle more complex psychological disorders and is a unified approach that combines methods of cognitive, behavioural, gestalt and object relations therapy. 

What are the 5 schemas?

1. Connection
2. Mutuality
3. Reciprocity
4. Flow
5. Autonomy

To deal with these schemas we often develop coping mechanisms and behaviours that are problematic or harmful, and can actually serve to reinforce them. These mechanisms usually fall into one of three categories: surrender, avoidance and overcompensation. 

With an abandonment schema, for example, we could beg our partners not to leave us (surrender), avoid getting in relationships altogether (avoidance), or push partners away with possessive or controlling behaviours (overcompensate). 

Schema therapy aims to teach us how to ensure our emotional needs are met in a way that is not problematic.

What are the three elements of schema therapy?

There are three main types of clinical interventions employed in schema therapy. They are:

• Interpersonal
• Cognitive
• Emotions focused and behavioural

How can schema therapy help?

With the help of a psychologist, schema therapy can help us to identify our schemas and coping mechanisms, positively change our feelings and behaviours, and identify how our emotional needs can be met in a healthy way.