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Schema Therapy
Schema therapy is aimed at breaking ingrained patterns that are no longer serving you. It can be used for personality disorders and depressive disorders. Psychologists within iPractice use elements of schema-focused therapy to work with you to recognize and break through existing dysfunctional patterns. You can read all about schema-focused therapy here.
What is schema therapy?
In schema therapy, you learn how your behaviors and patterns were created. You learn to recognize, accept and meet your emotional needs in a helpful way. During treatment, the influence of childhood experiences on your thinking and acting is explored. You learn to recognize your patterns and change them in such a way that you will think differently, feel better and do things differently. You learn to feel what your needs are and you learn to deal with them in a healthier way. This will enable you to better direct your life and improve your relationships with others.
How do you develop unhelpful schemas?
Most schemas develop during childhood. They arise because your basic needs aren’t adequately met as a child. This causes frustration and psychological symptoms. A child’s basic needs include:
- Safety;
- Connection;
- Self-expression;
- Play and spontaneity;
- Self-esteem;
- Autonomy;
- Reasonable boundaries.
A child’s basic needs might not be met due to violence, abuse, mistreatment, bullying, or a lack of love. Too much or too little attention is also harmful: In other words, a lack of care and attention is harmful, but so is being overprotective of a child.
How does schema therapy work?
During schema-focused therapy, a psychologist tries to give you back a piece of what you missed out on as a child. This is done in a warm and understanding manner. In this way, the therapist tries to work with you to repair the schema.In addition, schema therapy uses a variety of different techniques. These are all aimed at giving you insight into your emotional needs and feelings. And to ultimately break your unhelpful patterns.
Here are some examples of these therapeutic techniques:
- Chair work: This a role-playing game involving two chairs. One chair represents the part of you caught up in a schema and the other is how a healthy adult would think
- Re-experiencing: Here you’ll relive painful moments and traumas through a role play, for example
- Empathetic confrontation: Your therapist works through why your ’traps’ or unhelpful schemas keep coming up in an understanding manner. But at the same time, they also confront you with the fact that you need to break your patterns.
- EMDR: EMDR is not a standard part of schema therapy, but it can supplement schema therapy. Using EMDR, your therapist helps you to rewrite your past, imagining an alternative scenario where your needs are met.
Schemas and schema modes
Your schemas cause you to switch into a particular mode: A particular version of yourself. Schemas are the way you view yourself, others, and the world around you. A schema incorporates, memories, beliefs, physical sensations, and emotions. A schema arises as a result of:
- Experiences in childhood
- Temperament
- Degree to which your basic needs are met
Positive experiences create schemas that are useful to you. They help you to progress through life. If you were lacking something during your childhood, dysfunctional schemas can develop.
Modes are temporary states of mind activated by your current schemas. A dysfunctional schema leads to a mode that doesn’t serve you.
For example, take a negative belief that you have about yourself. This negative belief is a dysfunctional schema. The belief causes you to have unpleasant thoughts and feelings about yourself. These thoughts and feelings are modes.
⮕ Read more about the different schemas and schema modes.
Is schema therapy right for me?
Schema therapy is used in a variety of cases, including:
- Personality disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Eating disorders
Find a schema therapist
Do you want to know if schematherapy suits your needs? Together with a psychologist you will discuss whether elements of schema therapy are suitable for your symptoms. You will be helped with an appropriate and expert treatment.
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At iPractice, you will work with 2 psychologists. Treatment consists of both online contact and regular consultation room sessions at one of iPractice’s locations. Or find more information about the intake and treatment process at iPractice.
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The cost of treatment is covered by most health insurance companies with a referral letter from the primary care physician and an official diagnosis according to DSM-5 guidelines.
FAQ
Does iPractice offer full schema therapy?
No. At iPractice, we use elements of schema therapy, but we don’t provide full schema therapy as offered in specialized mental health care (GGZ). We apply it in ways that support your progress.
How do I know if schemas are holding me back?
If you keep falling into the same painful patterns — like withdrawing, putting yourself last, or excessive people-pleasing — schemas may be playing a role. Together, we’ll map this out.
Do I have to revisit my childhood in this therapy?
We do look at where certain beliefs originated, but always with the focus on: how do they affect you now? You don’t need to dissect your entire past to create meaningful change.
Psychologists specialized in Schema Therapy
Get help from a Schema Therapy psychologist
Contact one of our psychologists today without obligation. You can talk about feelings and symptoms. In addition, you will receive information about a suitable treatment that suits you.
- Reimbursed healthcare with a rating of 9+
- Direct help without long waiting times
- Free, no-obligation treatment advice