Schema therapy is a newer type of therapy that combines elements of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis, attachment theory, and emotion-focused therapy, among others.

It’s an integrative approach which can be used for a large range of mental health issues, however it has been found to be particularly useful to treat personality disorders and other mental health concerns that don’t always respond to other treatment options. It can be particularly useful for treating borderline personality disorder.

 

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.

 

Schemas or ‘negative life beliefs’ can lead to low self-esteem, lack of connection to others, problems expressing feelings and emotions and excessive worrying about basic safety issues. The beliefs can also create strong attraction to inappropriate partners and lead to dissatisfying careers.

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The goals of Schema Therapy are to address unmet needs and to help people break unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving, to develop healthier alternatives to replace them.