Schema (psychology) - Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy

Schema therapy was founded by Jeffrey Young, and represents a development of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) specifically for treating personality disorders. The therapy blends CBT with elements of Gestalt, object relations, constructivist and psychoanalytical therapies in order to treat the characterological difficulties which both constitute personality disorders and which underlie many of the chronic depressive or anxiety-involving symptoms which present in the clinic. CBT, Young felt, may be an effective treatment for presenting symptoms, but without the conceptual or clinical resources for tackling the underlying structures (maladaptive schemas) which consistently organise the patient's experience, the patient is likely to lapse back into unhelpful modes of relating to others and attempting to meet their needs. Early Maladaptive Schemas are described by Young as: broad and pervasive themes or patterns; made up of memories, feelings, sensations, and thoughts; regarding oneself and one's relationships with others; developing during childhood or adolescence; elaborated throughout life; and dysfunctional in that they lead to self-defeating behaviour. Examples include schemas of abandonment/instability, mistrust/abuse, emotional deprivation, and defectiveness/shame.