Schema Therapy

Schema therapy is currently one of the most effective and pragmatic methods of therapy for potentially unhealthy personality traits that can contribute to the development of depression, for example. In schema therapy, the therapist uses methods of cognitive behavioral therapy together with psychodynamic concepts and other proven methods e.g., transaction analysis, hypnotherapy and gestalt therapy.

Patients benefit enormously and in a short period of time. Schema therapy assumes that we aquire certain patterns, or schemas, in our childhood and throughout our lives. These schemas contain memories, emotions, cognition and physical sensations, and can potentially negatively impact our behavior. These schemas can for example be activated through current stressors, and can manifest through different modes (personality aspects and manners of behavior, see image below).

So-called “maladaptive schemas” are often caused by adverse childhood experiences that are based on the violation of basic human needs, for example a lack of attention and protection by early caregivers.

In certain cases, these behavioral patterns can, in combination with an extreme emphasis on achievements, perfectionism and reliability for example, be so stress-inducing that they result in a burnout. By recognizing these schemas, we can positively alter this unhealthy behavior.