Schema Focused Therapy

Schema-Focused Therapy has been shown to be effective where a person’s difficulties are complex and enduring. It probes more deeply into early life experiences than standard CBT, and draws on cognitive, behavioural and psychoanalytic techniques.

The premise of this approach is that people with more complex problems have one or more early maladaptive schemas. These schemas are patterns a person plays out in connection with themselves as well as others, which were first developed during childhood and elaborated on throughout a person’s lifetime. These schemas are dysfunctional to a significant degree.

The focus of the work is on addressing these schemas, by developing insight as well as new behaviours and practical skills.