What does schema therapy consist of?
Repetitive patterns in life are known as schemas, among which we find defectiveness, abandonment, emotional deprivation and mistrust/abuse, among others.
These are patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that develop early in life. Essentially schemas determine how we think, relate and behave with others, and trigger powerful emotions such as anger, anxiety and suspicion.
Therapy aims to determine patients’ schemas and their internal coping strategies (avoidance leading to substance abuse) and maladaptive coping styles (angry child mode) are employed to help deal with strong emotions.
For example, techniques employed after the assessment period include cognitive/behavioral strategies such as flash cards and outline journaling; experiential strategies include imagery and dialectical work; patient-therapist relationship with the use of limited reparenting, safe place and empathic confrontation.
For what types of disorders is it indicated?
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Substance abuse.
- Couples therapy.
- Personality disorder (Cluster B, in particular narcissistic and borderline personality disorder, and Cluster C, dependent PD, anxious-avoidant PD).
What benefits does it offer to the patient?
Schema therapy offers a structured logical process by which the patient’s self-awareness and confidence is fostered, due to the systematic nature of linking their childhood experience with their current emotional hyper/hyper reactivity.
There are a growing number of studies in the scientific literature indicating that schema therapy for borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder is more effective than other types of therapy.
How long does the therapy last?
In less complex or simple cases it can last between three and six months, with more complex cases; such as personality disorder, it can last approximately two years.
Alternatives to schema therapy?
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy depression, anxiety, OCD.
- Dialectical behavioral Therapy Personality Disorder.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for depression, anxiety or OCD.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy for personality disorder.
For more information about schema therapy, contact Dr. Steven Joseph Hunyi, MD.