Schema Therapy
Schema therapy is an innovative psychotherapy developed by Dr. Jeffrey Young for personality disorders, chronic depression, and other difficult individual and couples problems.Schema therapy (also called schema-focused therapy) is an integrative approach based on cognitive therapy, behaviour therapy or skills-based techniques along with object relations and gestalt approaches. These are blended into one unified, systematic approach to treatment.
It directly targets deeper aspects of emotion, personality and schemas (fundamental ways of categorizing and reacting to the world). The treatment also focuses on the relationship with the therapist (including a process of "limited re-parenting"), daily life outside of therapy, and traumatic childhood experiences. It was developed by Jeffrey Young and became established in the 1990s. Limited recent research suggests that it is significantly more effective than transference-focused psychotherapy, with half of individuals with borderline personality disorder assessed as having achieved full recovery after four years, with two thirds showing clinically significant improvement.
Schema therapy has recently been blended with mindfulness meditation for clients who want to add a spiritual dimension to their lives.
