Schema therapy is an approach to therapy which focuses on unhelpful patterns of behaviour, thoughts and emotions which develop in childhood and continue into adult life.

Schema therapy was created to help with issues that have been resistant to previous treatment and have been present since childhood or adolescence. It is based on the premise that we develop ways of understanding or interacting with the world as a result of our early life experiences, and that these continue to impact on the way we view the world as adults.

Because some individuals’ early life experiences are difficult and they may have had needs that went unmet, this can lead to maladaptive or unhelpful patterns. Schema therapy aims to uncover or to understand these patterns, to understand why these are present and to develop new patterns. It combines cognitive and experiential techniques and focuses on developing better relationships both with oneself and with others.

What sort of issues does Schema Therapy help with?

Schema therapy is helpful for any issue that is ongoing and originating in childhood and adolescence, including:

• depression
• low self-esteem
• relationship problems
• intimacy problems
• emotion regulation difficulties
• personality disorders.

Schema Therapy is aimed at both adolescents and adults and can be especially helpful where other forms of treatment have not previously been successful.

How Seed Psychology can help

Seed Psychology has a number of psychologists trained in providing Schema Therapy. Our driving focus is to help you improve your wellbeing and quality of life.

Written by Dr Alex Potter, Clinical Psychologist at Seed Psychology.