Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy is an approach to the treatment of psychological problems that do not usually respond to brief therapy. Jeffrey Young has been developing schema therapy for over 25 years in the USA where it is widely used.  It is an integrative therapy that draws on cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT), psychodynamic and relational therapies, and experiential and expressive therapies. Schema therapy is also widely used in Europe, particularly in Holland, Germany, the UK and the Scandinavian countries.

International Society of Schema Therapy
Jeffrey Young’s website  offers a lot of online resources
An interview with Jeffrey Young with Eckhard Roediger, current ISST President

The use of schema therapy in Holland was promoted by research on the treatment of borderline personality disorder, a condition that has been found to be very difficult to treat. Two research trials demonstrated that schema therapy is an effective treatment borderline personality disorder (Giesen-Bloo et al., 2006) and research is ongoing in extending the schema therapy model to a wide range of psychological problems. A 2014 study has shown Schema Therapy to be significantly more effective than two major alternative approaches to the treatment of a broad range of personality disorders. Schema Therapy resulted in a higher rate of recovery, greater declines in depression, greater increases in general and social functioning and had a lower drop out rate (Bamelis, Evers, Spinhoven & Arntz, 2014). See the article abstract

The Dutch clinicians and researchers have also contributed to our understanding of the process of rescripting childhood memories (Arntz & Weertman, 1999; Weertman & Arntz, 2007), how to work with schema modes (Lobbestael et al., 2007 & 2008), and how to extend schema therapy to offenders in forensic settings (Bernstein, Arntz and de Vos, 2007).

In the USA, an eight month group therapy program based on schema therapy has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of borderline personality disorder (Farrell, Shaw & Webber, 2009) and this research has led to the development of comprehensive treatment programs that integrate individual and group schema therapy.

What are early maladaptive schemas?

Each slide below shows three of the 18 EMSs that we are concerned with in schema therapy.  Might this play a role in your life or the life of your clients?

Online videos and podcasts

The ISST’s Youtube library now has over 20 clips and interviews on topics such as: The unique features of schema therapy (George Lockwood), working the avoidant patients (Arnoud Arntz), reparenting a psychopath (David Bernstein), Schema therapy for couples (Travis Atkinson, Eckhard Roediger, and Wendy Behary), group schema therapy (Joan Farrell and Ida Shaw), schemas in bipolar disorder (Lisa Hawke) and how to make training in schema therapy more effective (Arnoud Arntz).

Round table discussion between Jeff Young (Schema therapy), Allan Fruzzetti (DBT) and Frank Yeomans (Transference focused therapy), showing the differences in theory and central concepts relevant to the treatment of borderline personality disorder.

Arnoud Arntz on ST for borderline personality disorder (In Dutch)

Hear podcasts and see videos on Wendy Behary’s website

Schema therapy for couples (ST-C)

Schema therapy is regularly used with couples.  Training and certification has recently been introduced by the ISST and a new book will be published in July 2015.

See also;

• The website of Travis Atkinson who has been using the schema therapy approach for couples therapy in New York for many years.
• Article on Schema therapy for couples to download from Wisconsin Family Growth & Reconciliation Center.
• Article on schema therapy for couples in Oprah Magazine