Do you have clients who fear rejection and abandonment, hold internal rigid standards, lack a solid sense of identity, are excessively focused on the needs of others?
Schema Therapy provides an integrative model that is especially helpful for clients who demonstrate entrenched, long-standing, unhelpful interpersonal beliefs and/or behaviours. Any person who is wishing to break free from painful habitual patterns of interacting will benefit from considering the 18 early maladaptive schemas developed by Jeffrey Young in Schema Therapy.
Schema Therapy describes 5 main schema domains: Disconnection and Rejection, Impaired Autonomy and Performance, Impaired Limits, Other-Directedness and Overvigilance and Inhibition. Jeffrey Young theorises that early maladaptive interactional patterns emerge when childhood emotional needs are not met creating deficiencies in the development of:
-a solid sense of safety and connection
- a sense of competence and autonomy
- ability to set appropriate limits for oneself
- the ability to express one's emotions meeting one's needs
- and freedom to have fun and enjoy spontaneity.
The following handouts cover each schema domain and detail the 18 early maladaptive schemas of:
- Abandonment/Instability
- Emotional Deprivation
- Defectiveness
- Mistrust and Abuse
- Social Isolation/Alienation
- Dependence/Incompetence
- Vulnerability to Harm or Illness
- Enmeshment/Underdeveloped Self
- Failure
- Entitlement/Grandiosity
- Insufficient Self-control/Self-Discipline
- Subjugation
- Self-Sacrifice
- Approval/Recognition Seeking
- Negativity/Pessimism
- Emotional Inhibition
- Unrelenting Standards/Hypercriticalness
- Punitiveness
Each schema is briefly outlined with possible treatment objectives. In addition, common coping strategies for each schema is highlighted, including behaviours of surrender, avoidance and overcompensation with the aim of helping clients identify possible areas requiring attention. Finally, worksheets (for home or in the therapy session) are included to promote self-awareness and begin the process of behavioural change.
The worksheet prompts clients to consider what triggers their schema/s, what emotions result, how it makes them think in situations and how they react. In addition, the client is prompted to explore what the childhood origins of this schema may be; when did they feel this way as a child; is this a familiar feeling? Once we truly understand the origins of our pain, we can begin to unpack our responses and understand why we developed habitual (and often unconscious) interpersonal patterns. Schemas are trying to protect ourselves from old wounds where our emotional needs were not met. This provides a safe space to discuss alternative ways of interacting and seek to meet our emotional needs with non-judgment and understanding.
This product consists of 8 x full-colour A4 Notepads (each with 25 sheets).
Help your clients consolidate important therapy gains by taking home engaging, colourful visual prompts. Great for on the fridge, in one's handbag or on the bedside table. Encourage your clients to consider behaviours and emotional reactions between therapy sessions. Clients love our resources, and you will too!
If you would like more on Schema Therapy, check-out our Schema Therapy Tool Kit which provides a step-by-step guide to Schema Therapy.