For whom is Schema Focused Therapy suitable?
Everyone has a certain way of looking at himself, the other and the world around him. When
this leads to long-term fixed patterns of feeling, thinking and acting you can speak of a
schema. Most people have multiple schemas, which can change from time to time. For
example, because of the schema Unrelenting Standards you can constantly believe that
everything always has to improve and that other people also have to adhere to your high
standards and values. This can mean that you are never satisfied with what you have
achieved and that in your eyes, other people regularly do something wrong, which can lead
to irritation back and forth. When one or more schemas are triggered, you can enter a
certain state of mind (mode). A mode is characterized by certain intense emotions and
certain behaviors. The schemas that are targeted in therapy are enduring and self-defeating
patterns that typically begin early in life (during childhood and adolescence). Schemas
develop in response to our needs not being met (needs such as safety, love, emotional
connection and attention) and are usually repeated throughout our lives within our
relationships as adults. Schemas interfere with us getting our emotional needs met as adults.
They can often lead to difficulties interacting and forming connections with other people, as
well as a general sense of dissatisfaction with life. If our emotional needs remain unmet
within our relationships, it is virtually impossible to develop a sense of well-being or
happiness in life. Schema Focused Therapy can be a good therapy for you when you have not
been able to deal with your schemas and modes for a long time and because of this you
have problems with relationships, your work or study and you have complaints that keep
coming back. In Schema Focused Therapy you can work together with your therapist to identify and explore the origins of your schemas. After understanding why your schemas have developed, the emphasis is on working towards healing the
schemas. The aim of Schema Focused Therapy is to truly shift the way a person feels about
him- or herselves and others, not just to change the way they think.