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WhoDevelopedSchemaTherapy?
Dr.JeffreyYoung,PhD,developedSchemaTherapyandopenedthefirstSchemaTherapyInstituteinNewYorkoutofhisworkatColumbiaUniversity.Dr.YoungservesonthefacultyoftheDepartmentofPsychiatryatColumbiaUniversity.HeisalsoDirectorofboththeCognitiveTherapyCentreofNewYorkandtheSchemaTherapyInstitute.HeisaFoundingFellowoftheAcademyofCognitiveTherapy,andfounderoftheInternationalSocietyforSchemaTherapy.DrYounghaspublishedextensively,includingSchemaTherapy:APractitionersGuide,formentalhealthprofessionals,andReinventingYourLife,abestsellingselfhelpbook.Hehaspresentedworkshopsinternationallyforover20yearsandin2003hewasawardedtheprestigiousNEEIMentalHealthEducatoroftheYearawardforhisexceptionalteachingskills.
DrYoungoriginallyworkedwithDrAaronBeck(founderofCognitivetherapy)asaCognitiveTherapist.WhileworkingwithclientsattheCentreforCognitiveTherapyattheUniversityofPennsylvania,DrYoungandhiscolleaguesfoundthatsomeclientswithcertaincharacteristicsincommondidnotbenefitasmuchfromthestandardapproach.Theseclientstypicallyhadlongstanding,selfdefeatingpatternsorthemesinthinkingandfeeling(andconsequentlyinbehavingorcoping)thatrequiredadifferentmeansofintervention.Dr.Youngsattentionturnedtowaysofhelpinghisclientstoaddressandmodifythesedeeperpatternsorthemes,alsoknownasschemasorlifetraps.
TheseSchemasorpatternsconsistofnegative/dysfunctionalthoughtsandfeelingswhichdevelopearlyinlifeasaresultoftheneedforconnection,autonomy,playandspontaneity,limitsandassertionnotbeingadequatelymet.Thenegativepatternsarerepeatedandelaborateduponthroughoutapersonslife,andposeobstaclesforaccomplishingonesgoalsandgettingonesneedsmet.
Someexamplesofschemabeliefsare:Imunlovable,Imafailure,Peopledontcareaboutme,Imnotimportant,Somethingbadisgoingtohappen,Peoplewillleaveme,Iwillnevergetmyneedsmet,Iwillneverbegoodenough,etc
Theseschemasareperpetuatedbehaviourallythroughthecopingstylesofschemamaintenance,schemaavoidance,andschemacompensation.ThesecopingmechanismsareknowninSchematherapyasSchemamodes(seelistbelow).Schemamodesarethemomenttomomentemotionalstatesandcopingresponsesthatweallexperience.Oftenourcopingmodesaretriggeredbysituationstowhichweareoversensitive.Manyofthesemodesleadustooverreacttosituationsortoactinwayswhichenduphurtingourselvesorothers.
ThegoalsofSchemaTherapy
SchemaTherapyisdesignedtoaddressunmetneedsandtohelpclientsbreakthesepatternsofthinking,feelingandbehaving,whichareoftentenacious,andtodevelophealthieralternativestoreplacethem.
SchemaFocusedTherapyhasshownremarkableresultsinhelpingpeopletochangepatternswhichtheyhavelivedwithforalongtime,evenwhenothermethodsandeffortstheyhavetriedbeforehavebeenunsuccessful.
ListofSchemas
EmotionalDeprivation:Thebeliefandexpectationthatyourprimaryneedswillneverbemet.Thesensethatnoonewillnurture,carefor,guide,protectorempathisewithyou.
Abandonment:Thebeliefandexpectationthatotherswillleave,thatothersareunreliable,thatrelationshipsarefragile,thatlossisinevitableandthatyouwillultimatelyendupalone.
Mistrust/Abuse:Thebeliefthatothersareabusive,manipulative,selfish,orlookingtohurtoruseyouandarenottobetrusted.
Defectiveness:Thebeliefthatyouareflawed,damagedorunlovableandyouwillthereforeberejected.
SocialIsolation:Thepervasivesenseofaloneness,coupledwithafeelingofalienation.
Vulnerability:Thesensethattheworldisadangerousplace,thatdisastercanhappenatanytimeandthatyouwillbeoverwhelmedbythechallengesthatlieahead.
Dependence/Incompetence:Thebeliefthatyouareunabletomakeyourowndecisions,thatyourjudgmentisquestionable,andthatyouneedtorelyonotherstohelpgetyouthroughdaytodayresponsibilities.
Enmeshment/UndevelopedSelf:Thesensethatyoudonothaveanidentityorindividuatedselfthatisseparatefromoneormoresignificantothers.
Failure:Theexpectationthatyouwillfailorthebeliefthatyoucannotperformwellenough.
Subjugation:Thebeliefthatyoumustsubmittothecontrolofothersorelsepunishmentorrejection
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Subjugation:Thebeliefthatyoumustsubmittothecontrolofothersorelsepunishmentorrejectionwillbeforthcoming.
SelfSacrifice:Thebeliefthatyoushouldvoluntarilygiveupyourownneedsforthesakeofothers,usuallytoapointwhichisexcessive.
ApprovalSeeking/RecognitionSeeking:Thesensethatapproval,attentionandrecognitionarefarmoreimportantthangenuineselfexpressionandbeingtruetooneself.
EmotionalInhibition:Thebeliefthatyoumustcontrolyourselfexpressionorotherswillrejectorcriticiseyou.
Negativity/Pessimism:Thepervasivebeliefthatthenegativeaspectsoflifeoutweighthepositive,alongwithnegativeexpectationsforthefuture.
UnrelentingStandards:Thebeliefthatyouneedtobethebest,alwaysstrivingforperfectionorthatyoumustavoidmistakes.
Punitiveness:Thebeliefthatpeopleshouldbeharshlypunishedfortheirmistakesorshortcomings.
Entitlement/Grandiosity:Thesensethatyouarespecialormoreimportantthanothers,andthatyoudonothavetofollowtheruleslikeotherpeopleeventhoughitmayhaveanegativeeffectonothers.Alsocanmanifestinanexaggeratedfocusonsuperiorityforthepurposeofhavingpowerorcontrol.
InsufficientSelfControl/SelfDiscipline:Thesensethatyoucannotaccomplishyourgoals,especiallyiftheprocesscontainsboring,repetitive,orfrustratingaspects.Also,thatyoucannotresistactinguponimpulsesthatleadtodetrimentalresults.
ListofModes
ChildModes
VulnerableChild:feelslonely,isolated,sad,misunderstood,unsupported,defective,deprived,overwhelmed,incompetent,doubtsself,needy,helpless,hopeless,frightened,anxious,worried,victimised,worthless,unloved,unlovable,lost,directionless,fragile,weak,defeated,oppressed,powerless,leftout,excluded,pessimistic.
AngryChild:feelsintenselyangry,enraged,infuriated,frustrated,impatientbecausethecoreemotional(orphysical)needsofthevulnerablechildarenotbeingmet.
Impulsive/UndisciplinedChild:actsonnoncoredesiresorimpulsesinaselfishoruncontrolledmannertogethisorherownwayandoftenhasdifficultydelayingshorttermgratificationoftenfeelsintenselyangry,enraged,infuriated,frustrated,impatientwhenthesenoncoredesiresorimpulsescannotbemet.mayappearspoiled.
HappyChild:feelsloved,contented,connected,satisfied,fulfilled,protected,accepted,praised,worthwhile,nurtured,guided,understood,validated,selfconfident,competent,appropriatelyautonomousorselfreliant,safe,resilient,strong,incontrol,adaptable,included,optimistic,spontaneous
MaladaptiveCopingModes
CompliantSurrenderer:actsinapassive,subservient,submissive,approvalseeking,orselfdeprecatingwayaroundothersoutoffearofconflictorrejectiontoleratesabuseand/orbadtreatmentdoesnotexpresshealthyneedsordesirestoothersselectspeopleorengagesinotherbehaviourthatdirectlymaintainstheselfdefeatingschemadrivenpattern.
DetachedProtector:cutsoffneedsandfeelingsdetachesemotionallyfrompeopleandrejectstheirhelpfeelswithdrawn,spacey,distracted,disconnected,depersonalised,emptyorboredpursuesdistracting,selfsoothingorselfstimulatingactivitiesinacompulsivewayortoexcessmayadoptacynical,alooforpessimisticstancetoavoidinvestinginpeopleoractivities.
Overcompensator:feelsandbehavesinaninordinatelygrandiose,aggressive,dominant,competitive,arrogant,haughty,condescending,devaluing,overcontrolled,controlling,rebellious,manipulative,exploitative,attentionseekingorstatusseekingway.Thesefeelingsorbehavioursmustoriginallyhavedevelopedtocompensatefororgratifyunmetcoreneeds.
MaladaptiveParentModes
PunitiveParent:feelsthatoneselforothersdeservespunishmentorblameandoftenactsonthesefeelingsbybeingblaming,punishing,orabusivetowardsself(e.g.,selfmutilation)orothers.Thismodereferstothestylewithwhichrulesareenforcedratherthanthenatureoftherules.
DemandingParent:feelsthattherightwaytobeistobeperfectorachieveataveryhighlevel,tokeepeverythinginorder,tostriveforhighstatus,tobehumble,toputsothersneedsbeforeone'sownortobeefficientoravoidwastingtimeorthepersonfeelsthatitiswrongtoexpressfeelingsortoactspontaneously.Thismodereferstothenatureoftheinternalisedhighstandardsandstrictrules,ratherthanthestylewithwhichtheserulesareenforced
HealthyAdultMode
HealthyAdult:nurtures,validatesandaffirmsthevulnerablechildmodesetslimitsfortheangryandimpulsivechildmodespromotesandsupportsthehealthychildmodecombatsandeventuallyreplacesthemaladaptivecopingmodesneutralisesormoderatesthemaladaptiveparentmodes.Thismodealsoperformsappropriateadultfunctionssuchasworking,parenting,takingresponsibility,andcommittingpursuespleasurableadultactivitiessuchassex,intellectual,esthetic,andculturalinterestshealthmaintenanceandathleticactivities.
Reference:"AClient'sGuidetoSchemaFocusedCognitiveTherapy"byDavidC.Bricker,Ph.D.andJeffreyE.Young,Ph.D.,CognitiveTherapyCenterofNewYork.1993
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