Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy

Schema therapy is currently one of the most effective and pragmatic methods of therapy for unhealthy personality traits that can contribute to the development of e.g., depression. In schema therapy, the therapist uses methods of cognitive behavioral therapy together with other elements of psychodynamic concepts and other proven therapies e.g., transactional analysis, hypnotherapy and gestalt therapy.

Patients benefit enormously and over a short period of time. Schema therapy assumes that behaviors were acquired in childhood and that these childhood-built schemes, i.e., behaviors, which can include memories, emotions, cognitions and physical sensations can negatively influence behavior throughout life.

A so-called maladaptive scheme is often caused by adverse childhood experiences that are based on the violation of basic human needs such as attention or protection. These traumatic experiences or the experience of the non-fulfillment of essential needs by early caregivers are particularly important.

This pattern of unhealthy behavior can in some cases be stress-producing, resulting in burnout - for example, by the overemphasis on performance, accuracy and reliability. By identifying the schemes, the unhealthy behavior can be positively influenced.

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