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WhoDevelopedSchemaTherapy?

Dr.JeffreyYoung,PhD,developedSchemaTherapyandopenedthefirstSchemaTherapyInstitutein
NewYorkoutofhisworkatColumbiaUniversity.Dr.YoungservesonthefacultyoftheDepartmentof
PsychiatryatColumbiaUniversity.HeisalsoDirectorofboththeCognitiveTherapyCentreofNewYork
andtheSchemaTherapyInstitute.HeisaFoundingFellowoftheAcademyofCognitiveTherapy,and
founderoftheInternationalSocietyforSchemaTherapy.DrYounghaspublishedextensively,including
SchemaTherapy:APractitionersGuide,formentalhealthprofessionals,andReinventingYourLife,a
bestsellingselfhelpbook.Hehaspresentedworkshopsinternationallyforover20yearsandin2003
hewasawardedtheprestigiousNEEIMentalHealthEducatoroftheYearawardforhisexceptional
teachingskills.
DrYoungoriginallyworkedwithDrAaronBeck(founderofCognitivetherapy)asaCognitiveTherapist.
WhileworkingwithclientsattheCentreforCognitiveTherapyattheUniversityofPennsylvania,Dr
Youngandhiscolleaguesfoundthatsomeclientswithcertaincharacteristicsincommondidnotbenefit
asmuchfromthestandardapproach.Theseclientstypicallyhadlongstanding,selfdefeatingpatterns
orthemesinthinkingandfeeling(andconsequentlyinbehavingorcoping)thatrequiredadifferent
meansofintervention.Dr.Youngsattentionturnedtowaysofhelpinghisclientstoaddressand
modifythesedeeperpatternsorthemes,alsoknownasschemasorlifetraps.
TheseSchemasorpatternsconsistofnegative/dysfunctionalthoughtsandfeelingswhichdevelopearly
inlifeasaresultoftheneedforconnection,autonomy,playandspontaneity,limitsandassertionnot
beingadequatelymet.Thenegativepatternsarerepeatedandelaborateduponthroughoutapersons
life,andposeobstaclesforaccomplishingonesgoalsandgettingonesneedsmet.
Someexamplesofschemabeliefsare:Imunlovable,Imafailure,Peopledontcareaboutme,
Imnotimportant,Somethingbadisgoingtohappen,Peoplewillleaveme,Iwillnevergetmy
needsmet,Iwillneverbegoodenough,etc

Theseschemasareperpetuatedbehaviourallythroughthecopingstylesofschemamaintenance,
schemaavoidance,andschemacompensation.ThesecopingmechanismsareknowninSchema
therapyasSchemamodes(seelistbelow).Schemamodesarethemomenttomomentemotional
statesandcopingresponsesthatweallexperience.Oftenourcopingmodesaretriggeredbysituations
towhichweareoversensitive.Manyofthesemodesleadustooverreacttosituationsortoactinways
whichenduphurtingourselvesorothers.

QuickSelfTestforSchemas

ThegoalsofSchemaTherapy
SchemaTherapyisdesignedtoaddressunmetneedsandtohelpclientsbreakthesepatternsof
thinking,feelingandbehaving,whichareoftentenacious,andtodevelophealthieralternativesto
replacethem.
SchemaFocusedTherapyhasshownremarkableresultsinhelpingpeopletochangepatternswhich
theyhavelivedwithforalongtime,evenwhenothermethodsandeffortstheyhavetriedbeforehave
beenunsuccessful.

ListofSchemas
EmotionalDeprivation:Thebeliefandexpectationthatyourprimaryneedswillneverbemet.The
sensethatnoonewillnurture,carefor,guide,protectorempathisewithyou.
Abandonment:Thebeliefandexpectationthatotherswillleave,thatothersareunreliable,that
relationshipsarefragile,thatlossisinevitableandthatyouwillultimatelyendupalone.
Mistrust/Abuse:Thebeliefthatothersareabusive,manipulative,selfish,orlookingtohurtoruse
youandarenottobetrusted.
Defectiveness:Thebeliefthatyouareflawed,damagedorunlovableandyouwillthereforebe
rejected.
SocialIsolation:Thepervasivesenseofaloneness,coupledwithafeelingofalienation.
Vulnerability:Thesensethattheworldisadangerousplace,thatdisastercanhappenatanytime
andthatyouwillbeoverwhelmedbythechallengesthatlieahead.
Dependence/Incompetence:Thebeliefthatyouareunabletomakeyourowndecisions,thatyour
judgmentisquestionable,andthatyouneedtorelyonotherstohelpgetyouthroughdaytoday
responsibilities.
Enmeshment/UndevelopedSelf:Thesensethatyoudonothaveanidentityorindividuatedself
thatisseparatefromoneormoresignificantothers.
Failure:Theexpectationthatyouwillfailorthebeliefthatyoucannotperformwellenough.
Subjugation:Thebeliefthatyoumustsubmittothecontrolofothersorelsepunishmentorrejection

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Subjugation:Thebeliefthatyoumustsubmittothecontrolofothersorelsepunishmentorrejection
willbeforthcoming.
SelfSacrifice:Thebeliefthatyoushouldvoluntarilygiveupyourownneedsforthesakeofothers,
usuallytoapointwhichisexcessive.
ApprovalSeeking/RecognitionSeeking:Thesensethatapproval,attentionandrecognitionarefar
moreimportantthangenuineselfexpressionandbeingtruetooneself.
EmotionalInhibition:Thebeliefthatyoumustcontrolyourselfexpressionorotherswillrejector
criticiseyou.
Negativity/Pessimism:Thepervasivebeliefthatthenegativeaspectsoflifeoutweighthepositive,
alongwithnegativeexpectationsforthefuture.
UnrelentingStandards:Thebeliefthatyouneedtobethebest,alwaysstrivingforperfectionorthat
youmustavoidmistakes.
Punitiveness:Thebeliefthatpeopleshouldbeharshlypunishedfortheirmistakesorshortcomings.
Entitlement/Grandiosity:Thesensethatyouarespecialormoreimportantthanothers,andthat
youdonothavetofollowtheruleslikeotherpeopleeventhoughitmayhaveanegativeeffecton
others.Alsocanmanifestinanexaggeratedfocusonsuperiorityforthepurposeofhavingpoweror
control.
InsufficientSelfControl/SelfDiscipline:Thesensethatyoucannotaccomplishyourgoals,
especiallyiftheprocesscontainsboring,repetitive,orfrustratingaspects.Also,thatyoucannotresist
actinguponimpulsesthatleadtodetrimentalresults.

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,impatientbecausethecore
emotional(orphysical)needsofthevulnerablechildarenotbeingmet.
Impulsive/UndisciplinedChild:actsonnoncoredesiresorimpulsesinaselfishoruncontrolled
mannertogethisorherownwayandoftenhasdifficultydelayingshorttermgratification
oftenfeelsintenselyangry,enraged,infuriated,frustrated,impatientwhenthesenoncore
desiresorimpulsescannotbemet.mayappearspoiled.
HappyChild:feelsloved,contented,connected,satisfied,fulfilled,protected,accepted,praised,
worthwhile,nurtured,guided,understood,validated,selfconfident,competent,appropriately
autonomousorselfreliant,safe,resilient,strong,incontrol,adaptable,included,optimistic,
spontaneous
MaladaptiveCopingModes
CompliantSurrenderer:actsinapassive,subservient,submissive,approvalseeking,orself
deprecatingwayaroundothersoutoffearofconflictorrejectiontoleratesabuseand/orbad
treatmentdoesnotexpresshealthyneedsordesirestoothersselectspeopleorengagesin
otherbehaviourthatdirectlymaintainstheselfdefeatingschemadrivenpattern.
DetachedProtector:cutsoffneedsandfeelingsdetachesemotionallyfrompeopleandrejects
theirhelpfeelswithdrawn,spacey,distracted,disconnected,depersonalised,emptyorbored
pursuesdistracting,selfsoothingorselfstimulatingactivitiesinacompulsivewayortoexcess
mayadoptacynical,alooforpessimisticstancetoavoidinvestinginpeopleoractivities.
Overcompensator:feelsandbehavesinaninordinatelygrandiose,aggressive,dominant,
competitive,arrogant,haughty,condescending,devaluing,overcontrolled,controlling,
rebellious,manipulative,exploitative,attentionseekingorstatusseekingway.Thesefeelings
orbehavioursmustoriginallyhavedevelopedtocompensatefororgratifyunmetcoreneeds.
MaladaptiveParentModes
PunitiveParent:feelsthatoneselforothersdeservespunishmentorblameandoftenactson
thesefeelingsbybeingblaming,punishing,orabusivetowardsself(e.g.,selfmutilation)or
others.Thismodereferstothestylewithwhichrulesareenforcedratherthanthenatureof
therules.
DemandingParent:feelsthattherightwaytobeistobeperfectorachieveataveryhigh
level,tokeepeverythinginorder,tostriveforhighstatus,tobehumble,toputsothersneeds
beforeone'sownortobeefficientoravoidwastingtimeorthepersonfeelsthatitiswrongto
expressfeelingsortoactspontaneously.Thismodereferstothenatureoftheinternalised
highstandardsandstrictrules,ratherthanthestylewithwhichtheserulesareenforced
HealthyAdultMode
HealthyAdult:nurtures,validatesandaffirmsthevulnerablechildmodesetslimitsforthe
angryandimpulsivechildmodespromotesandsupportsthehealthychildmodecombatsand
eventuallyreplacesthemaladaptivecopingmodesneutralisesormoderatesthemaladaptive
parentmodes.Thismodealsoperformsappropriateadultfunctionssuchasworking,
parenting,takingresponsibility,andcommittingpursuespleasurableadultactivitiessuchas
sex,intellectual,esthetic,andculturalinterestshealthmaintenanceandathleticactivities.
Reference:"AClient'sGuidetoSchemaFocusedCognitiveTherapy"byDavidC.Bricker,Ph.D.and
JeffreyE.Young,Ph.D.,CognitiveTherapyCenterofNewYork.1993

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