Schema Therapy Prahran

Schema therapy is an integrative, evidence based therapy which can be used to aid with a range of presentations. It is grounded in neurophysiology, and is focused around early life development, attachments, and childhood needs.

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Schema therapy is defined as a long-term therapy, as it emphasises understanding, conceptualisation and the therapeutic relationship between client and clinician. It integrates attachment-based frameworks, cognitive interventions, behavioural work and experiential techniques. It can also integrate other therapeutic approaches.

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Schema therapy was developed off of traditional cognitive models, which tended to miss important emotional aspects of presentations. Therefore schema therapy can be helpful to address chronic patterns, relational difficulties and trauma responses. Schema therapy focuses on early life experiences, emotional needs and relational patterns, which differs it from pure cognitive and behavioural interventions.

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Schema therapy is helpful for those who:

• have tried other therapies, but find the same patterns resurface

• experience difficulty with emotion regulation

• have long standing or chronic conditions

• feel stuck in patterns they don't quite understand

• experience ongoing relationship difficulties

• have experienced adverse childhood experiences or complex trauma

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What happens in Schema therapy?

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At Slo, a schema therapy episode of care may look like: 

• assessment (in sessions and through questionnaires) aimed at eliciting behavioural patterns, emotional needs which were met and unmet, core schemas and coping modes

• Linking between origins of challenges and presenting problems

• Use of the therapeutic relationship to aid with relational patterns

• Use of experiential techniques 

• Interventions which include cognitive work, behavioural work, communication training, and skills to aid with emotion regulation 

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Schema therapy is trauma-informed, collaborative, and centred around you and your needs.