Re:Critiques of Schema Therapy

I am pretty new to schema focussed therapy but I would like to say that it found me not the other way. I have been working with adult survivors of sexual abuse for about two years. I started as a student with no previous counselling hours. Although counselling helped some of the clients, there was often some really difficult situations with clients and the normal run of therapy just didn't work. It is only later through further reading, learning and counselling experience that it became apparent that many of the clients had personality disorders.

Since reading about the disorders and working with a cbt framework which very lightly touched on schemas, I became aware of how these schemas, and schema modes and behaviours started to make sense of those really difficult clients. I am hoping to write my dissertation using a multiple case study method using three clients, one with avoidant behaviour, one with overcompensation and one with surrender coping strategies.

My first case study is related to bipolar disorder which soon became evident that it was the client's unrelented stardards/worthlessness schema -v- his overcompensation entitlement schema, interacting in a pattern of behaviour which was very similar to bipolar disorder.

Insight, understanding, new coping strategies, and ideas from 'reinventing your life' have really helped this client who has been able to stabalise his moods without medication. I am not in any way saying that this would be the case for other clients but this worked for this one.

Replies:

Re comments about Schema Therapy, by Jim Pretzer, 07/22/03 Schema Therapy & Bipolar Disorder, by Jeff Young, 07/24/03 New book on schema therapy, by Jeff Young, 07/24/03

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