Schema Therapy
Understanding the deeper patterns that keep you stuck
Many people come to therapy feeling frustrated that they keep experiencing the same struggles despite their best efforts to change.
They may find themselves caught in familiar relationship patterns, struggling with self-criticism, feeling emotionally overwhelmed, or reacting in ways that don’t fully make sense to them. Often, they understand logically what they would like to do differently, but something continues to pull them back into the same cycles.
Schema Therapy is one of the approaches I use to help people understand the deeper patterns that may be contributing to these experiences.
Where do these patterns come from?
The theory behind Schema Therapy is that we all develop “schemas”, mostly in early life, to help us cope with painful or unmet emotional experiences.
Trauma, neglect, inconsistent caregiving, bullying, or difficult relationships can all shape the way we see ourselves, others, and the world around us.
Importantly, we do not need to have experienced a traumatic childhood to develop schemas. Sometimes there is simply a disconnect between what we needed emotionally and the way we were parented. Over time, these experiences can influence the beliefs we develop about ourselves, our relationships, and our place in the world.
Many of these beliefs operate outside of our awareness until they begin creating difficulties in adulthood.
How schemas can affect your life
When someone has experienced trauma or significant emotional challenges, they may carry long-standing beliefs such as “I’m not safe”, “I’m not good enough”, or “I’ll always be abandoned”.
Even when life circumstances change, these beliefs can continue to affect emotions, behaviours, and relationships.
When there are attachment-related difficulties, people may find themselves feeling as though nobody understands them, that their emotions are too much, or that they constantly need to protect themselves from rejection, criticism, or disappointment.
Schema Therapy helps bring awareness to these patterns and gently explores where they began.
Creating new ways of relating to yourself
In my work, I aim to create a safe, supportive, and compassionate space where clients can better understand their emotional responses and needs.
Schema Therapy combines practical strategies with deeper emotional work, helping people not only recognise unhealthy patterns but also begin to change them.
This may involve learning healthier ways to cope, developing self-compassion, strengthening boundaries, and building more secure and fulfilling relationships.
For many people, understanding where their patterns came from can reduce shame and create a greater sense of self-understanding. Rather than judging themselves for struggling, they begin to see that many of their responses developed for understandable reasons.
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Schema Therapy and trauma
I find that Schema Therapy works particularly well alongside EMDR therapy when there is a trauma history, even if that trauma is more attachment-related and not clearly visible initially.
Together, these approaches can help people understand the patterns that developed through difficult experiences while also processing the underlying memories and emotional experiences that continue to influence them.
Schema Therapy can be particularly helpful for people who feel they have been struggling with the same issues for many years despite trying other forms of therapy.
It is often effective for trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, low self-worth, and complex emotional experiences.
My goal is to help clients feel more empowered, emotionally connected, and able to respond to themselves with greater understanding and care. Healing takes time, but meaningful and lasting change is possible with the right support.