Schema Therapy is an integrative approach, so it blends different approaches like psychodynamic and emotion-focussed approaches together. The aim of this therapy is to uncover schemas which are unhelpful patterns that have developed because you didn’t get certain needs met as a child.

The aim of schema therapy is to help you develop healthier coping strategies and behaviours to rid yourself of these problematic patterns.

For example if you are constantly trying to make sure that those around you are looked after and happy, you may ignore your own needs and over time this can lead to anger and resentment. This type of self-sacrificial pattern may be linked to earlier experiences where you needed to make others happy so they would love or praise you. Schema Therapy helps you to identify these patterns and learn new ways of maintaining the relationships in your life without you sacrificing what’s important to you.