Schema therapy was developed by Jeffrey Young for deep, long-standing patterns. A "schema" is a deep-rooted belief and feeling about yourself and others, such as "I am not enough" or "people will eventually leave me", which usually grows from childhood needs that were not met.
These patterns quietly repeat in adulthood: in choosing partners, in dealing with a boss, in reacting to criticism. Schema therapy helps you recognise them, understand where they come from and gradually find healthier ways to meet your needs.
Something else may fit better if…
Work usually starts by identifying schemas, sometimes through conversation and sometimes with specialised questionnaires. Your therapist then helps you notice "modes": states such as the hurt child, the harsh inner critic or a protective part that switches feelings off.
Schema therapy combines cognitive, behavioural and experiential techniques. A well-known one is imagery rescripting, where you revisit a hard memory with your therapist and imagine it again, this time with the need that went unmet being met. Chair work and dialogue between different parts are also common.
The therapy relationship itself is a tool: within professional boundaries, the therapist offers warmth and consistency that may have been missing in the past.
Online schema therapy sessions usually last 50 to 60 minutes and often happen weekly. Part of each session is conversation and part is emotional work that can sometimes feel heavy; your therapist adjusts the pace with you.
Because it works with long-held patterns, it is often longer than short-term therapies and may last from several months to more than a year.
Examples are fictional and illustrative.
Leila noticed almost all her relationships had been with emotionally distant people. In schema therapy she discovered an "emotional deprivation" schema that had formed in a busy, overstretched childhood home. Knowing the pattern helped her see her choices more consciously. This example is fictional.
Bahram was a successful engineer in Canada but blamed himself every night for the smallest mistake. His therapist helped him see the inner critic's voice as separate from himself and talk back to it. Gradually he could speak to himself more kindly. This story is made up.
Whenever friends were slow to reply, Azadeh became sure they no longer liked her. In sessions she traced this fear to early separations in childhood and practised expressing her needs more directly. This example is fictional.
These therapists list this on their profile. All sessions are online and in Persian.
No, and not all at once. The past is explored as far as it helps make sense of today's patterns, and you decide how much and when you are ready.
Schema therapy grew out of CBT but goes deeper into long-standing patterns, childhood and emotions, using more experiential techniques. It is usually longer too.
Sometimes, because old feelings are involved. Your therapist takes care that sessions end with a sense of calm and safety.
Yes. Techniques such as imagery rescripting and mode work can be done over video, as long as you have a quiet, private space.
This page is general information and does not replace a professional assessment. If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact your local emergency services. Urgent help
