Beyond Familiar Patterns: Personal Transformation with Schema Therapy
Perhaps you notice yourself returning to similar situations even when you intend to choose differently. Sometimes it happens in relationships; sometimes it involves very high expectations of yourself. Noticing this can be the beginning of a question, without needing an answer straight away.
What do we mean by a pattern?
In Schema Therapy, schemas are enduring themes about yourself and relationships, while modes describe moment-to-moment emotional states and responses. These are concepts for understanding, rather than labels you need to assign to yourself.
A conversation can begin with one example: a recent situation, how you felt, and what you needed at the time. You do not have to reconstruct your whole story before requesting an appointment.
Room for your own story
You can bring questions, uncertainty, or difficulty finding the words. How you describe your experience can remain open and change as you talk.
If you want to explore this approach, an initial conversation can help clarify what you are looking for and whether it is suitable. An article or a form cannot make that decision in place of an individual assessment.
Further reading: ISST — Schema Therapy: Central Concepts