What is Schema Therapy? How To Find A Therapist Online or Near Me?

Schema therapy is a psychotherapy that aids those individuals who would not benefit from other types of therapy. The therapy enables people with harmful thoughts and behavior patterns to identify and challenge these ideas, also known as schemas or live traps, to feel better and contribute to society. 

For those individuals who are unsure about Schema therapy, this guide will help them understand it better and also help them find a therapist online or near you.

To support the work of the people working on TherapyHunter.com, we may receive compensation if you sign up for online counseling through the links provided.

Price Comparison for schema therapy online or in-person

Schema therapy is a well-known type of psychotherapy that incorporates various perspectives  and philosophies into sessions. The in-person therapy costs between $70 to $150 for a single session.

However, higher-educated professionals may charge more, with psychiatric and psychological services being more expensive than counseling services and social work. Many people may find it quite difficult to afford the regular price of a Schema in-person therapy session or the services. 

Therefore, many individuals opt for online therapy platforms such as BetterHelp. Online therapy with BetterHelp costs range from $60 to $90 per week. Unlike in-person therapy, you will be able to receive therapy virtually from the comfort of your safe space.

What is Schema Therapy?

Dr. Jeffrey Young started developing schema therapy in the middle of the 1980s after seeing that certain people responded better to cognitive behavioral therapy than others, especially those with persistent characterological issues. 

Moreover, he merged ideas from Gestalt, constructivism, psychoanalytic technique, and object relations into a single modality that emphasized the unique advantages of each approach.

Schema therapy is based on the idea that an individual’s early maladaptive schema, also known as EMS or simply schema, has the ability to impact their life negatively. 

Early infancy and adolescence are when schemas are formed by significant life experiences, and they continue to grow and be reinforced throughout adulthood.

Schema therapy can assist people in recognizing the mental health disorders’ underlying and sustaining thinking and behavior patterns. The therapy builds on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) by exploring emotions, unhelpful coping mechanisms, and the root causes of mental health issues.

To support the work of the people working on TherapyHunter.com, we may receive compensation if you sign up for online counseling through the links provided.

What Does Schema Therapy Treat?

Schema therapy is a therapeutic approach created based on CBT and incorporating elements of numerous therapies to treat and resolve persistent psychological difficulties. 

The therapy may help those who have not responded well to conventional therapies by discovering new information about the origins of their issues and how they interact with present stresses. Studies on schema therapy reveal that it addresses the following issues:

• Anxiety
• Drug Abuse
• Depression
• Eating Disorder
• Trauma-Related Stress
• Criminal activity
• Problems in Relationships
• Issues Associated To Personality

Schema therapy has also been demonstrated to be particularly beneficial in treating borderline personality disorder. According to a study, people receiving treatment for borderline personality disorder dropped out of schema therapy at a lower rate than other forms of therapy.

On the other hand, when a kid’s basic needs for love, affection, shelter, direction, and safety are not addressed, the child may grow up with deficits in their capacity to satisfy such needs both on their own and via good interactions with others. 

Schema therapy is predicated on the idea that these negative childhood experiences lead to the formation of early maladaptive schemas. These unhelpful interpretations of life events and other people’s actions, or maladaptive schemas, can later cause problems in a person’s life.

These problems include toxic relationships, poor judgment, lack of social maturity, unhealthy decisions, destructive behavior patterns, and feelings of self-doubt.

What to Expect from the Therapy?

To have a meaningful life and relationships, schema therapy primarily focuses on identifying key schemas and how they may have contributed to the negative patterns that are now present in your life. 

Furthermore, Schema therapy primarily targets basic concepts, including abandonment, defectiveness, distrust, emotional suffocation, and social isolation.

Schema therapy is a long-term intervention. Therefore, it may be used for as long as you need it. Assessment, modification, and breaking behavioral patterns are typically the three processes. Depending on the person, they will endure for varying lengths of time. 

During this first stage, your counselor will get to know you and learn about your unique schemas, including their origin, appearance, and effects. Several methods, such as imagery work and surveys, are utilized to facilitate this process. 

Role-playing and imagery work is frequently used in the transformation phase to assist you in getting past your schemas. As this stage progresses, the emphasis switches to supporting positive transformation. 

The focus of your therapy will shift toward behavioral modifications and pattern-breaking as it nears its conclusion. After that, you will get ready to conclude your therapy. This preparation may differ depending on your counselor and how they prefer to work.

How to Find A Schema Therapist Online or Near Me?

Finding a therapist with whom you feel comfortable requires thorough research, even if many therapists are available. It may be difficult for those looking for therapists who directly offer schema therapy to find them through conventional channels.

Following are the ways you can find a Schema therapist.

Online Platforms

Online therapy with BetterHelp may be a great choice for those who are concerned about their mental health and want to keep their budget intact.

The majority of therapists use a variety of approaches, such as CBT, and person-centered therapy. More than 21,000 qualified therapists are available for quick and inexpensive online treatment through BetterHelp.

Fill out a short form to get matched with the best therapist. Through your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can access BetterHelp. Google Play and the Apple App Store both provide mobile apps for BetterHelp.

Directories

Find a qualified therapist who is trained in or specialized in the kind of treatment you desire using the directories. You can look for a therapist by specialization, accessibility, and cost.

Once you find a therapist you can contact them over the phone if they are familiar with Schema therapy for your problems and whether they apply them in their daily practices.

Verify the therapist’s experience in addressing your concerns by asking them questions. Some therapists have areas of expertise, such as working with adults, families, or children. The issues that worry you may be something that some people have a lot of experience with. 

Ask Your Family or Friends

Another option of finding a therapist is to ask a family member, friend, coworker, or doctor you trust for a recommendation. A recommendation from a friend, family member, doctor, or coworker is a great place to start.

However, it is crucial to understand that you can have different needs and goals from the individual suggesting your treatment. 

Conclusion

When patients do not react to or relapse after trying other therapies, schema therapy is utilized. It successfully treats anxiety disorders, depression, personality disorders, and relationship problems. 

Schema therapy can also aid in transforming maladaptive or unfavorable patterns of behavior that people acquire as children into beneficial ones. 

At BetterHelp, there are therapists, counselors, and psychologists that are highly skilled and available to work with you right away on a variety of devices.

To start counseling from the convenience of your home and personal device, you need to get in touch to be paired with a licensed mental health professional.