Anyone Done Schema Therapy?

[BloomInWinter]

Before I could identify that I was shutting down, my therapist could observe me for the signs of it. She told me that as a trauma therapist part of her job is making sure I wouldn't be re-traumatized again by the telling, because then I'd be at risk of overwhelming my coping skills and it would affect my functioning out it the real world in a negative way.

This is where non-trauma trained therapists end up doing more harm to trauma patients. They would keep going, unlocking too much too fast, and not help the patient learn how to modulate their distress in the therapy room. My Cognitive-Behavioral-Therapist (CBT) therapist did this to me a few times before we figured out what was happening. I'm glad he did seek help from the trauma therapist in his practice to learn how to not do that.

With my new trauma therapist, it's taken a year for her to help me identify when something is "too much" for me, and practice grounding skills to ensure I don't get pushed out of the window of tolerance. They don't stop us because it's unimportant. They stop us so we can be safe from further harm.

 

[fly away home]

Thanks Bloom in Winter, this makes sense as today she said that we wont even try to stop the dissociation as its something that I need very much, its the only coping mechanism I have until medication and mindfulness start to work for me. Off to Psychiatrist again in a couple of weeks to hopefully get the medication side of things sorted. As for mindfulness its just going to take a whole lot of commitment. I feel ready for this though. This last session was the first session I walked out of feeling better than when I walked in. Definitely a light and fluffy one! Didn't even find myself stuttering at reception afterwards looking for my card.

With my new trauma therapist, it's taken a year for her to help me identify when something is "too much" for me, and practice grounding skills to ensure I don't get pushed out of the window of tolerance. They don't stop us because it's unimportant. They stop us so we can be safe from further harm.

I cannot for the life of me identify what 'too much' is just yet so its a learning curve, my T seems to have a much firmer grasp on where I'm 'at' than I, myself do. I guess this is what we pay them for!

And by the way, it's Jeffry Young - I knew it would come back to me. He is the founder of schema therapy and an excellent clinician (from what I've heard) and a very empathic and intuitive author.

Finally the book arrived, Maddog. My T says to read slowly. Put it down if it gets too much and write/record which bit made the anxiety worse. I am also to record what might cause peaks in anxiety throughout the day and try to identify what set this off. These peaks often result in dissociation so much thinking about myself is going to turn me into a naval gazing neurotic mess...oh hang on, isn't that why I'm going to therapy in the first place!?!?!?

 

[fatfunkster]

Hi, while I was searching for schema therapy this forum came up. I'm a qualified schema therapist and I can testify to its effectiveness. However there are many people in the UK who claim to be able to do schema therapy, but aren't actually trained. Those that are will be registered on the International schema therapy society (ISST) - I'd advise you to check your psychologist's credentials - I really think that those that are practising such an in depth, possibly re-traumatising therapy (albeit extremely effective if done correctly) shouldn't be doing it without going through the very rigorous training. Private message me if you want me to assist in anyway. I'd hate for you to be doing something that could be harmful to you.

 

[Karina<3Tea]

Hi everyone, I found this forum looking for answers until my next secession with my T. I just started schema therapy and when I google information and if it will change my personality, I pull up treatments for personality disorders. My question is, will schema therapy change my personality and who I am? I feel that my Myer-Briggs personality type is closely tied to my maladaptive behaviors. Will I not want to peruse my career choice anymore because I'm not feeding the schema? Are these legitimate questions, or are these questions playing into my schema already? (Catch 22)

 

[fly away home]

Hello. Well this is interesting and way more insightful than I was at the beginning of the schema journey!

I have to be honest. I am changing. But I feel it is for the better. My career choice is not changing I am still passionate about what I do but I would say I have clearer vision now and better ways of dealing with situations that I would have found impossible before.

Where the change has come, is in my relationship. A place where I believed I was safe is now becoming obvious that it's emotionally abusive. I am no longer happy with being subjugated. I am not going to repeat this pattern for my daughter.

I have so many schemas that I still feel like I'm at the beginning. The process can be hard it is sometimes brutal if you are willing to be honest about your responses to life. It can feel tacky at times. I still question my psychologists commitment to me and her concern. Honestly she gets paid! But the reparenting bit is hard to accept. I must try to remember we haven't touched on mistrust and abuse schema yet. Perhaps I will believe her efforts are genuine once we have tackled that.

Will it change who you are? I am just trying to find out who I am. I would suggest it will make you think about who you are. I don't think it's changed my personality though. So hard to tell.

Good luck with schema, I don't have anything to compare it to but it has helped me take leaps where I never knew I needed to and I am glad of that.

If anything this therapy will open your eyes.