[Crazy Hitch]

Didn't even know such a type of therapy existed.

I was only diagnosed with bpd around 5 weeks ago and referred to a psychologist who I saw today for the first time.

She's great.

I completely thought she was going to do DBT but she said no the type of therapy she is using is Schema Therapy. Never heard such a thing.

Came home and have done some research on this type of therapy makes sense.

Does anyone have any reviews / comments about this therapy if you are familiar with it? Wouldn't mind if you simply commented "Nope never heard of it". (It can't just be me, can it?)

[Rapunzel]

I really like schema therapy and I practice it, in conjunction with DBT actually. DBT gives you skills so that you can tolerate distress and learn how to handle challenging situations. I suggest that my clients go through DBT first, and then once they have the skills they will be in a better position to do well with schema therapy.

Schema therapy goes beyond immediate coping skills and helps you to understand and change lifelong patterns so that you can heal and have a healthier way of living than you did before. We develop those patterns because they were what we needed to do in order to deal with our circumstances earlier in life, but those patterns also keep us stuck because they are not appropriate to new situations and relationships and circumstances, or to the way that we want to live our lives. You have to have compassion for yourself and understand why you do what you do, and then you will be free to make new choices. I feel that schema therapy reaches beyond DBT and allows you to process more of what is at the root of things.

I also think that it is uncommon for people to be aware of schema therapy. It is spreading and catching on, and the ideas behind it draw from many approaches that most people are familiar with. But schema therapy is relatively new.

[allme]

Not heard of it

I've heard about it. Read about it. Attended conferences that had presentations about it. I've heard Jeffery Young speak about it but unfortunately, not in person.
I really like the techniques and philosophy behind this style of therapy. Sadly, not many therapists are trained in the technique across the U.S. Seems to be small pockets of therapists who have been trained but it isn't as widespread as DBT. As already mentioned, DBT teaches the skills needed for self-regulation and social skills and Schema Therapy goes deeper and allows people to make important changes in how they think, act and understand themselves. You're very lucky to have found someone trained in the techniques!

Originally Posted by Hooligan

Didn't even know such a type of therapy existed.

I was only diagnosed with bpd around 5 weeks ago and referred to a psychologist who I saw today for the first time.

She's great.

I completely thought she was going to do DBT but she said no the type of therapy she is using is Schema Therapy. Never heard such a thing.

Came home and have done some research on this type of therapy makes sense.

Does anyone have any reviews / comments about this therapy if you are familiar with it? Wouldn't mind if you simply commented "Nope never heard of it". (It can't just be me, can it?)

Hey, that's interesting. I haven't heard of it I looked it up online, though, and it definitely looks promising.

There's no rule that says DBT is the only (or the best) avenue of hope. I'm sure this will help you. Hope you get the most out of it.

[ifst5]

Yes i've heard of it and read about it - as far as i'm aware schema is more widely available in the general sense though i'm not as aware of it's success rates.

For me, the best kind of therapy for BPD would be mentalization based therapy - it was developed in my country but annoyingly enough isn't widely available. It's not overly conceptualized and deals more with present interaction/communication. I'd recommend anyone give it a go...there are actually loads of therapies for BPD. I had a long list on my computer which seems to have vanished but if i find it i'll post it.

[Crazy Hitch]

Thanks for all the responses. Everyone here is so great and amazing.

I appreciate the feedback and the time you took to respond.

Be well everyone.

[liv4tw]

Id never heard of it. Maybe I'll mention it to my therapist. Thanks!

[Crazy Hitch]

Don't understand this one but my pdoc told me yesterday it's one level above DBT and there aren't that many psychologists here in Aus trained in it .. Think the original developer comes from overseas

[junkDNA]

pretty sure my T does this with me along with other techniques. i fill out a schema questionnaire evry few months and he looks at it and makes graphs to show my improvements. it also shows areas we need to work on. i think a big part of schema therapy is the reparenting aspect. i feel like that is what my T is doing with me.

[Crazy Hitch]

So far I'm enjoying it

Radically different to any other kind of therapy I've had!

[Jordy]

I've tried it a few years ago, but I didn't have any connection with the T and was limited to 10 sessions anyway. After 5 sessions she terminated me because I was "healed"... so it was a bad experience for me, but I think mainly due to that T...

[HD7970GHZ]

I went through Schema therapy in an outpatient clinic. It was the best therapy I could have asked for. I was re-parented in a safe environment. It was very helpful and allowed me access to deeper issues I had been oblivious to. I essentially formed a mother-son bond with my therapist and I still miss her to this day. I can find a sense of comfort in knowing that she is there somewhere inside.

[Crazy Hitch]

I'm beginning to find some of the homework tasks a bit challenging.

There are some aspects of it that are starting to get quite confronting.

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by Jordy

I've tried it a few years ago, but I didn't have any connection with the T and was limited to 10 sessions anyway. After 5 sessions she terminated me because I was "healed"... so it was a bad experience for me, but I think mainly due to that T...

That ... Is .... Ridiculous .... That your T would even come to that conclusion!

I've heard this therapy can take a year to two years, depending on the patient, to complete.

You were "healed". Bollox.

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by HD7970GHZ

I went through Schema therapy in an outpatient clinic. It was the best therapy I could have asked for. I was re-parented in a safe environment. It was very helpful and allowed me access to deeper issues I had been oblivious to. I essentially formed a mother-son bond with my therapist and I still miss her to this day. I can find a sense of comfort in knowing that she is there somewhere inside.

It's these deeper issues - more like demons - that I find confronting.

[HD7970GHZ]

I think you will love Schema Therapy. But what I really mean is - I think Schema therapy CAN be very effective for us Borderlines - but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be for you.

In my case - I cannot remember having much homework specific to Schema - but I did do a lot of CBT classes and group between individual therapy sessions. Perhaps my experience with Schema is confused with learning CBT skills at the same time. Either way - the collaborative nature of these two methods of therapy helped me tremendously.

I will say however; I do wish the therapy lasted for a longer duration. Just as I was getting to the core of my issues - I felt like I had addressed most of it - but certainly not all of it... This particular therapist worked wonders in my life - and unfortunately it was a 30 day, hospital, outpatient day program. It took about a week to, "feel," connected and supported in a nurtured, motherly way. As soon as that happened - it felt right. I just melted in front of her - I fell apart. I worked my butt off in those next three weeks with her - and even had a male psychiatrist that worked with us three days a week to fulfill a more rigid: fatherly role.

It was the combination of these parental roles - and the continued awareness of their function - that made my experience with Schema so effective. Primarily - the relationship with my female therapist was what rewarded me with the most growth, but without the other aspects to the therapy program I was in - I don't think I would have had the support necessary to foster that grow. I don't think I was introduced to a full-on Schema based treatment regimen like you are currently undergoing - considering mine was both intensive and relatively short-term. (Realistically it was about 20 hours of individual therapy)

Three years after I was done this program - I entered it again because my life was in turmoil. My therapist and psychiatrist were the first people I saw walking in the door - and I immediately felt that same parent-child connection that they once offered. At that point in time - I realized their ability as therapists and as genuine, caring, compassionate human beings. They did an amazing job and I was lucky. Ultimately, had my therapy continued with them for another month - I think I wouldn't have relapsed so badly three years later. I think I would have been able to shine light on the, "demons," [as you have alluded to] had I been there a little while longer. This makes me sad. But I know I was lucky to have worked with them at 23 years old.

In a way they saved my life, despite how challenging things still are. I have this inner need to impress them. I really consider them my adoptive parents - the parents I wish I had - and I feel inclined to impress them. I felt like a failure walking back in there and seeing them. Another layer to the story - is I was so motivated to become a therapist upon leaving the first time - that I even promised, "the next time I walk through that door - I will be asking for a job."

I think I'm going to try again.

Stick to the therapy - and give it a chance, that's all I gotta say. It really depends on many factors (as you already know from your previous therapy), but one day it may come as a surprise - that you have more control over object constancy. For me - feeling connected to my therapist in a child-parent way: allowed me to work through that yearning to feel connected when they were not around. It was a balance of everything a set of healthy parents should provide: nurture, understanding, love, genuine compassion, boundaries, obedience - and ultimately: a loving push into the world with a genuine concern for my future...

Question:

You said you feel, "confronted," by the therapy... In what way? What is it that is confronting for you?

What kinds of demons do you feel you have inside of you? Are they trauma's? Things that you know about yourself that you are not proud of? Things you have yet to deal with?

Thanks,
HD7970ghz

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by HD7970GHZ

I think you will love Schema Therapy. But what I really mean is - I think Schema therapy CAN be very effective for us Borderlines - but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be for you.

In my case - I cannot remember having much homework specific to Schema - but I did do a lot of CBT classes and group between individual therapy sessions. Perhaps my experience with Schema is confused with learning CBT skills at the same time. Either way - the collaborative nature of these two methods of therapy helped me tremendously.

I will say however; I do wish the therapy lasted for a longer duration. Just as I was getting to the core of my issues - I felt like I had addressed most of it - but certainly not all of it... This particular therapist worked wonders in my life - and unfortunately it was a 30 day, hospital, outpatient day program. It took about a week to, "feel," connected and supported in a nurtured, motherly way. As soon as that happened - it felt right. I just melted in front of her - I fell apart. I worked my butt off in those next three weeks with her - and even had a male psychiatrist that worked with us three days a week to fulfill a more rigid: fatherly role.

It was the combination of these parental roles - and the continued awareness of their function - that made my experience with Schema so effective. Primarily - the relationship with my female therapist was what rewarded me with the most growth, but without the other aspects to the therapy program I was in - I don't think I would have had the support necessary to foster that grow. I don't think I was introduced to a full-on Schema based treatment regimen like you are currently undergoing - considering mine was both intensive and relatively short-term. (Realistically it was about 20 hours of individual therapy)

Three years after I was done this program - I entered it again because my life was in turmoil. My therapist and psychiatrist were the first people I saw walking in the door - and I immediately felt that same parent-child connection that they once offered. At that point in time - I realized their ability as therapists and as genuine, caring, compassionate human beings. They did an amazing job and I was lucky. Ultimately, had my therapy continued with them for another month - I think I wouldn't have relapsed so badly three years later. I think I would have been able to shine light on the, "demons," [as you have alluded to] had I been there a little while longer. This makes me sad. But I know I was lucky to have worked with them at 23 years old.

In a way they saved my life, despite how challenging things still are. I have this inner need to impress them. I really consider them my adoptive parents - the parents I wish I had - and I feel inclined to impress them. I felt like a failure walking back in there and seeing them. Another layer to the story - is I was so motivated to become a therapist upon leaving the first time - that I even promised, "the next time I walk through that door - I will be asking for a job."

I think I'm going to try again.

Stick to the therapy - and give it a chance, that's all I gotta say. It really depends on many factors (as you already know from your previous therapy), but one day it may come as a surprise - that you have more control over object constancy. For me - feeling connected to my therapist in a child-parent way: allowed me to work through that yearning to feel connected when they were not around. It was a balance of everything a set of healthy parents should provide: nurture, understanding, love, genuine compassion, boundaries, obedience - and ultimately: a loving push into the world with a genuine concern for my future...

Question:

You said you feel, "confronted," by the therapy... In what way? What is it that is confronting for you?

What kinds of demons do you feel you have inside of you? Are they trauma's? Things that you know about yourself that you are not proud of? Things you have yet to deal with?

Thanks,
HD7970ghz

It's difficult to see our parents in a different light. I guess mine did the best they knew how they knew at the time. Also reading the book written by Dr Young. It has snippets of stories from people's lives with bpd and there's memories conjured up in me and I think yes I can relate to that. But I'm not at the part yet where it starts to get to strategies. My session with my T today was kind of running around in circles because everytime I said something with black and white thinking shed stop me and say this is the grey area .... That part was good to hear the other side and get something from a different perspective. I'm at a transitional phase in my life especially with regards to my career. I'm at a cross road.

[Utterly]

Yes, well aware of it, not quite as intimately as some modalities, but pretty thoroughly.

Have 4 or 5 books on it.

Its an integrated mashup of Gestalt Therapy and Transactional Analysis with a big hat tip to Beck's CBT for PD.

Interestingly, it has both Group and Individual modes, as separate methodologies (that can theoretically be combined,) as opposed to the split function of DBT invidual therapy and group skills.

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by HD7970GHZ

Three years after I was done this program - I entered it again because my life was in turmoil. My therapist and psychiatrist were the first people I saw walking in the door - and I immediately felt that same parent-child connection that they once offered. At that point in time - I realized their ability as therapists and as genuine, caring, compassionate human beings. They did an amazing job and I was lucky. Ultimately, had my therapy continued with them for another month - I think I wouldn't have relapsed so badly three years later. I think I would have been able to shine light on the, "demons," [as you have alluded to] had I been there a little while longer. This makes me sad. But I know I was lucky to have worked with them at 23 years old.

In a way they saved my life, despite how challenging things still are. I have this inner need to impress them. I really consider them my adoptive parents - the parents I wish I had - and I feel inclined to impress them.I felt like a failure walking back in there and seeing them

Thanks,
HD7970ghz

I did not see the bolded part coming at all, completely blindsided me.


I thought you were going to say "it felt good to once again have both my parents by my side in my time of need."


I'm sure if that had been your thought process, you would've felt more positive about the experience...

[Trippin2.0]

As for the question in the OP, nope never heard of Schema Therapy, but it sounds like something I would wanna look into... Not too keen on the reparenting aspect, but who knows, maybe I get to skip that chapter.