Schema Therapy

Schema therapy views our psychological difficulties as behavioural/emotional patterns that we developed early in life to serve an adaptive function (e.g., over-eating as a child as a way to self-soothe when our emotional needs could not be met by our caregivers) but has now become maladaptive in our lives (e.g., over-eating as an adult in response to situations that resemble those we developed the behavioural pattern in). Schema therapy conceptualise these maladaptive behavioral and emotional patterns as “modes” that need to be understood and counter-balanced by more adaptive modes that serve our values and life directions. We do this in therapy through an emotionally nurturing therapeutic relationship and experiential exercises to foster corrective emotional experiences. For a more thorough explanation, you can follow this link: https://www.schemainstitute.co.uk/understanding-schema-therapy/

Family Systems Therapy

Family systems therapy (often confused with Internal Family Systems Therapy, a different therapy approach) looks towards the relational dynamics that play out, not just in our families, but also within our other social circles such as friends, work colleagues, and romantic partners. The roles that each person plays within a social system, the behavioural and communication patterns that can become established between individuals, and the norms and expectations that flow from one generation of a family to the next, can all contribute towards the psychological and relational problems people find themselves in. Broadly speaking, family systems therapy aims to bring to the client’s attention the “stuck” relational and communication patterns they find themselves in and make changes to these patterns in order to bring about more emotionally fulfilling and connecting relationships.

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy has a focus on analysing the connections between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Often, clients enter therapy seeking to make changes in one of these three areas. By clarifying whether there are distorted or maladaptive thinking patterns driving the way we feel and behave, we can look to challenge these thoughts and construct an alternative thinking pattern that can guide our behaviours and emotions in directions that we desire.