Schema Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps people understand and change their unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. Schema Therapy was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Young and his colleagues, and is based on the idea that we all have schemas, or core beliefs, that shape how we perceive and respond to the world.
Schemas are usually formed in childhood or adolescence, and can be influenced by our temperament, experiences, relationships and culture. Some schemas are adaptive and helpful, while others are maladaptive and unhelpful. Maladaptive schemas can cause us to experience emotional distress, interpersonal problems, self-defeating behaviors and mental health issues.
