Schema Therapy in the Sutherland Shire

At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology in Menai, our clinicians draw on Schema Therapy to support adults across the Sutherland Shire. Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice and via secure online appointments across Australia.

Schema Therapy is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps people understand and shift long-standing patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that no longer serve them. Developed by psychologist Dr Jeffrey Young, it combines elements of cognitive, behavioural and experiential therapy to address patterns that often develop early in life.

Schemas are mental frameworks we develop from early experiences to make sense of ourselves, others and the world. Many are adaptive, although some can become rigid or unhelpful, particularly when they form in response to unmet emotional needs, trauma or chronic stress. These patterns can influence how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we respond to challenges throughout life.

What is Schema Therapy?

Schema Therapy helps people recognise the recurring patterns that shape how they think, feel and relate to others, and understand how these developed. Many people notice themselves caught in patterns such as avoidance, people-pleasing, emotional withdrawal or perfectionism. These often stem from underlying beliefs such as "I must meet impossible standards to be accepted" or "my needs don't matter".

Therapy offers a structured and supportive process to bring these beliefs into awareness, reduce self-defeating patterns, and develop more flexible and fulfilling ways of relating to yourself and others.

Schema Therapy draws on cognitive, behavioural and experiential techniques. Sessions may involve exploring early experiences, identifying recurring themes, using imagery, and developing healthier ways of coping and relating.

What does Schema Therapy help with?

Schema Therapy can be helpful for adults experiencing:

recurring patterns in relationships, including difficulty forming or maintaining closeness
complex trauma
chronic depression and anxiety
eating disorders and body image concerns
persistent self-criticism and low self-worth
patterns of avoidance, people-pleasing or emotional withdrawal

Schema Therapy is often helpful for people who have found that shorter-term approaches have not fully resolved long-standing patterns. It may be used on its own or integrated with other approaches such as Radically Open DBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR or eating disorder therapy approaches, depending on each person's needs.