Schema Therapy for Couples

Schema therapy is an innovative, integrated therapeutic approach, originally developed as an expansion of traditional cognitive–behavioural treatments. This therapeutic method blends the active, structured elements of cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) with the more depth-oriented and emotion-focused strategies used in other approaches.

In comparison to CBT, schema therapy emphasises lifelong patterns (or schemas), affective change techniques, and the therapeutic relationship, integrating all of these strategies as opposed to focusing on just one of them.

Schema Therapy With Couples demonstrates this integrative method, in which each partner's schemas are explored to determine how they interact and connect. Dr. Jeffrey E. Young works with a couple to identify the conflicts they experience, how these conflicts are linked to each partner's schemas, and how they can better express to each other what they need in the relationship.