Contextual Schema Therapy: An Integrative Approach to Personality Disorders, Emotional Dysregulation, and Interpersonal Functioning

by Eckhard Roediger MD, Bruce A. Stevens PhD, Robert Brockman DClinPsy, Wendy T. Behary LCSW (Foreword by), Jeffrey Young PhD (Afterword)

Overview

In this groundbreaking book, three internationally recognized psychologists present a step-by-step guide outlining the most up-to-date innovations in schema therapy (ST). This important book offers a clear and practical road map for putting the schema mode model into practice, improving clients' interpersonal functioning, and integrates the latest advances in contextual behavioral psychology. 

ST is a powerful, integrative treatment model that combines aspects of cognitive, behavioral, and psychodynamic therapies. It has proven highly effective in treating a number of mental health issues, including difficult-to-treat personality disorders. ST’s main premise is that mental health issues arise as a result of unmet emotional needs in childhood, leading to the development of early maladaptive schemas (EMS). But, more and more, ST has shifted away from EMS to focus on schema content—that is, changing the way clients relate to their experiences and to others.

This book incorporates the latest findings in contextual behavioral science with a focus on clients’ coping styles—or schema modes—and improving interpersonal functioning. The book includes exercises from compassion-focused therapies, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and even functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP) to help your clients become more aware of their own unhealthy coping patterns and behaviors. You’ll also discover a range of emotion-focused and experiential techniques to use in therapy with your client.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684030972
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	06/01/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	312
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Eckhard Roediger, MD, is director of the Frankfurt Schema Therapy Institute, the first established in Germany. He is former president of the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), and board member since its foundation in 2008. He has been a schema therapy trainer and supervisor since 2008, and is author of numerous books, book chapters, and articles about schema therapy in German.
 
Bruce A. Stevens, PhD, is current Wicking Chair of Ageing and Practical Theology at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, Australia. He is a clinical and forensic psychologist with over twenty years of private practice experience. He has written several books—including two other books on schema therapy—and he has advanced accreditation in schema therapy for both individuals and couples.
 
Robert Brockman, DClinPsy, is an experienced clinician and academic working out of Sydney, Australia. He is a senior trainer with Schema Therapy Training Australia where he regularly runs ISST-accredited schema therapy training courses throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Brockman also currently holds a research fellowship with the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at Australian Catholic University where he researches psychological approaches to well-being. He is currently engaged in clinical research focused on extending the schema mode model into novel clinical populations (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), chronic pain, eating disorders, psychosis, HIV sufferers, problem gamblers, and forensic patients).
 
Foreword writer Wendy T. Behary, LCSW, is founder and clinical director of The Cognitive Therapy Center of New Jersey, and a faculty member at the Cognitive Therapy Center and Schema Therapy Institute of New York. She is also a distinguished founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. She maintains a private practice specializing in narcissism and high-conflict couples therapy.
 
Afterword writer Jeffrey Young, PhD, is author of Schema Therapy, and founder and director of the Schema Therapy Institute of New York.

Robert Brockman, DClinPsy, is an experienced clinician and academic working out of Sydney, Australia. He is a senior trainer with Schema Therapy Training Australia where he regularly runs ISST-accredited schema therapy training courses throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Brockman also currently holds a research fellowship with the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at Australian Catholic University where he researches psychological approaches to well-being. He is currently engaged in clinical research focused on extending the schema mode model into novel clinical populations (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), chronic pain, eating disorders, psychosis, HIV sufferers, problem gamblers, and forensic patients).
Wendy T. Behary, LCSW, is founder and clinical director of The Cognitive Therapy Center of New Jersey, founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and author Disarming the Narcissist.
Jeffrey Young, PhD, is coauthor of Schema Therapy, and founder and codirector of The Schema Therapy Institutes of NJ-NYC-DC.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii
Introduction—Why This Book? 1

1. Conceptual Underpinnings 5
2. The Schema Model—Mapping the Badlands 25
3. Modes—In the Present Tense 39
4. From Past Tense to Present Tense—The Case Conceptualization 57
5. Harnessing the Therapy Relationship 83
6. Dealing with Child, Inner Critic, and Coping Modes 109
7. Building the Healthy Adult Mode 125
8. How to Bring Change 143
9. Imagery Techniques to Induce Mode Change 149
10. Mode Dialogues on Chairs 179
11. Behavior Change Techniques 197
12. Treatment Planning 215
13. Dealing with Difficult Clients 227
14. It Takes Two to Tango—Including the Client’s Partner in Therapy 251
15. Therapist Schemas and Self-Care 259

Epilogue—Training Opportunities and Resources 273
Afterword 275
References 277
Index 291

Interviews

Roediger resides in Frankfurt, Germany; Stevens resides in Canberra City, Australia; Brockman resides in New South Wales, Australia; Behary resides in Springfield, NJ.

Editorial Reviews

Therapists today may find themselves asking how they can fit together the plethora of psychological concepts that bombard them from many directions. Schema therapists may ask whether schema therapy by itself is enough, or whether they need other therapy approaches too. The authors of Contextual Schema Therapy show how important concepts that are well articulated within other approaches—such as mentalization, mindfulness, acceptance, metacognition, and human values—can be integrated into the basic schema therapy model. Indeed, many of them are already implicit in it. In addition to showing the integrative power of the schema therapy model, this book offers a fresh and readable account of its central ideas and rich clinical examples of their application, all well-grounded in the current academic and clinical literature.”
—David Edwards, department of psychology, Rhodes University; department of psychiatry, University of Cape Town; clinical psychologist; certified schema therapist; president, International Society of Schema Therapy

David Edwards

A tour de force—this penetrating yet accessible book, written by leaders in the field, is a must-read for practicing schema therapists. The authors dig deep into the principles of contemporary third wave therapies and return with innovative advances to Jeffrey Young’s original model. A core contribution is the many helpful tools on how to conceptualize, build, and reinforce healthy adult functioning. The reader is elegantly guided along the complex journey that lies at the core of schema therapy—finding a sensible balance between the potentially competing needs of connection and autonomy.”
—Poul Perris, MD, founding president of the International Society of Schema Therapy, and director of the Swedish Cognitive Therapy Institute, Stockholm

Poul Perris

Contextual Schema Therapy is groundbreaking in its integration of concepts and interventions from third wave cognitive therapy models to expand schema therapy while maintaining the integrity of Young’s model. The structure of the book, with sections on principles, summary, and therapist tips, keep the model clear and manageable, making it user-friendly for those new to schema therapy in addition to expert therapists. It balances theory with practical advice about how to implement schema therapy interventions. The detailed case examples illustrate the application of the model, including masterful scripts for explaining concepts to clients, and diagrams of the specifics of interventions. In addition, Contextual Schema Therapy fills a gap by drawing interventions from third wave models to develop the Healthy Adult Mode. I recommend this book highly for all schema therapists, and congratulate the authors on this important contribution to the practice of schema therapy.”
—Joan Farrell, PhD, adjunct professor and research director, The Center for Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment and Research, Indiana University–Purdue University; director of training and certification, International Society of Schema Therapy

Joan Farrell

Schema therapy is the most integrative psychotherapy model of our time, and has a rapidly accelerating literature. This latest volume explains the entire schema therapy model, presupposing no prior knowledge, then, pushes the model forward. It adds a new ‘Case Conceptualization Form,’ an expanded theoretical framework, insights from ‘third wave’ and ‘contextual’ psychotherapies, and new and innovative applications of schema therapy techniques (particularly emotive techniques such as guided imagery and chair work). It is scholarly, clear, theoretically grounded, and full of clinical examples. Simply put, you will find this book extremely useful—regardless of your theoretical orientation.”
—Lawrence P. Riso, PhD, professor of clinical psychology, American School of Professional Psychology, Northern Virginia

Lawrence P. Riso

Building on the foundation of schema therapy as laid by Jeffrey Young, the authors bring schema therapy into the third wave of therapies; in context and the actual effects. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is interweaved throughout the book. It is for example in the true spirit of schema therapy to take into account different perspectives on the ‘same’ context.”
—Michiel van Vreeswijk, coauthor of The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Schema Therapy and Mindfulness and Schema Therapy

Michiel van Vreeswijk

This book encompasses all aspects of schema therapy, from the theoretical underpinnings and case conceptualization to the emotion-focused, cognitive and behavioral techniques. In a clear, structured manner, practical suggestions are offered to cope with the challenging situations therapists face in their clinical practice. This book can be considered an essential element in the training to become a schema therapist. I enjoyed the way complex phenomena in therapy are explained with the use of metaphors and striking illustrations. In a similar transparent way, schema-triggering moments in session are discussed, and many different strategies are offered to deal with them. This book bridges the gap between theory and practice, and reflects the current status of schema therapy.”
—Remco van de Wijngaart, vice president of the International Society of Schema Therapy; senior schema therapy trainer and supervisor

Remco van de Wijngaart

This cutting-edge guide provides a comprehensive road map for understanding and implementing schema therapy as a truly integrative and dynamic therapeutic model. The reader is taken on a journey that interweaves conceptual underpinnings with cutting-edge theoretical advances, contextualizing it within the framework of second and third wave psychotherapy approaches. This book connects the dots of the schema therapy model. Its descriptions bring the powerful schema therapy techniques to life, while providing a clear pathway to guide the overarching process. This book is an indispensable text that will appeal to experienced clinicians, as well as those who are simply curious to learn more about this approach.”
—Susan Simpson, DClinPsych, NHS Lothian, Scotland; department of psychology, University of South Australia

Susan Simpson