What is Schema Therapy for Children?

Schema therapy for children is a specialized form of psychotherapy that targets negative patterns of thinking and behavior that have been established in childhood.

Christof Loose’s approach to schema therapy for children is grounded in the belief that childhood experiences shape our beliefs and emotions, and that these beliefs and emotions can persist into adulthood, leading to maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior. His approach to schema therapy for children is based on creating a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship, where children can explore and understand their negative beliefs and schemas. Dr. Loose uses a range of techniques, including play therapy, storytelling, and cognitive-behavioral techniques, to help children challenge their negative schemas and develop positive coping strategies. He also emphasizes the importance of involving parents and caregivers in the therapeutic process to ensure the child’s progress is supported outside of therapy sessions. Overall, Dr. Loose’s approach to schema therapy for children is compassionate, evidence-based, and effective in helping children overcome maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior.

About Christof Loose

Christof Loose is a renowned psychotherapist and psychologist who has made significant contributions to the field of schema therapy. Born and raised in Germany, Dr. Loose received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Heidelberg, where he began exploring the link between childhood experiences and adult psychological functioning.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Loose has established himself as a leading expert in the field of schema therapy. This form of psychotherapy involves identifying and addressing maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior that develop in childhood and continue to impact adult life. Dr. Loose has authored numerous articles and book chapters on schema therapy and is the co-author of the influential book “Learning Schema Therapy: A Practical Guide to Developing Therapeutic Skills.”

In addition to his written contributions, Dr. Loose is also a highly sought-after speaker and trainer. He has conducted workshops and training programs on schema therapy around the world and has trained countless therapists and mental health professionals in the theory and practice of schema therapy.

Thanks to his research, writing, and teaching, Dr. Loose has had a profound impact on the field of psychotherapy. His work has helped shape the way mental health professionals approach the treatment of complex psychological disorders, and he continues to be a leading voice in the field. If you’re struggling with psychological issues, consider seeking out a therapist trained in schema therapy to help you identify and address maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior.

Case Formulation and Assessment

In this episode Chris Hayes and Robert Brockman discuss case formulation.

The precision of case formulation in Schema Therapy is part of the appeal for both therapists and clients.

Having a clear agreed to set of problems between therapist and client helps manage expectations on when therapy should end.

“It’s important to link trauma with legacy,” says Chris Hayes, continuing, “starting with a problem, for example, an undefined sense of self, can create difficulty in making life decisions.”

Schema Therapy Hacks Episode 2: Model for Empathic Confrontation in Schema Therapy and in Experiential Techniques

As therapists, we tend to focus on the care and nurturance, but there’s also the flip side, where we need to be able to set boundaries. That is part of empathic confrontation.

In this Episode 2 of Schema Therapy Hacks, Chris Hayes and Robert Brockman discuss a model to help therapists achieve balance in these tasks. Watch in full below.

What is ‘Schema Therapy Hacks’?

This series of short videos (usually about 10-minutes) is designed to give Schema Therapists a quick “hack”, to help them with their practice immediately. You can find all of the ‘Hacks’ so far, and other cool Schema videos here at our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4deWVRvWxU05uie2URaZuA/featured

Leaning into Empathic Confrontation with a Big ‘E’ and Other Gnarly Challenges – with Wendy Behary

In this episode of ‘What’s the Schemata’, we talk to Wendy Behary about Empathic Confrontation and how it is a central strategy for managing Tough Cases in Schema Therapy.

Wendy is past President of the ISST (2010-2014) and has authored many books including Disarming the Narcissist: Surviving and Thriving with the Self-Absorbed.

In the Podcast Wendy discusses her experience that our Inner Critics often seem to serve some kind of function – and how this perspective can lead to important changes in our approach as therapists.

“… I think the Critic probably has a function of either trying to protect/prevent or promote something within us… but it comes across in ways that can instead perpetuate the very schemas we are trying not to feel”.

Wendy Behary – What’s the Schemata Episode 25

You definitely won’t want to miss this episode. If you like it, you also may like her new online course on Empathic Confrontation Strategies.

Surviving Schema Therapy Accreditation (ISST)

There has been a heap of interest and Questions of late on the process of ISST Accreditation – in this Episode, Chris and Rob tackle the key questions on how to approach getting accredited by the ISST – and how to survive it!! Available below on YouTube or on Audio above…

Appendix/ Info: Link to current ISST Guidelines and forms Here: https://www.schematherapysociety.org/page-18343

Episode 24: Schema Therapy ‘What if?’ Series – Imagery Rescripting with ‘Little Jenny’

The process of learning and applying Schema Therapy in Practice often leads therapists to a series of ‘What if?’ questions. In this short podcast, Chris and Rob tackle how schema therapists might respond to various difficult clinical moments involving the application of Imagery Rescripting. How do we respond when clients say, for example ‘this was great – but this didn’t happen… this (imagery) is not real’?

Chris and Rob discuss this and other similar clinical quandaries involving Imagery Rescripting.

Limited Reparenting

In this episode of ‘What’s the Schemata’, Robert Brockman and Chris Hayes discuss Limited Reparenting. This is a free resource designed to help Schema Therapists further their learning about Limited Reparenting.

“Limited reparenting can be the most exciting part of the model and the most anxiety-provoking,”

Rob continues –

“It can be more activating – or triggering – for therapists.”

Limited reparenting is about meeting a person’s unmet needs from their childhood.

It can mean, for example, helping them set healthy boundaries.

In another example, Chris and Rob discuss addressing the failure schema – Rob says –

“If you have self-doubt, meeting your need might be, someone pulling you in and saying ‘you’ve got this. This is not beyond what you can do.’”

Be aware of which mode is activated

“You have to be aware of their modes. If they’re in the Detached Protector mode, they’re going to respond differently,” says Rob.

“You have to really get in there and meet that need,” says Chris, explaining understanding modes, will change their level of responsiveness.

Setting boundaries with empathic confrontation

Many of our patients come to us in very vulnerable states, with abusive backgrounds. They often need nurturing, but they can also need to be encouraged to set boundaries.

Chris says – “early on, I found empathic confrontation a challenge – no one taught me how to deal with that.”

Further explaining, “Many therapists learn to nurture, but they need guidance with other areas like empathic confrontation.”

Episode 20: Professor Arnoud Arntz, The Scientist Behind the Practice

We had the pleasure of interviewing Professor Arnoud Arntz, the pioneering researcher in schema therapy. Professor Arntz joins Chris and Rob to discuss new developments within the Schema therapy model, new proposed schemas and we have a discussion around unhappy monkeys!

Notes from the Episode:

Towards a Reformulated Theory Underlying Schema Therapy: Position Paper of an International Workgroup
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10608-021-10209-5

Fairness Study With Monkeys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meiU6TxysCg

Cooperation with Elephants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXcRw6Piaj8

January, 2022

Recommended podcast

Sexual addiction discussed with Liz Lacy and Amber Dalsin

Whether you have completed the course offered by Liz Lacy, or not, you are likely to find this podcast interesting.

Amber Dalsin MSc, RPsych asks Liz questions about childhood development, intimacy and sexual addiction.

The two touch on porn addiction, infidelity, online relationships and more.

From emotional deprivation to specific patient examples of enmeshment giving the illusion of intimacy, the two cover a broad range of subjects.

Where in our lifespan do you see that most sexual intimacy problems begin to develop?

“Let’s say you’re looking at this list of core sexual needs that need to be met,” explains Liz.

“What starts to happen is a lot of them aren’t [met].

Body acceptance is not there, there isn’t much affection or touch. The child suffers. Even without knowing the child suffers.

You also don’t have a lot of attachment to the parents and sexuality ends up inserted in there somewhere too early or inappropriately and you end up getting the recipe that starts to spell intimacy problems..”

Listen to the full podcast.