Contextual Schema Therapy

Brockman, Robert, Stevens, Bruce A., Roediger, Eckhard

• Publisher: Context Press
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9781684030965
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Social Psychology
• Index: Psychology

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 bookincorporates 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.

Table of contents

• Foreword
• Introduction—­Why This Book?
• Chapter 1: Conceptual Underpinnings
• Chapter 2: The Schema Model—Mapping the Badlands
• Chapter 3: Modes—­In the Present Tense
• Chapter 4: From Past Tense to Present Tense—­The Case Conceptualization
• Chapter 5: Harnessing the Therapy Relationship
• Chapter 6: Dealing with Child, Inner Critic, and Coping Modes
• Chapter 7: Building the Healthy Adult Mode
• Chapter 8: How to Bring Change
• Chapter 9: Imagery Techniques to Induce Mode Change
• Chapter 10: Mode Dialogues on Chairs
• Chapter 11: Behavior Change Techniques
• Chapter 12: Treatment Planning
• Chapter 13: Dealing with Difficult Clients
• Chapter 14: It Takes Two to Tango—­Including the Client’s Partner in Therapy
• Chapter 15: Therapist Schemas and Self-­Care
• Therapist Schemas and Self-­Care
• Epilogue—­Training Opportunities and Resources
• Afterword
• References
• Index
• Figure 1–­1. Basic emotions, coping styles, and self-­expression
• Figure 1–­2. An exercise in dual focusing
• Figure 1–­3. A second exercise in dual focusing
• Figure 1–­4. Attractors and the energetic landscape
• Figure 1–­5. The emotional tolerance window
• Figure 1–­6. Socialization and constitution of the self
• Figure 3–­1. The mode model
• Figure 3–­2. Connecting schemas, schema-­coping styles, and coping modes in terms of learning processes
• Figure 3–­3. Maladaptive coping modes and clinical symptoms
• Figure 4–­1. Genogram for Joanne
• Figure 4–­2. Mode monitoring form for Joanne
• Figure 4–­3. Descriptive mode diagram for Joanne
• Figure 4–­4. Mode map for Joanne
• Figure 4–­5. Schemas, schema coping, coping modes, and ACT processes integrated into the behavioral analysis system
• Figure 5–­1. Connecting the biographical, current life, and therapy scenes
• Figure 5–­2. The dimensions of the therapy relationship
• Figure 5–­3. Sitting positions to support emotional activation
• Figure 5–­4. Therapist and client positions while reflecting on the process in a working alliance
• Figure 6–­1. Chair positions according to the mode map
• Figure 6–­2. Chair positions for empathic confrontation
• Figure 6–­3. How to place the chairs when working with overcompensators
• Figure 7–­1. The attention time line
• Figure 7–­2. Two ways to consistency
• Figure 7–­3. Values road map
• Figure 8–­1. Emotional processing using the two-­minds metaphor
• Figure 8–­2. Steps for lasting change
• Figure 9–­1. Working with the two systems of information processing in imagery (based on Schacter, 1992)
• Figure 9–­2. The healing process in experiential work
• Figure 10–­1. Chair positions in historical role-­play
• Figure 10–­2. Chair dialogue based on the mode map
• Figure 10–­3. The vicious cycle of an alarm reaction, and how to escape
• Figure 11–­1. Joanne’s coping mode tracking sheet
• Figure 11–­2. Joanne’s schema-­mode flash card (modified from Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003)
• Figure 11–­3. Joanne’s talking-­back diary
• Figure 11–­4. Joanne’s diary card
• Figure 11–­5. Joanne’s behavioral activation form
• Figure 13–­1. Schemas and modes of a narcissistic client
• Figure 14–­1. The maladaptive mode cycle of Joanne and Brandon
• Table 1–­1. The two poles of human organization
• Table 2–­1. Schemas, domains, need states, and resulting modes
• Table 3–­1. The relations between schemas, schema-­coping styles, and presented coping modes
• Table 5–­1. Dropout rates in borderline personality disorder treatments
• Table 15–­1. Possible mode cycles in the therapy relationship