Schema Therapy - A Practitioner's Guide

"This volume demonstrates in a skillful, highly readable fashion how the standard cognitive therapy approaches to Axis 1 disorders can be expanded and modified to treat personality disorders. Working within a comprehensive cognitive model, the authors draw on a variety of strategies to address the specific problems in this population : rigid, lifelong maladaptive characterological patterns ; chronic interpersonal difficulties ; and transference reactions. The book shows how to attenuate the powerful beliefs underlying these patterns through exploratory and experiential strategies. Highly recommended for all therapists engaged in treating patients with these very difficult personality problems." Aaron T Beck, MD. "Schema therapy represents a brilliant addition to the therapist's armamentarium of techniques. Building on cognitive therapy, the approach provides a means for dealing with many of the problems people face in their daily lives. For example, someone with a social isolation/alienation schema will believe that he or she is isolated from others, but often will act in ways to create or exacerbate this isolation. A complete guide to the use of schema therapy, this book shows how to help clients recognize and overcome such maladaptive patterns. l very highly recommend it." Robert J. Sternberg, PhD. "Young et al. have developed an innovative, rich, and intuitively healing approach to therapy based on years of clinical experience and research. Schema therapy incorporates wisdom from a variety of approaches to bring fresh new perspectives to traditional cognitive therapy. In this book, clinicians will find up-to-the-minute, empirically supported approaches to treating such difficult problems as narcissistic and borderline personality disorders. Strategies and procedures are laid out in a clear and compelling manner, including invaluable advice on implementation. All clinicians wishing to incorporate schema-based cognitive approaches into their practices will find this book an invaluable resource and a pleasure to read." David H. Barlow, PhD. "The work of Jeffrey E. Young and his colleagues represents both a major contribution to the evolution of cognitive and cognitive-behavioral therapy and an important step toward enhancing the prospects for integrating cognitive therapy with other approaches, particularly psychoanalysis. This book presents schema therapy in clear and generous detail and offers much to the experienced practitioner and the student. A highly valuable and worthwhile contribution" Paul L. Wachtel, PhD.