Schema therapy

Deep, early-formed beliefs about yourself and others run quietly under adult life, and a schema is too rigid for logic alone to dislodge. Schema therapy treats them through experience and the therapy relationship, not only through argument.

Our summary of the approach · 7 claims from 2 people, in their own words

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Who uses this model Everyone Annie Wright 5 Wendy Behary 2

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Schema therapy was designed for entrenched patterns that do not respond well to traditional CBT.

Annie Wright 6 Apr 2026 Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and executive coach It was specifically designed for clients who have deeply entrenched, chronic psychological patterns that do not respond well to traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com · 6 Apr 2026

Their wordsIt was specifically designed for clients who have deeply entrenched, chronic psychological patterns that do not respond well to traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

↗Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com
6 Apr 2026

Schemas are the direct result of core emotional needs going unmet in childhood.

Mental modelEarly templates

Annie Wright 6 Apr 2026 Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and executive coach Schemas do not appear out of nowhere. They’re the direct result of core emotional needs not being met in childhood. Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com · 6 Apr 2026

Their wordsSchemas do not appear out of nowhere. They’re the direct result of core emotional needs not being met in childhood.

↗Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com
6 Apr 2026

A schema is too rigid to be dismantled by logic alone, because it is a felt, somatic truth.

Mental modelEarly templates

Annie Wright 6 Apr 2026 Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and executive coach Because schemas aren’t just thoughts; they’re deeply felt, somatic truths. Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com · 6 Apr 2026

Their wordsBecause schemas aren’t just thoughts; they’re deeply felt, somatic truths.

↗Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com
6 Apr 2026

Overcompensating for a schema works professionally and destroys the person internally.

Annie Wright 6 Apr 2026 Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and executive coach The tragedy of overcompensation is that it works professionally, but it destroys you internally. Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com · 6 Apr 2026

Their wordsThe tragedy of overcompensation is that it works professionally, but it destroys you internally.

↗Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com
6 Apr 2026

In schema therapy the therapeutic relationship itself supplies the attunement that was missing in childhood.

Annie Wright 6 Apr 2026 Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and executive coach And we use the therapeutic relationship itself (limited reparenting) to provide the emotional attunement that was missing in your childhood. Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com · 6 Apr 2026

Their wordsAnd we use the therapeutic relationship itself (limited reparenting) to provide the emotional attunement that was missing in your childhood.

↗Schema Therapy for Driven Womenanniewright.com
6 Apr 2026

Narcissism runs along a spectrum rather than being a category, and schema therapy treats it by working back to what early life embedded.

Mental modelEarly templates

Wendy Behary 30 Jul 2020 Psychotherapist, founder of The Cognitive Therapy Center… the approach that I use is called Schema Therapy, and Schema Therapy is designed to work with very complex personality types, personality disorders, and even those that are happening along a spectrum ERP 226: How To Understand And Deal With a Narcissist, an Interview With Wendy Behary [Transcript]drjessicahiggins.com · 30 Jul 2020

Their wordsthe approach that I use is called Schema Therapy, and Schema Therapy is designed to work with very complex personality types, personality disorders, and even those that are happening along a spectrum

↗ERP 226: How To Understand And Deal With a Narcissist, an Interview With Wendy Behary [Transcript]drjessicahiggins.com
30 Jul 2020

Narcissists can change meaningfully in therapy, though nobody changes completely, and most of the work is persisting with empathic confrontation past the first rebuff.

Mental modelsThe therapeutic alliance, Empathy and validation

Wendy Behary 30 Jul 2020 Psychotherapist, founder of The Cognitive Therapy Center… In 30+ years of working with narcissistic men mostly - yes, it is possible for people to change. And even narcissists can change. Now, I don't really believe anyone changes completely, but it is possible to get meaningful change. ERP 226: How To Understand And Deal With a Narcissist, an Interview With Wendy Behary [Transcript]drjessicahiggins.com · 30 Jul 2020

Their wordsIn 30+ years of working with narcissistic men mostly - yes, it is possible for people to change. And even narcissists can change. Now, I don't really believe anyone changes completely, but it is possible to get meaningful change.

↗ERP 226: How To Understand And Deal With a Narcissist, an Interview With Wendy Behary [Transcript]drjessicahiggins.com
30 Jul 2020

Schema therapy

Schema therapy was designed for entrenched patterns that do not respond well to traditional CBT.

Schemas are the direct result of core emotional needs going unmet in childhood.

A schema is too rigid to be dismantled by logic alone, because it is a felt, somatic truth.

Overcompensating for a schema works professionally and destroys the person internally.

In schema therapy the therapeutic relationship itself supplies the attunement that was missing in childhood.

Narcissism runs along a spectrum rather than being a category, and schema therapy treats it by working back to what early life embedded.

Narcissists can change meaningfully in therapy, though nobody changes completely, and most of the work is persisting with empathic confrontation past the first rebuff.

Schemas come from unmet childhood needs and feel like truth, so logic alone does not move them

Schemas are the direct result of core emotional needs going unmet in childhood.

A schema is too rigid to be dismantled by logic alone, because it is a felt, somatic truth.

Schema therapy was designed for entrenched patterns that do not respond well to traditional CBT.

Fighting a schema by overcompensating can work outwardly and cost the person inwardly

Overcompensating for a schema works professionally and destroys the person internally.

Narcissism runs along a spectrum rather than being a category, and schema therapy treats it by working back to what early life embedded.

The relationship in the room and persistence are what treat a schema

In schema therapy the therapeutic relationship itself supplies the attunement that was missing in childhood.

Narcissists can change meaningfully in therapy, though nobody changes completely, and most of the work is persisting with empathic confrontation past the first rebuff.