The rate at which mental disorders and illnesses are sprouting has become increasingly alarming. The numbers for the same cases that have not reported or succumbed as a result is higher. The need for treatment is unquestionable as mental issues are ascending every minute.

The most effective treatment for mental disorders and illnesses is therapy. It is backed up by research with evidence to show its effectiveness, and the results are pleasantly uplifting.

There are several therapies, but one in particular, schema therapy, will be the focus. Schema therapy involves psychology and cognitive science to draw a pattern of thoughts and behaviour that then organize categories of information and their relationships. 

How it works

Schema therapy is integrative psychotherapy combining both theory and practical techniques from previously existing therapies. They include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychoanalytic Object Relations Therapy, Attachment Therapy, and Gestalt Therapy.

It is majorly used in treating personality disorders and chronic disorders, such as when some patients fail to respond to or relapse later on after having been through other therapies.

Identifying the patterns of thoughts, behaviour, or actions that are the root cause of the mental disorder or illness is the key to schema therapy; the therapist will modify the grounds and help the patient overcome them using different set skills.

Many factors are considered for the duration it will take for schema therapy to be effective. They include:

  1. Therapist

Before the therapy can begin, you need to consult a professional therapist, who will determine if you need to undergo schema therapy. From there, you choose the therapist who best suits your needs. You work together with them to form new patterns and using mindful meditation together with positive attitudes. You can work on deep-rooted issues such as depression, anxiety, and even eating disorders.

    2. Duration

Therapy typically takes around six months to 2 years, or longer. Schema therapy is the same, though you consider the number of therapy sessions held, the type of methods used in therapy, and the different treatment issues. Therapy is all about doing progress overtime until you overcome the specific problem you had.

    3. Cost

Therapy is done in sessions, and for each session, there is a fee. The charges differ from one treatment to the next, but you have to consider the amount of time you will need in therapy, to sum up, the costs. It is not cheap, either.

Why schema therapy

New research has shown that schema therapy has shown positive outcomes in treating mental disorders and illnesses.

Schema therapy has particularly shown to treat the following successfully:

  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Eating disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Criminal behaviours
  • Substance abuse

Conclusion and limitations

Schema therapy has outdone itself since its existence not so long ago. However, since it involves various other existing therapies, there is no specific method or procedure. That means that its effects differ from patient to patient for every different method or existing therapy used.

The duration it takes for treatment is not conclusive, hence at times, treatment is not guaranteed, and the cost incurred increases gradually. Research is still being done to determine the cost-effectiveness of schema therapy.

For most patients, however, schema therapy is the gospel. It has worked its miracles, and patients have been able to overcome mental issues. In a world where the number of mental cases increases every day, a glimmer of hope shines bright. Call Positive Psychology Brisbane for more information.