Schema Conceptualisation - Schema Therapy - Schema modes map

Summary

Clinical psychologist Jess O'Garr introduces Schema Therapy, explaining schemas as mental blueprints organizing information. She discusses maladaptive schemas formed from childhood unmet needs and the 'modes' within us, including the Vulnerable Child and Angry Child modes. O'Garr elaborates on coping strategies like Fight, Flight, and Freeze, and their corresponding modes, emphasizing the importance of developing a Healthy Adult mode to manage these responses. She also touches on the concept of re-parenting to reintroduce positive experiences and foster healthier modes.

Takeaways

• 📚 Schema Therapy is based on the concept of schemas, which are like blueprints for how we organize information and understand the world around us.
• 👶 The 'Vulnerable Child' mode is central to Schema Therapy and represents the part of us that feels fear, shame, and worry, and is always present regardless of age.
• 😠 The 'Angry Child' mode is linked to the Vulnerable Child and represents the reaction of a child who is not getting their needs met and tries to draw attention to their distress.
• 🛡️ Coping strategies such as Fight, Flight, and Freeze are innate responses to threats, both physical and psychological, and have corresponding modes in Schema Therapy.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The 'Perfectionistic Overcompensator' is a fight strategy that tries to protect from vulnerability by striving for perfection and can lead to burnout.
• 🗣️ 'Bully-Attack' is another fight strategy where individuals deflect criticism by aggressively focusing on others' faults.
• 💡 'Self-Aggrandising' is a narcissistic defense that hides vulnerability by constantly promoting oneself as superior and without fault.
• 🕵️‍♂️ 'Suspicious Overcontroller' is characterized by a controlling behavior stemming from a fear of negative outcomes and a lack of trust in others.
• 🚶‍♂️ 'Detached Protector' is a flight strategy that involves psychological avoidance by emotionally disconnecting from situations to protect oneself from vulnerability.
• 🚫 'Avoidant Protector' is a more physical form of flight, where individuals avoid situations entirely to prevent potential distress.
• 🎭 'Compliant Surrender' represents a freeze strategy where an individual gives up and accepts their perceived failure or negative outcome without resistance.

Q & A

What is Schema Therapy and how does it differ from other therapeutic models?

Schema Therapy is an integrative approach that focuses on early life experiences and unmet needs leading to the development of maladaptive schemas. It differs by addressing these schemas through the concept of 'modes', which are like different characters within an individual that respond to situations based on past experiences.

What are schemas and how do they form?

Schemas are deep-seated patterns of behavior and thought that form from early life experiences. They act as blueprints for organizing information and understanding the world. Maladaptive schemas develop when childhood needs are unmet.

Can you explain the concept of 'modes' in Schema Therapy?

In Schema Therapy, 'modes' are various states or 'characters' within an individual that respond to life situations. They include the Vulnerable Child, Angry Child, and coping strategies like Fight, Flight, and Freeze, which are adaptations to early unmet needs.

What is the significance of the 'Vulnerable Child' mode?

The 'Vulnerable Child' mode is central to Schema Therapy. It represents the part of an individual that feels fear, shame, and worry, and is the source of distress when triggered. It is the inner child that never leaves us, regardless of age.

How does the 'Angry Child' mode relate to the 'Vulnerable Child' mode?

The 'Angry Child' mode is an extension of the 'Vulnerable Child' mode. It is the response to unmet needs where the child, feeling powerless, expresses anger to draw attention to their distress in an attempt to get their needs met.

What are the three primary coping strategies in Schema Therapy and why are they important?

The three primary coping strategies are Fight, Flight, and Freeze. They are important because they represent the innate responses to threats, both physical and psychological, and form the basis for more complex coping 'modes' that develop over time.

Can you provide an example of a coping strategy from the 'Fight' category?

An example of a 'Fight' coping strategy is the 'Perfectionistic Overcompensator' mode. This mode involves striving for perfection in tasks to avoid feelings of vulnerability and to deflect any potential criticism or threat.

What is the 'Demanding Parent' mode and how does it differ from the 'Punitive Parent' mode?

The 'Demanding Parent' mode is a type of dysfunctional parent mode that pushes for constant improvement and perfection, often resulting in stress and unrealistic expectations. It differs from the 'Punitive Parent' mode, which is more focused on criticism and putting down the individual.

How does Schema Therapy address the issue of maladaptive coping modes in adults?

Schema Therapy addresses maladaptive coping modes by reintroducing positive experiences and teaching new, healthier ways to respond to threats. It encourages the development of the 'Healthy Adult' mode, which can manage the other modes more effectively.

What is the role of the 'Healthy Adult' mode in Schema Therapy?

The 'Healthy Adult' mode is the part of an individual that is capable of making mature, balanced decisions. It is not innate but develops over time with good education and role models. In therapy, it is the mode that learns to manage the other modes and make healthier choices.

How can the 'Happy Child' mode contribute to a person's overall well-being?

The 'Happy Child' mode represents the part of an individual that experiences fun, play, and joy. It is a healthy mode that provides a balance to the 'Vulnerable Child' mode and contributes to a person's happiness and overall well-being.