Coping Styles And Responses (Schema Therapy)

An information handout on schema therapy, focusing on understanding and addressing early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and coping styles.

Download or send

Professional version

Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Client version

Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Overview

This resource is part of the Psychology Tools Schema series, designed to assist therapists and clients in effectively working with early maladaptive schemas (EMS). The series provides an overview of schema therapy - a comprehensive approach to treating complex psychological issues that incorporates multiple therapeutic models, including CBT, attachment theory, and gestalt therapy. The resource describes the characteristic coping styles people develop in response to schemas and where these styles come from.

Why Use This Resource?

Understanding the intricacies of schema therapy can enrich therapy sessions and provide comprehensive tools to target deep-rooted maladaptive patterns.

  • Examine the coping styles clients use to manage schemas.
  • Identify the origins of coping styles.
  • Explore how coping responses perpetuate their difficulties.
  • Support the use of schema therapy interventions to achieve lasting change.

Key Benefits

Insight

Increases understanding of coping styles.

Identification

Identifies maladaptive coping strategies that maintain EMS.

Formulation

Use these insights to support case conceptualization.

Who is this for?

Personality Disorders

Addressing schemas and coping styles linked to personality pathology.

Childhood Trauma

Addressing distressing early life experiences that contribute to current problems.

Longstanding Depression And Anxiety

Understanding how schemas and coping styles contribute to entrenched mood disorders.

Relationship Issues

Exploring how coping styles influence interpersonal dynamics.

Integrating it into your practice

01

Identify

Help clients identify the schemas affecting their cognition and behavior.

02

Explore

Encourage discussion about specific coping styles and their origins.

03

Evaluate

Assess how these styles perpetuate dysfunctional patterns.

04

Intervene

Use schema therapy techniques to heal schemas and work through identified coping styles.

Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance

Schema therapy offers a sophisticated understanding of psychological issues by positing that early life experiences lead to the development of pervasive, problematic patterns (schemas) that influence thoughts and behaviors. Schemas are deeply ingrained and painful when they become active. As a result, individuals develop coping styles - surrender, avoidance, and overcompensation - to adapt to their schemas but often become maladaptive over time. By integrating a range of interventions, schema therapy helps clients recognize and address these enduring and self-defeating patterns.

What's inside

  • Comprehensive overview of schema therapy principles.
  • Analysis of early maladaptive schemas, coping styles, and responses.
  • Therapist guidance for supporting coping style awareness.
  • Discussion prompts for understanding client-specific schemas and coping behaviors.
Get access to this resource

FAQs

Coping styles are characteristic ways individuals manage their schemas.
Recognizing EMS helps both the therapist and client identify patterns that perpetuate psychological difficulties.
While coping styles are general patterns, coping responses are specific actions or thoughts triggered by EMS activation.
Yes, clients can modify maladaptive coping styles and develop healthier responses to schemas with appropriate interventions.

How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes

This resource aids in:

  • Introducing clients to key schema therapy concepts.
  • Deepening understanding of clients' maladaptive patterns.
  • Developing schema case conceptualization.
  • Encouraging adaptive thinking and behavior modifications.

Therapists benefit from:

  • An accessible resource for clients.
  • Relatable examples of coping styles and responses.
  • A launchpad for exploring the origins of coping styles.
  • Structured prompts to support client insight.

Clinicians Who Use This Resource Also Use

References And Further Reading

  • Arntz, A., et al. (2021). Towards a reformulated theory underlying schema therapy: Position paper of an international workgroup. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 45, 1007-1020. DOI: 10.1007/s10608-021-10209-5.
  • Askari, A. (2021). New concepts in schema therapy: The six coping styles. Amir Askari.
  • Beck, A. T., et al. (2004). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders. Guilford Press.
  • Briedis, J., & Startup, H. (2020). Somatic perspective in schema therapy: The role of the body in the awareness and transformation of modes and schemas. In G. Heath and H. Startup (Eds.), Creative methods in schema therapy: Advances and innovations in practice. Routledge, 60-75.
  • Calvete, E., et al. (2013). Early maladaptive schemas and social anxiety in adolescents: The mediating role of anxious automatic thoughts. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 27, 278-288. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.02.011.
  • Cutland Green, T., & Balfour, A. (2020). Assessment and formulation in schema therapy. In G. Heath & H. Startup (Eds.), Creative methods in schema therapy: Advances and innovation in clinical practice. Routledge, 19-47.
  • Da Luz, F. Q., et al. (2017). Early maladaptive schemas and cognitive distortions in adults with morbid obesity: relationships with mental health status. Behavioral Sciences, 7, 1-11. DOI: 10.3390/bs7010010.
  • Farrell, J. M., et al. (2014). The schema therapy clinician's guide: A complete resource for building and developing individual, group and integrated schema mode treatment programs. John Wiley and Sons.
  • Loose, C., et al. (2020). Schema therapy for children and adolescents (ST-CA): A practitioner's guide. Pavilion.
  • Luck, A., et al. (2005). The role of schema processes in the eating disorders. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 29, 717-732. DOI: 10.1007/s10608-005-9635-8.
  • Mairet, K., et al. (2014). How important is temperament? The relationship between coping styles, early maladaptive schemas and social anxiety. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 14, 171-190.
  • Nia, M. K., & Sovani, A. (2014). Cross cultural comparison role of early maladaptive schemas and coping styles between women with depressive symptoms in Iran and India. Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences, 4, 57-65.
  • Rafaeli, E., et al. (2011). Schema therapy: Distinctive features. Routledge.
  • Sheffield, A., et al. (2009). Do schema processes mediate links between parenting and eating pathology? European Eating Disorders Review, 17, 290-300. DOI: 10.1002/erv.922.
  • Simeone-DiFrancesco, C., et al. (2015). Schema therapy with couples: A practitioner's guide to healing. John Wiley and Sons.
  • Van Genderen, H., et al. (2012). Theoretical model: Schemas, coping styles, and modes. In M. van Vreeswijk, J. Broersen, & M. Nadort (Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of schema therapy: Theory, research, and practice. John Wiley and Sons, 27-40.
  • Van Vreeswijk, M., et al. (2014). Mindfulness and schema therapy: A practical guide. John Wiley and Sons.
  • Young, J. E. (1990). Cognitive therapy for personality disorders: A schema-focused approach. Practitioner's Resource Exchange.
  • Young, J. E. (1999). Cognitive therapy for personality disorders: A schema-focused approach (3rd ed.). Professional Resource Press.
  • Young, J. E., & Klosko, J. S. (1994). Reinventing your life: The breakthrough program to end negative behavior and feel great again. Plume.
  • Young, J. E., et al. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioner's guide. Guilford Press.
  • Young, J. E., et al. (2002). Combining EMDR and schema-focused therapy: The whole may be greater than the sum of the parts. In F. Shapiro (Ed.), EMDR as an integrative psychotherapy approach: Experts of diverse orientations explore the paradigm prism. American Psychological Association, 181-208.

Why Psychology Tools?

Popular Pages

Get Support

Sign Up

We value your privacy

This site uses strictly necessary cookies to function. We do not use cookies for analytics, marketing, or tracking purposes. By clicking “OK”, you agree to the use of these essential cookies. Read our Cookie Policy