What is schema therapy?
Schema therapy is an in-depth, evidence-based therapy developed by psychologist Jeffrey Young for the kinds of long-standing, deeply rooted difficulties that briefer approaches do not always reach. It brings together elements of CBT, attachment theory, and other approaches into one integrated model.
At its centre is the idea of schemas: deep patterns of belief and feeling about ourselves, others, and the world, formed early in life when core emotional needs were not fully met. A child who did not feel safe, valued, or accepted can grow into an adult who believes, at a deep level, that they are unlovable, defective, or destined to be abandoned. These schemas operate beneath everyday awareness, yet they shape our choices, relationships, and self-image, often keeping the same painful patterns repeating.
At Integro Health, schema therapy is delivered by our psychotherapists in a warm, non-judgemental environment in South West WA, in person or online.
How schema therapy works
Because schemas form early and run deep, they usually cannot be shifted by logic alone. Schema therapy works at both the thinking and the emotional level. Together, you and your psychotherapist identify the schemas driving your difficulties, understand where they came from, and see how they play out in your life today, often in the very patterns and relationships that keep hurting you.
From there, the work goes beyond insight. Schema therapy uses experiential techniques, such as guided imagery and chair work, to reach and gently rework the emotional roots of a schema, in a way that talking about them cannot. A central part is what is called limited reparenting: within safe professional boundaries, your therapist provides some of the understanding and care that was missing early on, helping the wounded part of you feel differently. Alongside this, you make real changes in how you live and relate.
The aim is not just to understand your patterns, but to genuinely change them, and to get more of your emotional needs met in healthy ways.
How schema therapy works in practice
Schema therapy is usually longer-term work, because it reaches deep patterns. It unfolds through a few broad phases, always at a pace that feels safe.
Understanding your patterns
Together, we identify the schemas and patterns behind your difficulties, and trace where they came from. Seeing the pattern clearly, and understanding it with compassion, is a powerful beginning.
Making the link to today
We look at how these early patterns still play out in your life and relationships now, often in the very situations that keep repeating, so change can happen where it matters.
Reaching the emotional roots
Using experiential techniques like imagery and chair work, we gently reach and rework the emotional core of a schema, in a way that insight alone cannot, always within your control.
A different kind of relationship
Within safe professional boundaries, the therapy relationship itself becomes part of the healing, offering some of the understanding and care that was missing, so the wounded part of you can feel differently.
Building a healthier life
As the old patterns loosen, we help you build new ways of relating and getting your needs met, so change takes root in your actual life, not just the therapy room.
Meet our practitioners
At Integro Health, schema therapy is delivered by qualified psychotherapists and clinicians with genuine warmth and years of experience. Take a moment to read about our practitioners and find the right fit for you.
Dr Paul King
General Practitioner
MBBS Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery
FRACGP Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Jools Fordyce
Social Worker & Family Therapist
Bachelor (Hons) – Applied Social Science with Diploma in Social Work
Postgraduate Diploma in Family and Relationship Therapy
Brooke Eden
Psychologist
Bachelor of Psychology
Graduate Diploma of Education
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.
Nicholas Kerr
Psychologist
Masters of Psychology (Organisational)
Bachelor of Arts
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.
Carli King
Office Administrator
As Practice Manager, Carli keeps the daily operations of Integro Health running smoothly, ensuring our clients always receive the highest standard of care.
What schema therapy can help with
Childhood Trauma
Gently understand how early experiences still shape you today, and rework the patterns they left behind. Therapy in Bunbury and…
Childhood Trauma →
Complex PTSD
Careful, relational therapy for complex trauma that builds safety and trust first. Support in Bunbury or online across the South…
Complex PTSD →
Low Self-Esteem
Build a steadier, kinder relationship with yourself and quieten a harsh inner critic. Psychological support in Bunbury and online across…
Low Self-Esteem →
Relationship Problems
Understand the patterns that keep repeating in your relationships and build the connection you are looking for. Support in Bunbury…
Relationship Problems →
Perfectionism
Loosen the grip of relentless standards and free your sense of worth from the need to be flawless. Therapy in…
Perfectionism →
Depression
Warm, judgement-free support for depression and persistent low mood, helping you find your way back toward feeling like yourself. In…
Depression →Why Integro Health
Registered, experienced clinicians
Your therapy is delivered by qualified psychotherapists and clinicians trained in the approach. Experience and genuine care come as standard.
A whole-person approach
We look at every part of you, your thoughts, feelings, relationships, and circumstances, because difficulties rarely sit in just one area of life.
The right approach for you
We use schema therapy where it genuinely fits, and draw on other evidence-based approaches when they would help, rather than forcing a one-size formula.
In Bunbury and online
See us in person at our Eaton clinic near Bunbury, or by secure telehealth anywhere in South West WA and beyond. The choice is yours.
Is schema therapy effective? The evidence
Schema therapy has a growing and encouraging evidence base, particularly for the kinds of deep, long-standing difficulties that other therapies sometimes struggle to shift. Research supports its effectiveness for entrenched patterns, chronic difficulties, and longstanding relationship and self-image problems, and it is increasingly recognised as a leading approach for these.
Its strength lies in reaching the emotional roots of a problem, not just the surface. For people who have tried other therapies and found the same patterns returning, schema therapy often reaches something those approaches could not.
Because it works deeply, schema therapy usually takes longer than briefer approaches, and it asks for a willingness to explore painful early experiences, gently and at your pace. It is a significant piece of work, and a genuinely hopeful one. Where a briefer or different approach would suit you better, we will say so.
What to expect in schema therapy
Schema therapy blends understanding with deeper, more experiential work. Alongside talking about your patterns and where they came from, you may be guided through imagery exercises or chair work, which help reach and rework the emotional roots of a schema in a way that discussion alone cannot.
This work is always done gently, within safe boundaries, and at a pace you control. The relationship with your psychotherapist matters especially in schema therapy, because it becomes part of the healing. It is usually longer-term work, and deeply worthwhile. Sessions run for around 50 minutes, sometimes longer for certain exercises, worked out with you.
You can read more about what to expect on our first session page.
Is schema therapy right for you?
Schema therapy may be a good fit if the same painful patterns keep repeating in your life and relationships, if difficulties feel long-standing and rooted in your earliest years, or if you have tried other therapies and found the same issues returning. It is especially suited to deep patterns around worth, trust, abandonment, and self-image.
Because it is deeper, longer-term work, schema therapy is not always the right starting point. If you need focused help with a specific current problem, an approach like CBT may suit better, and where trauma is central, we might combine schema therapy with EMDR. If you are not sure what you need, reaching out is a good first step, and we can help you find the right path together.
Your questions answered
A schema is a deep, self-defeating pattern of belief and feeling about yourself, others, or the world, usually formed early in life when core emotional needs were not fully met. Examples include feeling fundamentally unlovable, defective, or bound to be abandoned. Schemas run beneath everyday awareness but shape how we think, feel, and relate, often keeping painful patterns repeating.
CBT tends to focus on current thoughts and behaviours, and is often relatively brief. Schema therapy goes deeper and usually takes longer, working with the early roots of long-standing patterns and using more experiential techniques to reach them emotionally. Schema therapy grew partly out of CBT, to help with difficulties that briefer approaches did not fully resolve.
Schema therapy provided by a registered clinician can attract a Medicare rebate if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, which covers up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. We are happy to explain what applies to you and talk through the options and costs before you begin.
Schema therapy is usually longer-term work, because it reaches deep, long-standing patterns. Many people work over a number of months or longer, in careful stages. That said, understanding your patterns and being met with real care often brings relief early on. We review progress with you throughout and never rush the work.
Schema therapy does gently explore early experiences, because that is where the patterns began, but always within safe boundaries and at a pace you control. Experiential exercises like imagery are used to help rework the feelings, not to make you suffer through them. You are never pushed further than you are ready to go.
Yes. We offer sessions by secure telehealth across South West WA and Australia-wide, as well as in person at our Eaton clinic near Bunbury. For most people online sessions are just as effective, and they are especially helpful if you are in a regional area or short on time. You can read more on our online therapy page.
No referral is needed to book a session. You can contact us directly to arrange a first appointment. If you would like to access a Medicare rebate through a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you will need a GP referral first, and we can guide you through that.
Schema therapy is especially helpful for deep, long-standing difficulties, including childhood trauma, complex PTSD, low self-esteem, relationship patterns, perfectionism, and chronic depression. If you are not sure whether it fits, we are happy to advise.
Medically reviewed by
General Practitioner
The clinical information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Dr Paul King, General Practitioner at Integro Health. It is general information, and not a substitute for personal medical or psychological advice.
