Creative Methods in Schema Therapy

Gillian Heath is a Clinical Psychologist and Co-Director of Schema Therapy Associates Training Programme. She has co-authored a number of highly regarded Schema Therapy resources, including the Schema Therapy Toolkit, an online video training tool demonstrating core and advanced Schema Therapy techniques. Helen Startup is Consultant Clinical Psychologist and joint Head of Psychology for the Sussex Partnership NHS Eating Disorders Service. She is also an honorary Senior Lecturer with Sussex University and Co-Directs Schema Therapy School, UK.

• An Introduction to Schema Therapy: Origins, Overview, Research Status and Future Directions; Part I: Assessment, Formulation and Core Needs; 1: Assessment and Formulation in Schema Therapy; 2: Experiential Techniques at Assessment; 3: Somatic perspective in schema therapy - the role of the body in mode awareness and transformation; 4: Understanding and Meeting Core Emotional Needs; Part II: Creative Methods using Imagery; 5: Core Principles of Imagery; 6: Imagery Rescripting for Childhood Memories; 7: Working with Trauma Memories and Complex; 8: Current Life Imagery; Part III: Creative Methods using Chair Work, Mode Dialogues and Play; 9: Creative Use of Mode dialogues with the Vulnerable Child and Dysfunctional Critic Modes; 10: Spontaneity and Play in Schema Therapy; 11: Creative Methods with Coping Modes and Chair Work; 12: Bridging the Gap between Forensic and General Clinical Practice: Working in the "here and now" with difficult schema modes; 13: Schema Therapy for Couples: Interventions to Promote Secure Connections; Part IV: Empathic Confrontation and the Therapy Relationship; 14: The Art of Empathic Confrontation and Limit-Setting; 15: Authenticity and Personal Openness in the Therapy Relationship; 16: Therapist Schema Activation and Self Care; Part V: Developing Healthy Adult and Endings in Schema Therapy; 17: Developing A Compassionate Mind to Strengthen the Healthy Adult; 18: Building the Healthy Adult in Eating Disorders: A Schema Mode and Emotion Focused Therapy Approach for Anorexia Nervosa; 19: Brief Work - Schema Informed CBT; 20: Endings and the Therapy Relationship

This a wonderful compilation of clinically rich innovations in ST practice that would appeal to both accomplished therapists and trainees alike. Dr Jeffery Young, Founder of Schema TherapyThe editors have assembled a great line up of contributors drawing on many years of experience of Schema Therapy approaches. The book really does live up to the name on the cover – introducing many creative methods, especially those using imagery interventions, that can be adopted and implemented in a range of settings. This book highlights again that therapists can show flexibility with the techniques we use if we are true to the underlying principles and conceptual model.This is a book both for experienced practitioners and those new to the ideas; for those providing ‘true’ schema therapy and also for those who wish to use these ideas to inform their CBT. This is an intensely practical book and I predict you’ll be using it and recommending it for years to come. Dr Nick Grey, Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UKI am so pleased to endorse this extraordinary body of work offered by Dr. Gillian Heath and Dr. Helen Startup, Creative Methods in Schema Therapy: Advances and Innovation in Clinical Practice. It is an important contribution to psychotherapists worldwide; a comprehensive collection of talented colleagues from the Schema Therapy global community. This instrumental book, informed by the work of Dr. Jeffrey Young (founder of the model) offers chapters that delve into both the theory and application of the Schema Therapy approach. Gill and Helen are highly experienced and talented Schema Therapy practitioners and educators, who have put forth a rigorous effort in bringing this edited book to fruition, resulting in a thoughtful and relevant guide for addressing some of the most challenging treatment populations in the most effective ways. This evidence-based model is beautifully represented throughout the book with clearly articulated illustrations of robust schema therapy conceptualization, assessment tools, and treatment strategies for meeting unmet emotional needs and healing lifelong maladaptive patterns of behavior.I am deeply grateful for Gill and Helen’s invitation to participate in this remarkable book, and confidently recommend it to the professional community as a valuable resource for your clinical library. Wendy Behary, Past-President, International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST)This book lives up to the promise of its title and is a welcome addition to the resources available to clinicians practicing Schema Therapy, whether just beginning or already experienced. Psychotherapy is a craft and within the integrative framework of the Schema Therapy model for conceptualizing cases, there is considerable room for the creativity and artistry of the therapist in responding the challenges we inevitably meet when responding to the unique features of the individuals we work with. Extensively illustrated with accessible clinical examples, the chapters of the book provide clear and helpful perspectives on assessment, case conceptualization and the application of a wide range of specific interventions (including imagery, chairwork, relational work with reparenting, and standard CBT methods). These are applied to a range of clinical problems including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, trauma and complex trauma, eating disorders, forensic populations, and working with couples. There are contributions from a diverse range of authors who reflect the originality, diversity, creativity and clinical acumen that increasingly characterise our Schema Therapy community. I look forward to recommending this book to my colleagues and supervisees.David Edwards, Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, South Africa, President, International Society of Schema Therapy"Creative Methods" is the first overview of the current state and new developments in Schema Therapy (ST) since the Wiley Handbook in 2012. In addition to hands-on descriptions of established techniques such as imagery and chair work, it adds some new topics to the table including body awareness, treating complex PTSD and schema informed brief CBT. Everything in the book has a strong focus on practical and clinical applications, especially of new creative techniques. This is unique! Besides some renowned authors it also brings a large number of new writers "on stage", especially from the Anglo-Australian sphere, reflecting the growth of ST worldwide. The contributions are profound and provide depth to the reader’s understanding of the model. Therapists new to ST, wanting a broad overview, as well as experienced schema therapists looking for more depth and detailed guidance, will find what they are looking for! Among the increasing number of Schema Therapy publications, this book is surely one of the most valuable and a must have for a comprehensive library on Schema Therapy. I am sure this book will be a success story.Dr Eckhard Roediger, Past-President of the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST) and Director of Schema Therapy Institute, Germany