Looking to understand your own patterns of behaviour?

How it works

We utilise experiential, behavioural and cognitive techniques to help people identify schemas and overcome any unmet needs in the above areas. Some techniques include building self-awareness, imagery, reparenting, and chair work to name a few. The overall aim in therapy is to reduce the intensity of memories connected to a schema, the emotional charge, the strength of the bodily sensations and the maladaptive cognitions.

What we do

But what is a schema exactly? Well, schemas are broad and pervasive beliefs that we have about ourselves, other people and the world. The framework believes that schemas result from unmet core emotional needs in childhood.

Through counselling we aim to heal schemas, identify coping styles that get in the way of emotional needs, change patterns, and ultimately learn how we can have our emotional needs met in healthy and adaptive ways.

We all have needs, and the framework suggests there are five core categories that we work towards in counselling:

1. Secure attachments
2. Autonomy, competence, and sense of identity
3. Freedom to express valid needs and emotions
4. Spontaneity and play
5. Realistic limits and self-control