Schema therapy represents a brilliant addition to the therapist's armamentarium of techniques. Building on cognitive therapy, the approach provides a means for dealing with many of the problems people face in their daily lives. For example, someone with a social isolation/alienation schema will believe that he or she is isolated from others, but often will act in ways to create or exacerbate this isolation. A complete guide to the use of schema therapy, this book shows how to help clients recognize and overcome such maladaptive patterns. I very highly recommend it."--Robert J. Sternberg, PhD, Department of Psychology, Yale University "This volume demonstrates in a skillful, highly readable fashion how the standard cognitive therapy approaches to Axis 1 disorders can be expanded and modified to treat personality disorders. Working within a comprehensive cognitive model, the authors draw on a variety of strategies to address the specific problems in this population: rigid, lifelong maladaptive characterological patterns; chronic interpersonal difficulties; and transference reactions. The book shows how to attenuate the powerful beliefs underlying these patterns through exploratory and experiential strategies. Highly recommended for all therapists engaged in treating patients with these very difficult personality problems."--Aaron T. Beck, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania "The work of Jeffrey E. Young and his colleagues represents both a major contribution to the evolution of cognitive and cognitive-behavioral therapy and an important step toward enhancing the prospects for integrating cognitive therapy with other approaches, particularly psychoanalysis. This book presents schema therapy in clear and generous detail and offers much to the experienced practitioner and the student. A highly valuable and worthwhile contribution."--Paul L. Wachtel, PhD, Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, City College, City U

Two of America's leading psychologists, Jeffrey E. Young, Ph.D., and Janet S. Klosko, Ph.D., show readers how to free themselves from negative life patterns. Written with compassion as well as clinical insight, this thought-provoking book guides readers through the process of identifying "life traps." For example, "Do you put the needs of others before your own? Are you drawn into relationships with people who are self-centered, cold to you, misunderstand you, or use you? Do you feel inadequate compared to people around you?" Followed by an engaging discussion that makes use of case studies, this book can help people change their lives by stopping the cycle of self-destruction.

Designed to meet the formidable challenges of treating personality disorders and other complex difficulties, schema therapy combines proven cognitive-behavioral techniques with elements of other widely practiced therapies. This book--written by the model's developer and two of its leading practitioners--is the first major text for clinicians wishing to learn and use this popular approach. Described are innovative ways to rapidly conceptualize challenging cases, explore the client's childhood history, identify and modify self-defeating patterns, use imagery and other experiential techniques in treatment, and maximize the power of the therapeutic relationship. Including detailed protocols for treating borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder, the book is illustrated with numerous clinical examples.