Schema Therapy and DBT – Can they be friends?

Schema Therapy (ST) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) models are very different approaches to treatment. Can these two different models be applied together?

Introducing Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy was founded in the mid-1980s, by Dr. Jeffrey Young. Often discussed as an advancement on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, this modality is both proven and becoming increasingly popular.

Founded in the United States, this model of therapy is growing worldwide with a particularly large cohort of psychologists across Europe and Australia becoming certified by the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST).

FREE Podcast: Combining models: ST and Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Clinical Psychologists Chris Hepworth, Chris Hayes and Robert Brockman candidly discuss their challenges and experiences. In this one hour episode they talk about their failings – and success. Read more or listen here.

New Schema Therapy courses

In June, 2021 we introduced two new courses. These are presented by practicing Schema Therapists and ISST accredited Chris Hayes and Robert Brockman

To learn more about Schema Therapy view these courses:

Schema Therapy Online Course 1: The Basic Model Methods and Techniques

Schema Therapy Online Course 2: The Schema Modern Model and Mode Interventions for Complex Cases

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Anyone can experience challenges with their own mental health, but their experience can be vastly different depending on their background and identity.

Video credit: National Alliance on Mental Illness.

July marked National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

First founded in 2008, this month is intended to bring attention to those unique struggles experienced by ethnic and cultural minorities. This year the month was highlighted as being even more important due to the pandemic – noting it was harder for racial and ethnic minorities to access care.

As well as speaking to the mental health community, the campaign targeted minority community leaders. The purpose was to bring mental health to the front of mind of these individuals and ultimately normalize it, by making it less stigmatized.

Sharing mental health

In many cultures and communities, mental health is not discussed. If it is considered taboo, it is much more difficult for people to ask for help.

“Black people, especially black women, were always expected to be strong,” says Charita Cole Brown, who published a book on the subject, detailing her own experience with Bipolar Disorder. Her view is, it would be beneficial to see stigma removed so, “having a mental health challenge be as common as having diabetes.”

You can hear more stories like this as part of a docuseries created by NAMI, named Stength Over Silence.

Has the pandemic changed the way you work in 2020 – 2021?

Many mental health care professionals have had extra challenges.