Schema Therapy

Schema therapy is a depth-oriented style of therapy that looks beneath the surface to explore and change long standing problems. Answer these questions to see if schema therapy might be a fit for you:

• Do you feel stuck in life patterns that never seem to change, no matter how hard you try?

• Do you struggle with feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, or emotional emptiness that don’t go away?

• Do you notice the same relationship patterns repeating—such as choosing partners who criticize, control, or leave you feeling deprived?

• Have you tried CBT, DBT, or other therapies, but still feel like something deeper is holding you back?

If these questions sound familiar, Schema Therapy may be the approach you’ve been looking for. It’s designed for people whose struggles are rooted in deeper, long-standing patterns and who want lasting change, not just short-term relief.

Laura Johnson, LMFT, LPCC, is a certified schema therapist with expertise in obsessive compulsive personality disorder therapy. I can provide you with obsessive compulsive personality disorder therapy if you live anywhere in California including San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Schema Therapy is an integrative, evidence-based therapy that combines elements of cognitive-behavioral, experiential, attachment, and psychodynamic approaches. It was specifically developed to help people with entrenched, recurring problems that other therapies haven’t fully resolved.

Schema Therapy helps you:

• Identify and change entrenched life patterns (called “schemas”) that keep you stuck.

• Understand how unmet emotional needs in childhood created coping styles you still use today—even though they no longer serve you.

• Heal at both a cognitive (how you think), emotional (how you feel), and behavioral (what you do) level.

• Build healthier ways of relating to yourself and others, so you can meet your core emotional needs in everyday life.

At its core, Schema Therapy focuses on breaking free from self-defeating cycles and creating lasting change in how you think, feel, and relate.

Schema Therapy is built around four main concepts:

• Early Maladaptive Schemas. These are 18 recurring themes or patterns (like abandonment, defectiveness, or unrelenting standards) that develop when core needs aren’t met in childhood.
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• Schema Domains. These group the 18 schemas into five areas, each reflecting a set of unmet needs:
• • Disconnection & Rejection – difficulty forming secure, trusting relationships; fear of abandonment, rejection, or defectiveness.
  • Impaired Autonomy & Performance – struggles with independence, confidence, and competence; fear of failure or dependence on others.
  • Impaired Limits – problems with boundaries, responsibility, or respecting others’ needs; may lead to entitlement or lack of self-control.
  • Excessive Responsibility & Standards – pressure to meet unrelenting expectations; driven by perfectionism, guilt, or hypercriticalness.
  • Overvigilance & Inhibition – difficulty relaxing, expressing emotions, or being spontaneous; prioritizing rules, duty, or control over joy.
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• Coping Styles. The survival strategies children develop—surrender, avoidance, or overcompensation—that often become unhelpful in adulthood.
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• Schema Modes. The “parts of self” or emotional states triggered in the moment (e.g., the Vulnerable Child, Angry Child, or Detached Protector) that can drive overreactions or withdrawal.

Therapy involves identifying the schemas and modes driving your struggles, understanding their origins, and using techniques like imagery, role-play, and guided exercises to heal them.

I’m one of fewer than a handful of therapists in California that’s Advanced Certified in Schema Therapy, a powerful and depth-oriented approach that goes beyond surface-level solutions. This credential requires a two-year intensive training and supervision program—making it one of the most rigorous certifications in the therapy field.

I am also a proud member of the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), the official worldwide organization dedicated to maintaining the highest professional standards for Schema Therapy.

In addition, I’m a Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. This combination means you get the best of both worlds: CBT for proven, short-term relief, and Schema Therapy for deeper transformation when old patterns continue to get in the way.