Schema Therapy

We understand just how difficult it can be to live with borderline personality disorder (BPD). You may feel like no one understands why you act the way you do. Mood swings, upsetting thoughts, and impulsiveness can cause you to behave slightly differently to other people. This is nothing to be ashamed of but with the right treatment, you can go on to manage your BPD and lead a fulfilling life. A highly renowned treatment approach, schema therapy, is often used to treat BPD and other mood disorders like anxiety and depression.

Schema therapy is a branch of psychotherapy that focuses on acknowledging negative thoughts and feelings, replacing them with positive ways of thinking. This therapy is built on the idea of ‘schemas’, also known as patterns of thinking and behaviours. These schemas can be positive or negative but in the case of mood disorders, they’re usually negative and tied to childhood experiences. If you have developed an unhealthy schema because of your childhood (i.e. fear of abandonment, feelings of defectiveness, or social isolation), you’re more likely to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms and behaviours.

Here at Addcounsel, we know that mood disorders are incredibly complex – no two cases are the same and everyone’s childhood experiences and triggers will be different. That’s why we always aim to take a ‘whole person’ approach to treatment. We’ll work with you to draft up a personalised treatment plan that suits your unique needs and medical history, combining schema therapy with a range of other treatment options to maximise the success of your recovery journey.

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How Schema Therapy Works

At its core, schema therapy is all about overturning negative thought patterns and behaviours (schemas). During sessions, you’ll work with a therapist to unpick these schemas and link them back to specific childhood events and experiences. You’ll then be encouraged to let go of these unhealthy schemas and develop healthy ways of processing emotions. This could be something as simple as practising breathing exercises when you’re angry or journaling when you feel sad, instead of turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms like outbursts or self-destructive behaviours.

Schema therapy hinges on the idea that if your basic needs are not met as a child, then unhealthy schemas will develop as a result. These needs include feeling safe and attached to your caregivers, feeling a sense of self-identity, being able to express yourself properly, being able to play, and having age-appropriate limits and boundaries set by your caregivers. Other common negative experiences that can lead to the development of schemas include:

Unfulfilled needs: When your core emotional needs are not met by your caregivers
Trauma: When you experience traumatic events as a child such as abuse or neglect
Overindulgence: When your caregivers fail to set limits or end up being too over-protective of you
Selective personalisation and identification: When you identify and absorb some of your caregiver’s behaviours and beliefs, even if they’re unhealthy

I would like to thank addcounsel from the bottom of my heart for saving my partners life. Nine months ago we asked you for help. My partner was near death from his addictions. You have given my children there dad back and I will forever be eternally grateful.

I was referred by a friend of mine, whose daughter was treated there and who similarly, was at the 'end of the road'. From the initial contact, through the entire process, everything was different. They inspired a new confidence and the way the staff treated my son, and, uniquely, how they treated me, was incredible. He is now making great progress and I cannot express my gratitude enough.

The staff were professional, friendly and were there 24/7 to help me out with any problems that I had. All of my needs were dealt with promptly and the environment was tailored to my needs and character. No small detail was overlooked. I continued to receive care, encouragement and coaching, even after my time with them had come to an end. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone who needs them."

How Schema Therapy Can Help You

As well as being a completely natural treatment approach, schema therapy can help you better manage and eventually overturn your schemas, giving you the tools and insight needed to function as a healthy adult. With regular sessions, you’ll learn to identify your own schemas and what you can do to change them and get your core emotional needs met in a healthier way. Not only will these changes impact how you treat yourself, but they will also impact the way you interact with others and make it easier for you to build healthy, solid relationships.

A lot of the schemas that you’ll uncover during sessions may even come as a surprise to you, so schema therapy is a great way of getting to ‘know’ yourself. The therapy teaches you to better understand why you act the way you do in certain situations. Knowing where certain behaviours and thought patterns originate from can help you become accepting of yourself and develop a greater sense of self-worth.

The great thing about schema therapy is that it can be used to treat a wide range of disorders and isn’t limited to one specific condition. Alongside borderline personality disorder, schema therapy can also be used in the treatment of substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Unequalled Privacy and Luxury

You don’t need to ride out your feelings alone. Whether you have a disorder or want to untangle past childhood experiences, schema therapy can help you make sense of your behaviours and thought patterns, arming you with the tools and resources needed to effect positive life-long change and transform maladaptive behaviours. We understand that it may seem scary to open up to someone, but rest assured that our therapists will never push you beyond your limits. We’ll encourage you to progress at a pace that suits you, so you’ll never feel pressured to open up or talk if you don’t want to.

Located in London’s luxurious Mayfair, Addcounsel is a clinic like no other. Combining world-class equipment and medical staff with years of expertise, we’ll do all we can to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible.

Get the help you need and overcome your mood disorder with Addcounsel. Contact us today at +44 (0)203 709 3968 or email us at enquiries@addcounsel.com for an in-depth look at treatment and what you can expect in the admissions process.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I need help from Addcounsel?

If you have tried to stop a behaviour or habit and cannot, despite the negative impact it is having on your life then it is likely that you may need clinical intervention. Additionally, if a mental health condition is affecting the quality of your life then we can also help you.
If in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact us.

What is different about Addcounsel’s approach to treatment?

Addcounsel are the only luxury treatment centre in London who offer a network of 80 specialists on a one-to-one basis to their clients. We pride ourselves on focussing on clinical excellence, meaning that we are client focussed but results driven. We understand what it is to work with wealthy clients; we know that it is not always easy and we know how to treat the complex and unique challenges it can entail.
We carry out a thorough diagnosis with our team of expert medical and psychiatric practitioners; this enables us to not only know what the client’s immediate problem is but the underlying factors which may be affecting it. We use this to provide a bespoke holistic treatment program in which every single aspect of the client is looked after, from their physical to their mental health. We are well equipped to match both our clients therapeutic and lifestyle needs, and we provide ongoing care plans with the goal of enabling our clients to have long lasting and consistent recovery.

What will my treatment program look like?

Our treatment programs are delivered on a case-by-case basis. Humans are all individuals, and at Addcounsel we recognise that. This is why our program is always tailored to the needs of the client as a person, rather than trying to apply a “one-size-fits-all” treatment model. However, some of the therapies our clients can expect to receive are:

Will anyone know I have been to Addcounsel?

In short, no. Our staff are very experienced in dealing with high-profile individuals and as such we understand the value of complete privacy. The only way that someone will find out that you attended Addcounsel is if you choose to tell them.

What happens when my treatment ends?

Our treatment programs are bespoke, and as such they do not have to have a set finish date. If you decide that you need to extend your stay with us, then we will extend your stay as long as you want.
If you decide that you need additional help upon leaving treatment, we offer tailored aftercare plans which can be carried out all over the world. This means that at any point you can have a member of our team with you, wherever you decide to go.

Can I bring my entourage/private staff?

Absolutely. At Addcounsel, we pride ourselves on minimal disruption to the lifestyles of our clients. We want them to feel at home and comfortable during their time with us, so your staff can either stay with you or we can accommodate them in one of our exclusive Central London properties. We do provide a chef, but you are of course welcome to bring your own.
Addcounsel is also able to provide house staff, butlers, and private security if our clients require it.

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Contact Us Today

Whether you’re worried about yourself or a loved one, our team would like to answer any questions you may have about treatment. Call our care team today to find out more about our treatment modalities and have all your questions answered