Photo of Samantha Gambale in 19333, PA
Samantha Gambale
LSW, MSW
Verified Verified
Devon, PA 19333
Are you dealing with overwhelming anxiety? Is daily stress accumulating and impacting your wellbeing? Tired of a loud inner critic? If so, contact me for a free consult & we'll get started on your healing together. Pushing away your needs and not taking time for yourself can lead to long-term issues for your mind&body. Therapy helps us understand our life events, family dynamics and personal identity. It focuses on what is in our control and how to take the steps towards self-acceptance. Through integrative techniques, we identify the root of your symptoms&skills to thrive. I work with ages 13 + as a holistic ally to help you heal.
Are you dealing with overwhelming anxiety? Is daily stress accumulating and impacting your wellbeing? Tired of a loud inner critic? If so, contact me for a free consult & we'll get started on your healing together. Pushing away your needs and not taking time for yourself can lead to long-term issues for your mind&body. Therapy helps us understand our life events, family dynamics and personal identity. It focuses on what is in our control and how to take the steps towards self-acceptance. Through integrative techniques, we identify the root of your symptoms&skills to thrive. I work with ages 13 + as a holistic ally to help you heal.
(215) 607-8174 View (215) 607-8174
Schema Therapy

How does schema therapy work?

Schema therapy is based on the idea that maladaptive thought patterns formed in childhood—that other people can never be relied on, for example—can interfere with healthy functioning in adulthood. Accordingly, schema therapy works by directly targeting such unhealthy schemas, identifying their consequences, and replacing them with more adaptive ways of thinking. To this end, schema therapists aim to “reparent” the client by offering what they didn’t get in childhood—validation, for instance, or compassion—to reorient their worldview.

Is schema therapy evidence-based?

Schema therapy is still considered relatively new, and research on its efficacy is still in progress. However, some studies have concluded that it can be effective at treating certain mental health conditions, most notably personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder. Evidence for its efficacy in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD is promising but less conclusive, and experts warn that much of the existing research is of low quality.

Is schema therapy a type of CBT?

Schema therapy is based on many principles of CBT, most notably the process of recognizing and challenging maladaptive thought patterns. But because schema therapy also draws from other approaches,including psychoanalysis and Gestalt therapy, it is not considered a form of CBT. It also typically delves deeper into the client’s childhood than does CBT.

How does schema therapy work?

Schema therapy does not call for a set number of sessions and is instead open-ended, with the treatment timeline depending on the client’s primary concern(s), progress, and preferences. Treatment that lasts between six months and two years is common, though many clients will start to see progress much earlier than that.