Photo of Michelle Fortier, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 32303, FL
Michelle Fortier
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
6 Endorsed
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Waitlist for new clients
My specialty is working with adults and teens with emotional dysregulation, self-harming behaviors and difficulty with impulsive, destructive and self-destructive behavior. I also treat trauma both in adolescents and in adults. I offer fully adherent DBT. Adherent Dialectical Behavior Therapy has the most evidence showing it to be an effective treatment for suicidal people and people with Borderline Personality Disorder and BPD traits. At this current time we are the only practice in the Tallahassee area offering full protocol, adherent DBT which means you get the treatment that works best to help you or your teen stop suffering.
My specialty is working with adults and teens with emotional dysregulation, self-harming behaviors and difficulty with impulsive, destructive and self-destructive behavior. I also treat trauma both in adolescents and in adults. I offer fully adherent DBT. Adherent Dialectical Behavior Therapy has the most evidence showing it to be an effective treatment for suicidal people and people with Borderline Personality Disorder and BPD traits. At this current time we are the only practice in the Tallahassee area offering full protocol, adherent DBT which means you get the treatment that works best to help you or your teen stop suffering.
(850) 306-4476 View (850) 306-4476
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.