Many people come to therapy at a point where something no longer feels sustainable, or because they begin to notice emotional or relational patterns they don’t fully understand.

From the outside, life may appear steady and functional. Internally, however, there may be a growing sense of exhaustion, confusion in relationships, anxiety, or frustration with patterns that seem to repeat despite their best efforts.

People may notice themselves giving more than feels manageable, questioning their reactions, or pulling away when there is conflict — often accompanied by self-doubt or a sense that they might be the problem. They may find themselves saying yes when they mean no, accommodating others at their own expense, or reacting more strongly than they would like in certain situations. Others recognise a familiar cycle of committing deeply and wholeheartedly, only to eventually reach a point of depletion — feeling burnt out, disillusioned, or uncertain about direction.

Over time, these patterns can contribute to a sense of being stuck or overwhelmed, particularly when they play out across multiple areas of life, such as work, close relationships, or family systems.

For some, this point is reached after being part of environments that felt controlling, shaming, or difficult to make sense of, such as workplaces, families, faith communities, or intimate relationships. The impact of these experiences is sometimes subtle and difficult to understand or name.

Many clients arrive describing an internal sense of conflict — as though different parts of themselves are pulling in opposing directions.

There may be a compliant part that has learned to adapt, accommodate, or keep the peace, alongside another part that no longer wants to accept the status quo.

A relentlessly driven part may push to keep going, achieve, or hold everything together, while another part feels exhausted, depleted, or close to collapse.

Others notice a tension between a part that longs for closeness and connection, and a part that withdraws or shuts down when things feel emotionally charged or uncertain.

Decision-making can become particularly difficult when different internal needs or priorities pull in opposing directions, one part pushing to keep going, another seeking rest, safety, or change.

Schema Therapy tends to suit people who are looking to go on a therapeutic journey, rather than those seeking quick fixes or surface-level strategies. It is often well suited to individuals who are willing to engage in deeper work — taking time to understand longstanding patterns, the ways they learned to cope, and how these continue to shape relationships, work, and self-perception.

The Schema Therapy approach recognises that many difficulties develop in response to earlier relational or systemic experiences, and that meaningful change happens gradually through understanding, compassion, and learning new ways of responding. For those who see therapy as an investment in themselves and in the quality of their relationships and lives, Schema Therapy offers a structured and thoughtful framework for longer-term change.