Although short-term cognitive behavior therapies (CBT) are widely effe
ctive, we have noticed that patients with personality disorders do not
make sufficient progress with these treatments. We contend that optim
al treatment can only be accomplished for these patients if it is modi
fied to address the personality disorder. Schema-focused therapy (SFT)
was developed by Young (1990) to specifically address the needs of th
ese patients and combines cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, and ex
periential techniques in treatment. Compared to short-term cognitive t
herapy (CT)(1), SFT emphasizes the therapeutic relationship as a vehic
le of change, utilizes emotive techniques to address early issues and
later life problems, involves less guided discovery, more active confr
ontation of cognition and behavior patterns, and a greater concern wit
h identifying and overcoming cognitive and behavioral avoidance. Final
ly, because there is far more resistance to change, the course of trea
tment is longer in SFT. Assessment, treatment strategies, and an illus
trative case example will be provided in the present paper.