“Leading schema therapists Farrell and Shaw draw on their great depth of experience to provide this comprehensive, authoritative guide. As psychotherapists, when our own maladaptive schemas are triggered and we switch into defensive coping modes, our capacity to help our clients becomes significantly limited. Self-practice and self-reflection are fundamental activities for anyone who wants to develop and mature as a schema therapist. The authors offer a clear and accessible account of ST theory and practice that makes it easy to apply, whether we are working with our own process or that of our clients. This lucid book is a valuable resource for therapists seeking to develop their skills as well as trainers and supervisors offering guidance to others.”

—David Edwards, PhD, Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, South Africa; President, International Society of Schema Therapy


“Why work with this book? Because it will make you a better therapist! This is a 'must read' for schema therapists and therapists in general. SP/SR is a profound and practical training approach perfectly suited to ST, which combines the depth of psychodynamic psychotherapy with aspects of cognitive and behavioral therapy. The book is systematic and easy to grasp for therapists of different theoretical backgrounds, and the authors are outstanding experts in the field. Using SP/SR can increase schema therapists' understanding of patients' experiences and attunement to their issues; in addition, it can provide us with greater satisfaction and happiness in our own lives.”

—Eckhard Roediger, MD, Director, Frankfurt Schema Therapy Institute, Germany


“This well-organized workbook takes therapists on a personal journey through the process of ST. With a gentle, wisely experienced voice, Farrell and Shaw lay out stepping stones to deepen self-understanding and self-care and link this insight to one's work as a therapist. Concrete SP/SR exercises help therapists connect the dots between their developmental experiences, core schemas and coping patterns, and between schema and mode concepts and cognitive, experiential, and behavioral interventions. ST is a compassionate, appealing, and effective treatment option to resolve interpersonal and intrapersonal problems, and this workbook is an ideal resource for exploring it. I found the book personally relevant and helpful. I will strongly recommend it to my students and colleagues at all levels.”

—Denise D. Davis, PhD, Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University


“The authors bring the powerful transdiagnostic approach of ST to the service of the therapist's own personal and professional development. The book presents material in a methodical, structured fashion, while providing ideas for flexible pacing and application. Therapist examples throughout add an authentic voice to the work while normalizing the process of awareness, management, and change of schemas and modes. An alternating focus on the reader's personal and professional lives is skillfully woven into each module. By using SP/SR to apply ST techniques to ourselves, we can open an otherwise inaccessible window into the process of change for our patients.”

—Heather Fretwell, MD, Medical Director, Center for Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment and Research, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis