Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents

One-on-one sessions designed to help young individuals recognize early maladaptive schemas, address unhelpful coping patterns, and develop healthier thinking, emotional, and behavioral habits.

Explore Programs Near You

Quick Overview

A snapshot of who this therapy is for and how it works

Best for

Emotional and behavioral difficulties, anxiety or depression, trauma or attachment issues, low self-esteem, social or school-related challenges

Session format

Individual (with caregiver involvement when appropriate) · In person or virtual

Typical cadence

Weekly · Session length forty-five to sixty minutes

Duration

Often three to twelve months, depending on developmental needs and presenting concerns

Often combined with

Play therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, family therapy, attachment-based approaches, mindfulness and emotional regulation skills

Evidence base

Growing and promising research support, particularly for childhood trauma, emotional dysregulation, and early maladaptive schemas

overview-figure

What Is Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents?

Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents is a developmentally informed, one-on-one therapeutic approach that helps young people identify and reshape early maladaptive schemas. These schemas are deeply rooted patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that often begin forming in childhood or adolescence when core emotional needs such as safety or validation are not adequately met.

This approach also works with modes, or shifting emotional and behavioral states, in age-appropriate ways. Common modes may include the Vulnerable Child, Angry or Impulsive Child, Compliant Surrendered, and the emerging Healthy Child or Healthy Coping mode.

How Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents Supports Healing and Growth

Helping young minds build emotional safety, resilience, and healthy patterns

Emotional Needs

Emotional Needs

Addresses core emotional needs by identifying early schemas that contribute to distress

Gentle Healing

Gentle Healing

Builds healthy self-esteem by reducing shame, self-blame, and negative self-talk

Self-Esteem

Self-Esteem

Improves emotional regulation to help manage strong feelings and behavioral reactions

Emotional Regulation

Emotional Regulation

Supports gentle healing through age-appropriate exploration of past and present experiences

What to Expect in Sessions

Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents uses developmentally appropriate cognitive, experiential, and behavioral techniques. A typical session may include:

Schema Assessment

Schema identification to recognize recurring emotional patterns, beliefs, and coping behaviors

Mode Awareness

Mode work to help notice, name, and shift emotional states in the moment

Imagery Healing

Imagery and play-based techniques to safely explore and heal difficult experiences

Chair Work

Chair work to reduce the power of critical or avoidant modes

Chair Work

Creative activities (such as drawing, storytelling, or role-play) to reduce self-criticism and build healthy coping modes

Coping Skills

Skills practice to strengthen emotional regulation, problem-solving, and healthy coping in daily life

session image

Who Benefits from Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents?

Support for young people seeking emotional safety, resilience, and healthy development

Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents is especially helpful for children and teens who feel stuck in repeated emotional or behavioral patterns at home, school, or in relationships.

Children and adolescents with emotional challenges

Children and adolescents with emotional challenges

Gain tools to understand feelings, manage reactions, and build emotional stability

Young people experiencing anxiety or depression

Young people experiencing anxiety or depression

Explore and heal underlying patterns that contribute to ongoing distress

Children affected by early trauma or neglect

Children affected by early trauma or neglect

Address early experiences that shape emotional regulation and trust

Adolescents struggling with self-esteem

Adolescents struggling with self-esteem

Identify and shift patterns that interfere with confidence and goals

Teens facing risk behaviors or early addiction concerns

Teens facing risk behaviors or early addiction concerns

Work through emotional roots linked to impulsivity, shame, or avoidance

Why TruPaths Highlights Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents

TruPaths highlights this approach because it supports deep, lasting change during critical developmental years. Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents addresses the emotional roots of ongoing challenges early, helping young people build healthy coping patterns before difficulties become long-standing

FAQs About Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Yes. Research shows growing and promising support for Schema Therapy with children and adolescents, particularly for trauma, emotional dysregulation, anxiety and depression.
Schema Therapy aims to help children understand and heal past hurts in a safe, supportive environment. While they may reflect on painful experiences, the goal is not to relive trauma but to process it in a healthy way.
The length of Schema Therapy varies, but typically it can last several months to a year, depending on the severity of the issues and the child's progress.
Yes, parents or caregivers are often involved in therapy to support the child's progress, learn strategies to help at home, and work on their own roles in the child’s development.
No, Schema Therapy can be helpful for children even without a formal diagnosis. It's designed to address emotional and behavioral issues, regardless of a specific condition.
Coverage for Schema Therapy varies depending on your insurance plan and provider. It's best to check with your insurance company for specific details about coverage for this type of therapy.

Find Recovery Options Offering Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Early experiences do not have to shape a child’s future. Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents helps young people heal early emotional patterns, build resilience, and develop healthier ways of thinking, feeling, and relating as they grow.

Explore Programs Near You

About TruPath's Recommendations

Recommendations are based on your location and recovery needs, including the programs you've explored, the services you've saved, and the filters you've used. We use this information to highlight similar treatment options so you never miss a trusted path forward.

Tru AI
expand minimize
close
send