Couple Schema Therapy

Daniel Aurelio Ceballos Peña is a psychotherapist, supervisor, and trainer certified by the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST) in both Individual Schema Therapy and Couples Schema Therapy. He is the founder of Centro Integral de Terapia de Esquemas de México and received direct training from Jeffrey Young, founder of Schema Therapy, and Eckhard Roediger, developer of the Couples Schema Therapy model. He holds a Doctorate in Education, a Master's degree in Social Sciences, a Master's in Strategic Brief Therapy from the Centro di Terapia Breve Strategica di Arezzo, Italy, and an advanced certification in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy from the Albert Ellis Institute.

List of Figures xii
List of Tables xiii
Preface xiv
Acknowledgments xvi
Explanatory Note xvii
Prologue xix
Introduction xxi

Part I Theoretical Foundations of Couple Schema Therapy 1

1 Schema Therapy and the Contextual Model 3
1.1 Schema Therapy 3
1.2 The Contextual Model 12
1.3 Integration of Both Approaches in the Dimensional Model 15

2 Theoretical Concepts of the Couple Schema Therapy Model 18
2.1 Introduction 18
2.2 The Three Key Concepts 18
2.3 The Two-dimensional Model 28
2.4 The Active and Blocked Sides 31
2.5 The Balance Between the Two Needs 34

3 The Mode Cycle 41
3.1 Introduction 41
3.2 The Moments of the Mode Cycle 42
3.3 The Different Mode Cycles 44
3.4 Identifying Child and Coping Modes in Therapy Using Chairs 63

4 Neurological and Cerebral Bases of Therapeutic Interventions 66
4.1 Introduction 66
4.2 Stimulate Executive Function to Get Out of Autopilot and Intense Emotional States 71
4.3 Stimulate the Emotional System to Overcome Avoidance or Rational Blockage 72
4.4 Moving from a Sympathetic State to a Parasympathetic State 75

Part II Education 77

5 Explanation of the Simplified "Two-leg" Model (Module I) 79
5.1 Introduction 79
5.2 Starting the Session 80
5.3 Cognitive Work 84
5.4 Closing the Session: Therapeutic Task: Awareness of Needs, Emotions, and Coping Modes 97

6 Presentation of the Mode Cycle (Module II) 100
6.1 Introduction 100
6.2 Beginning of the Session 101
6.3 Cognitive Work 103
6.4 Closing the Session: Therapeutic Task: Try to Identify and Stop the Mode Cycle 110

7 Stopping the Mode Cycle (Module III) 112
7.1 Introduction 112
7.2 Beginning of the Session: Identify the Problem to Be Worked on and Start and Stop the Cycle 113
7.3 Cognitive Work 114
7.4 Closing the Session 121

8 Rebalancing After Separation: Entering Healthy Adult Mode (Module IV) 126
8.1 Introduction 126
8.2 Beginning of the Session: Identify the Problem to Be Worked on and Start and Stop the Cycle 127
8.3 Cognitive Work 128
8.4 Experiential Work: "Best Day" Exercise 133
8.5 Closing the Session: Therapeutic Task: Identify the Active Leg, Bring a Positive Image, Reconnect with Your Partner, and Do the Best Day Activity 136

Part III Rebalancing 141

9 Externalizing Partner (Module V) 143
9.1 Introduction 143
9.2 Beginning of the Session: Identifying the Problem to Be Worked on and Identifying That One of the Partners Is Too Focused on Their Red Leg 145
9.3 Cognitive Work 146
9.4 Experiential Work to Rebalance the Red Leg 152
9.5 Closing the Session 167

10 Internalizing Partners (Module VII) 172
10.1 Introduction 172
10.2 Beginning of the Session: Identifying the Problem to Be Worked On and Identifying That One of the Partners Is Too Focused on Their Blue Leg 173
10.3 Cognitive Work 175
10.4 Experiential Work 179
10.5 Closing the Session 184

11 Facing Critical Voices (Module VIII) 189
11.1 Introduction 189
11.2 Beginning Work with Critical Voices 190
11.3 Experiential Work 191
11.4 Closing the Session 197
11.5 Resuming Session Work 199

Part IV Reconnection 201

12 Reconnection with Joint Imagery Exercise (Module IX) 203
12.1 Introduction 203
12.2 Starting the Session: Identifying the Problem to Be Worked On 204x Contents
12.3 Experiential Work 205
12.4 Closing the Session 218

13 Training the Healthy Adult Mode (Module X) 222
13.1 Introduction 222
13.2 Starting the Session: Identifying the Problem, a Member's Difficulty Speaking from Vulnerability, and Stopping the Interaction 223
13.3 Cognitive Work: Observer Team Work: Modeling Expression From Vulnerability 224
13.4 Experiential Work 226
13.5 Closing the Session 233

14 Connection Dialogues (Module XI) 237
14.1 Introduction 237
14.2 Beginning of the Session: Identify the Problem and Stop the Interaction to Initiate Connection Dialogues 238
14.3 Cognitive Work 239
14.4 Experiential Work 244
14.5 Closing the Session 251

Part V Additional Modules 255

15 Homework (Module XII) 257
15.1 Introduction 257
15.2 Tasks for the First Phase of Therapy: Gear Change 257
15.3 Tasks for the Second Phase of Therapy: Nurturing the Relationship 259

16 Preparing for Separation (Module XIII) 261
16.1 Introduction 261
16.2 Beginning of the Session: Raise the Possibility of Ending the Relationship 262
16.3 Experiential Work 264
16.4 Closing the Session: Work Plan with Specific Objectives 266
16.5 Beginning of the Session: Evaluate the Progress of the Work Plan Carried Out 268
16.6 Cognitive Work: Decide Whether to Make a Last Attempt 270
16.7 Closing the Session: Agreements from the Last Attempt 273
16.8 Beginning of the Session: Review the Results of the Last Attempt 275
16.9 Cognitive Work: Ending the Relationship 277
16.10 Closing the Session: Farewell to the Couple 279

References 284
Index 289