SCHEMA THERAPY APPROACH IN CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

Abstract

Advances in mental health have increased the importance of psychotherapy-based interventions in clinical social work, making it necessary for clinical social workers to utilize different theoretical approaches. Among these approaches, Schema Therapy is an important theoretical and applied approach for clinical social work practices because it addresses an individual's early life experiences, unmet basic emotional needs, and the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns that develop during this process within a holistic framework. The aim of this study is to examine the Schema Therapy approach from a clinical social work perspective, exploring its theoretical foundations, basic concepts, and application areas from a holistic viewpoint, and to investigate its relationship with the social work discipline. To this end, national and international literature in the relevant field has been reviewed; the emergence and theoretical background of Schema Therapy, the concept of schema, early maladaptive schemas, schema areas, and schema modes have been examined; and subsequently, the place of the approach in clinical social work practices and its theoretical and applied dimensions have been evaluated in line with the basic principles, values, and intervention understanding of social work. Literature reviews indicate that Schema Therapy significantly contributes to the holistic assessment of clients' psychosocial needs, understanding the relationship between early life experiences and current functioning, strengthening the healthy adult mode, and improving social functioning. Consequently, Schema Therapy has been described as an effective approach supporting psychosocial assessment and therapeutic intervention processes in clinical social work practice. This study is expected to contribute to the evaluation of Schema Therapy from a clinical social work perspective, providing a holistic theoretical framework for practitioners and researchers, and serving as a resource for future studies on the subject.