Schema Therapy in Melbourne & Online

You might be wondering why you keep ending up in the same painful situations: feeling not good enough, stuck in people-pleasing, or overwhelmed by self-doubt — even when you know it doesn’t make sense. Schema therapy can help you understand where those patterns come from, and more importantly, how to shift them.

What is Schema Therapy?

Schema therapy is a deeper approach to therapy, designed to help people break free from long-standing patterns that developed early in life. These patterns — called schemas — are like emotional templates shaped by your early relationships and experiences. They influence how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how you respond to stress or conflict.

For example, you might:

  • Constantly feel like you're not doing enough, no matter how hard you try

  • Worry that people will leave you if you're not perfect

  • Struggle to say no, even when you're exhausted

  • Feel overly responsible for other people’s emotions

Schema therapy gently helps you explore how these beliefs formed and why they’ve stuck around. It’s not about blame — it’s about understanding, healing, and learning how to relate to yourself differently.

What Happens in Schema Therapy?

In our sessions, we’ll explore the patterns you feel most stuck in — the ones that keep showing up in your relationships, work, or inner world. As we get clearer on what’s going on underneath, you’ll start to notice your own internal responses more easily and understand where they come from.

Depending on your needs, we might:

  • Map out the key emotional themes driving your reactions

  • Use imagery or role-play techniques to work through old emotional wounds

  • Build practical tools to help you manage strong emotions, set boundaries, and speak up for yourself

  • Strengthen your capacity for self-compassion and emotional resilience

This work can sometimes feel intense — especially when you're touching on emotions that have been buried for years — but it’s always done with care, collaboration, and respect for your pace.

Is Schema Therapy Right for You?

Schema therapy is especially helpful if:

  • You’ve noticed you keep repeating the same emotional patterns or relationship dynamics

  • You feel stuck in perfectionism, people-pleasing, or harsh self-criticism

  • You’ve tried other types of therapy but still feel like something deeper hasn’t shifted

  • You want to understand why you feel the way you do — and work towards real change, not just surface-level coping

What makes schema therapy different is that it goes beyond just managing symptoms. It helps you understand the roots of your struggles and gently shift the beliefs and emotional responses that have been keeping you stuck.

Working Together

I offer schema therapy to adults in Melbourne and across Australia via Telehealth. Whether you prefer in-person support or online sessions that fit around your schedule, we can work together in a way that suits you.

If you're feeling stuck in old patterns or ready to understand yourself on a deeper level, I’d be glad to walk alongside you.

Curious about whether schema therapy is the right fit?
You’re welcome to get in touch to learn more.