Table 11.1 Patient personal schemas in therapy

Schema	Example
Incompetent (avoidant)	Avoids difficult topics and emotions. Appears vague. Looks for signs that the therapist will reject her. Believes that therapist will criticize her for not doing homework well enough. Reluctant to do behavioral exposure homework assignments.
Helpless (dependent)	Seeks reassurance. Does not have an agenda of problems to solve. Frequently complains about “feelings.” Calls frequently between sessions. Wants to prolong sessions. Does not think he can do the homework or believes that homework will not work. Upset when therapist takes vacations.
Vulnerable to control (passive–aggressive)	Comes late to or misses sessions. Views cognitive “challenges” as controlling. Reluctant to express dissatisfaction directly. Vague about goals, feelings, and thoughts – especially as related to therapist and therapy. “Forgets” to do homework or pay bills.
Responsible (obsessive–compulsive)	Feels emotions are “messy” and “irrational.” Criticizes himself for being irrational and disorganized. Wants to see immediate results and expresses skepticism about therapy. Views homework as a test to be done perfectly or not at all.
Superior (narcissistic)	Comes late or misses sessions. “Forgets” to pay for sessions. Devalues therapy and the therapist. Expects special arrangements. Feels humiliated to have to talk about problems. Believes that therapy will not work since the problem resides in other people.
Glamorous (histrionic)	Focuses on expressing emotions, alternating rapidly from crying to laughing to anger. Tries to impress therapist with appearance, feelings, or problems. Rejects the rational approach and demands validation.

Source: Leahy, 2001.