Understanding Early Maladaptive Schemas and Schema Therapy
- Jul 30, 2025
- 3 min read
Jennifer Martin Rieck is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the owner of Epijennetics Counseling & Consulting in Libertyville, Illinois. She is also the owner of and writer for epijennetics.com, a website that explores the mental shifts that lead to healthy expression of self and healthy connection to others.
In Schema Therapy, the focus is on something called Early Maladaptive Schemas. These are long-standing, negative belief patterns we form in childhood, often based on painful or unmet emotional needs. They shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world, even if they’re not accurate or helpful.
Our brains are wired to look for consistency, so once we develop a belief, even a harmful one, we tend to look for evidence that supports it. This means we often act in ways that reinforce these early beliefs, even if they cause us pain.
For example, if someone loses a caregiver through death or divorce at a young age, they might develop an Abandonment schema, the belief that people will always leave. As adults, they might act clingy or anxious in relationships, which can push others away and repeat the cycle. They’re not trying to sabotage things; they’re reacting to deep fears and automatic thoughts formed long ago.
Schema Therapy helps people explore how and when these schemas formed. The goal isn’t to erase painful experiences, but to understand them so we don’t keep repeating the same patterns unconsciously.
The other-directedness schemas
Three common schemas in the "Other-Directedness" category are:
Subjugation
Self-Sacrifice
Approval Seeking
These schemas involve putting too much focus on other people’s feelings, needs, or opinions, often at the expense of your own. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and unhealthy relationships.
Subjugation schema
This schema shows up when someone believes it’s not safe to express their needs or feelings. It often stems from growing up with a volatile or controlling caregiver. As a result, they suppress their emotions to avoid conflict or punishment. But this leads to inner frustration because they feel unheard and invisible.
Self-sacrifice schema
People with this schema often put others' needs ahead of their own, constantly. They may have grown up with emotionally unavailable or self-absorbed parents. The unspoken message was: “There’s no room for your feelings.” As adults, these individuals may feel guilty for asking for support and end up in one-sided relationships. Over time, this leads to burnout, depression, and anxiety.
Approval-seeking schema
This schema is about relying on others’ opinions to guide your choices. People with strong approval-seeking patterns may struggle to make decisions unless they get reassurance or agreement from those around them. This leads to living inauthentically and feeling anxious or stuck.
Why these schemas matter
Even though these patterns may seem kind or considerate on the surface, they often lead to poor boundaries and low self-esteem. People with these schemas tend to feel unseen, overwhelmed, or resentful. The key to healing is learning how to validate yourself and build a life that reflects your true values and needs, not just the expectations of others.
How to heal other-directedness schemas
Healing starts with shifting your focus back to yourself. That means taking responsibility for your own thoughts, feelings, and choices, not those of others. A helpful reminder I give my clients is: “Stay in your lane.”
When you stop trying to manage others’ feelings or meet everyone else’s expectations, you feel more empowered. You gain a stronger sense of control over your life and can start making changes that reflect who you really are. This leads to better mental health, stronger relationships, and a deeper sense of peace.
If you need help sorting out whether you are excessively focusing on others, get advice from someone you trust or start counseling to improve your self-awareness and boundaries. A third party who is not emotionally involved in the situation is often able to see more clearly the dynamics involved. If you are located in Wisconsin near Illinois and are interested in working together, feel free to visit my website for more information on how to get started!
Read more from Jennifer Martin Rieck
Jennifer Martin Rieck, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Jennifer Martin Rieck is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the owner of Epijennetics Counseling & Consulting and epijennetics.com, a website that explores healthy self-expression and healthy connection to others. She specializes in working with individuals who struggle to break free from Narcissistic or Self-Sacrificing relationship patterns.
