ABSTRACT
Emotion-focused techniques are some of the most powerful tools at the schema therapist's disposal for healing early maladaptive schemas. The therapist often begins the change phase of Schema Therapy by using cognitive techniques such as thought records, schema ¯ashcards, and schema diaries to alter early maladaptive schemas. These methods help the patient to achieve some intellectual distance from the schemas. However, the intense emotions attached to the schemas usually still remain. The patient says, ``Now I see that I'm not defective; rather, I have a Defectiveness schema. However, I still feel defective.'' The purpose of emotion-focused techniques is to help the patient feel different, that is, to take away the schemas' emotional power.
