Approaching Borderline Personality Patterns and Relationship Problems with Online Schema Therapy: A Case Study

Abstract

Several situations, especially the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, have obliged the implementation of online psychotherapy practices. Since such practices are becoming increasingly common, more research and case-based examples are necessary to understand their operations. This case study was presented as an example of a year-long online Schema Therapy practice. Approximately 40 sessions were held with the client who applied with relationship problems, depression, and anxiety symptoms. After evaluating the symptoms and life history, it was thought that it would be appropriate for the client to work with the Schema Therapy approach since the client had childhood traumas, problems with parents, and relationship challenges. In the study, detailed case presentation, formulation through the client's schemas and schema connections, the techniques, and the therapeutic relationship issues were analyzed. This case study provides valuable insights in terms of demonstrating the dynamics of the therapeutic alliance in online psychotherapy applications and the effectiveness of working with maladaptive schemas. In addition, the problems encountered in the online platform, the difficulties experienced while studying traumatic memories, and the limitations of the study were discussed in detail. 

Keywords

• Online psychotherapy
• schema therapy
• experiential techniques
• relationship problems

Borderline Kişilik Örüntüsü ve İlişki Problemlerinin Şema Terapi ile Çevrimiçi Çalışılması: Bir Vaka Örneği

Abstract

Koronavirüs (COVID-19) salgın süreci başta olmak üzere birçok durum, danışanları ve terapistleri çevrimiçi psikoterapi uygulamalarına yöneltmektedir. Günümüzde giderek yaygınlaşan çevrimiçi terapilerle ilgili çalışmalara ve örneklere daha fazla ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Bu vaka çalışması, yaklaşık bir yıl süren ve çevrimiçi gerçekleştirilen Şema Terapi uygulamasının bir örneği olarak sunulmaktadır. İlişki problemleri, depresyon ve kaygı belirtileri ile başvuru yapan danışan ile çevrimiçi ortamda 40 seans gerçekleştirilmiştir. Semptomlar ve yaşam öyküsü değerlendirildikten sonra, danışanın çocukluk dönemi travmalarının bulunması, ebeveynlerle ilgili sorunlarının ve ilişki problemlerinin yoğun olması nedeniyle, Şema Terapi yaklaşımıyla çalışmanın danışan için uygun olduğu düşünülmüştür. Çalışmada detaylı vaka sunumuna, danışanın şemaları ve şema bağlantıları üzerinden yapılan formulasyona, seansta belirlenen amaçlara ulaşmak için uygulanan tekniklere ve terapi ilişkisine yer verilmiştir. Bu vaka çalışması, çevrimiçi ortamda danışanın terapistle kurduğu terapötik ittifakı ve uyumsuz şemalarla çalışmanın etkinliğini göstermesi açısından oldukça önemlidir. Bununla beraber, çevrimiçi uygulamalarda karşılaşılan sorunlar, travmatik anıları çalışırken yaşanan güçlükler ve çalışmanın sınırlılıkları detaylıca ele alınmıştır.

Keywords

• çevrimiçi psikoterapi
• şema terapi
• yaşantısal teknikler
• ilişki sorunları

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