Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy
Open Access

Frozen child: Schema therapy for a forensic patient in a service for men with diagnosis of severe personality disorder

Joint Event on 24^th International Conference on psychiatry & psychosomatic medicine & 2^nd International Congress on forensic science and psychology

October 12-14, 2017 London, UK

Asad Ul Lah

Consultant, 1-2-3 Working Together, UK

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Psychol Psychother

Abstract :

Purpose: Schema therapy has gone through various adaptations, including the identification of various schema modes. This paper suggests there may be a further dissociative mode, the frozen child mode, which is active for some patients, particularly those that have experienced extreme childhood trauma. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper is participant observer case study which is based on the personal reflections of a forensic patient who completed a treatment programme which includes schema therapy. Findings: The proposed mode, frozen child, is supported by theoretical indicators in the literature. It is proposed that patients develop this mode as a protective strategy and that unless recognized and worked with, can prevent successful completion of therapy\ Research Limitations: Based on a single case study, this concept is presented as a hypothesis that requires validation as the use of the case study makes generalization difficult. Practical Implications: It is suggested that if validated, this may be one of the blocks therapists have previously encountered that has led to the view that people with severe personality disorder are â�?�?untreatableâ�?. Suggestions are made as to how patients with this mode, if validated, can be treated with recommendations as to the most appropriate processes to potentiate such therapy. Originality/Value: The suggestion of this potential new schema mode is based on service user initiative, arising from a collaborative enterprise between service user and clinician, as recommended in recent government policies.