Schema Therapy represents a significant evolution in psychotherapy, integrating cognitive-behavioral tools with deep insights from psychoanalysis and attachment theory. Research in this field emphasizes that chronic emotional difficulties are rooted in "Early Maladaptive Schemas"—patterns of memory, emotion, and bodily sensations formed in childhood as a response to unmet core emotional needs.
Large-scale clinical studies, particularly meta-analyses conducted over the last decade, have demonstrated the high efficacy of this method in treating personality disorders, treatment-resistant anxiety, and recurrent depression. Research findings indicate that working with "Schema Modes" and utilizing experiential techniques—such as imagery rescripting—allows for profound structural personality change rather than mere temporary symptomatic relief. Consequently, Schema Therapy is recognized today as one of the leading evidence-based approaches for complex psychological conditions.
This research area is led by Prof. Eshkol Rafaeli, a senior faculty member. Prof. Rafaeli is considered one of the leading researchers in Schema Therapy both in Israel and internationally.
Publications
Rafaeli, E. (2011). Cognitive behavioral therapies for personality disorders. In Marom, S. Gilboa-Schechtman E., Mor, N., Meijers, J. (Eds). Cognitive behavioral therapy for adults: An integrative approach. Probook, Israel (in Hebrew)
Rafaeli, E. (2012). A case study: Cognitive behavioral treatment of depression incorporating schema focused therapy. Sihot, 26, 168-170.
Rafaeli, E., Maurer, O., & Thoma, N. (2014). Working with modes in schema therapy. In N. Thoma & D. McKay (Eds.), Working with Emotion in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Techniques for Clinical Practice. NY: Guilford.
Rafaeli, E., Maurer, O., *Lazarus, G., & Thoma, N.C. (2016). The self in schema therapy. In M. Kyrios, M., R. Moulding, M. Nedeljkovic, S.S. Bhar, G. Doron, G. M. Mikulincer (Eds.), The Self in Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders. Cambridge University Press.
Peled, O.*, Bar-Kalifa, E.*, & Rafaeli, E. (2017). Stability or instability in avoidant personality disorder: mode fluctuations within schema therapy sessions. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 57, 126-134.
Rafaeli E. (2017) Schema Therapy. In: Zeigler-Hill V., Shackelford T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_943-1
Lazarus, G.*, Sened, H.*, & Rafaeli, E. (2021). Subjectifying the personality state: Theoretical underpinnings and an empirical example. European Journal of Personality, 34, 1017-1036.