Schema Coaching Techniques Part 4: Schema Challenge Cards and Mindful Release

Coaching psychologists can use a rich range of techniques from schema coaching to assist executives to deal with persistent unhelpful patterns. These techniques include: case conceptualisation, schema psychoeducation, imagery rescripting, transformational chairwork, schema challenge, mindful release, emotional exposure and relapse prevention. This paper, the fourth in a series, details two techniques: schema challenge cards and mindful release. Schema challenge cards draw on the evidence-based CBT approach and help the client to systematically counter the thinking patterns that reinforce their dysfunctional schema. The schema challenge card is a document on which the client writes down the name of the painful emotion they are experiencing, the triggering circumstance that made them upset, the name of the schema that helped magnify the painful emotion, how the schema led to a distortion of the triggering circumstance, how, despite feeling the painful emotion, the client knows that the reality of the situation is different from their perception, what evidence the client has to support their healthy view and what the client is going to do, despite the painful emotion. This systematic process is very helpful in disrupting automatic thinking that reinforces schema pain. By contrast, evidence-based mindfulness therapy techniques can be used in schema coaching to help clients gently let go of the emotion associated with the schema. This involves the client using non-judgemental mindful attention that is carefully focused on the client’s schema experience to decrease the intensity of their inner conflict, unhelpful feelings, thoughts and sensations. Coaching psychologists wanting to begin using schema coaching will find both schema challenge cards and mindfulness-based training provide a useful start to this practice.