Using Schema Therapy in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Anger Control Problem: A Case Study

In the current study, it was aimed to examine how anger management problem of a 35 years old male client who was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder according to DSMfive criteria was treated by schema therapy approach. Totally nine therapy sessions were conducted with the client under Istanbul Arel University’s clinical doctorate program supervision education. Beck Depression Inventory, Young Schema Questionnaire, Schema Mode Inventory, Young Parenting Inventory and SCL-90 were the assessment tools applied to the client to evaluate his psychological structure. Based on clinical evaluations, vulnerability to harm and illness, negativity/pessimism, emotional inhibition, subjugation, and punitiveness schemas and angry child and compliant surrender modes were focused in the therapeutic process. While behavioral activation technique was applied at the beginning of the sessions, cognitive, experiential, and behavioral pattern breaking strategies were utilized in ongoing therapy sessions. As a result, it was observed that using etiologic approach was effective both on anger management and on general anxiety disorder. The treatment process and outcomes were discussed in the discussion part