If you've ever said yes when you meant no, or felt guilty for prioritising yourself, you're not alone. In this post, we introduce Lin, a nurse whose endless giving masks a deeper struggle with self‑worth. We explore Schema Therapy's Other‑Directedness domain of Subjugation, Self‑Sacrifice, and Approval‑Seeking schemas and how healing starts with including yourself in the circle of care.

Introductory post about recognising trauma.

Introduction In a previous post, I introduced Schema Therapy . Most therapies acknowledge that our curious questions about how we are the way we are can be traced back to nature or nurture—biology and environment. While nature certainly plays a role, psychology—and talk therapy in particular—has always focused on nurture. The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of counselling, making the dynamic between therapist and client crucial. The transference and countertransfe