In this first video, Poul Perris introduces the core principles of schema therapy for couples. The focus is on strengthening emotional connection, understanding relationship dynamics, and identifying individual triggers. Empathy and compassion between partners are central themes.

In this first session, the participants share their experiences with couples therapy and reflect on their 23-year relationship. They explore feelings of anger, respect issues, and coping mechanisms. The discussion brings up topics such as individual roles in professional settings, feelings of being replaceable, and the effect of public conflicts. Shame is identified as a key emotion influencing their relationship. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

In this session, the couple reflects on the previous meeting, expressing hope about the therapy process despite uncertainties. They discuss communication struggles, such as frequent interruptions and the need for more patience. Frustration and anger are identified as recurring issues. The session explores the deeper emotional roots of stress, focusing on complex family dynamics—particularly parental relationships—and how early experiences impact adult relationships. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

In this closing session, participants reflect on emotional moments in therapy. Yvonne shares feelings of jealousy, while Fritz links his issues with respect to past experiences. They explore perception versus reality, emphasizing emotional truth. The session highlights emotional understanding, complementary strengths, and the link between physical sensations and emotions, ending with a sense of hope and appreciation. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Participants reflect on their emotional state, expressing both stress and excitement. They share past therapy experiences and the importance of supportive therapists. The conversation explores mental health struggles, coping strategies, and the role of friends. Relationship dynamics are examined, focusing on communication issues and the need for validation, ending with reflections on growth and connection. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Participants reflect on their emotional experiences and relationship dynamics, discussing the effects of criticism, trust issues, and family ties—especially with grandparents. The session highlights childhood emotional neglect and its lasting impact on adult relationships, stressing the need for empathy and emotionally healthy interactions. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Participants reflect on childhood struggles and the emotional burden they carry. They explore feelings of sadness, loneliness, and coping mechanisms like self-harm. The session emphasizes emotional awareness, boundary-setting, and reconnecting with joy and self-compassion for the “lonely child” within. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Participants express a sense of release and gratitude for their emotional connection. They emphasize being present, learning from each other, and the importance of playfulness. The session ends with a symbolic gift exchange and a creative activity: drawing a bicycle to represent shared joy and connection. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Everyday interruptions during one-on-one conversations can trigger feelings of frustration and victimhood. Being frequently interrupted creates a sense of being undervalued. In group settings, competition and jealousy add complexity to interactions. The session highlights the importance of emotional expression and mutual understanding in relationships. Recognizing personal struggles fosters empathy. Childhood dynamics have a significant influence on emotional reactions, underlining the importance of patience and emotional connection. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

In this first video, Poul Perris introduces the core principles of schema therapy for couples. The focus is on strengthening emotional connection, understanding relationship dynamics, and identifying individual triggers. Empathy and compassion between partners are central themes.

In this first session, the participants share their experiences with couples therapy and reflect on their 23-year relationship. They explore feelings of anger, respect issues, and coping mechanisms. The discussion brings up topics such as individual roles in professional settings, feelings of being replaceable, and the effect of public conflicts. Shame is identified as a key emotion influencing their relationship. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

In this session, the couple reflects on the previous meeting, expressing hope about the therapy process despite uncertainties. They discuss communication struggles, such as frequent interruptions and the need for more patience. Frustration and anger are identified as recurring issues. The session explores the deeper emotional roots of stress, focusing on complex family dynamics—particularly parental relationships—and how early experiences impact adult relationships. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

In this closing session, participants reflect on emotional moments in therapy. Yvonne shares feelings of jealousy, while Fritz links his issues with respect to past experiences. They explore perception versus reality, emphasizing emotional truth. The session highlights emotional understanding, complementary strengths, and the link between physical sensations and emotions, ending with a sense of hope and appreciation. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Participants reflect on their emotional state, expressing both stress and excitement. They share past therapy experiences and the importance of supportive therapists. The conversation explores mental health struggles, coping strategies, and the role of friends. Relationship dynamics are examined, focusing on communication issues and the need for validation, ending with reflections on growth and connection. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Participants reflect on their emotional experiences and relationship dynamics, discussing the effects of criticism, trust issues, and family ties—especially with grandparents. The session highlights childhood emotional neglect and its lasting impact on adult relationships, stressing the need for empathy and emotionally healthy interactions. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Participants reflect on childhood struggles and the emotional burden they carry. They explore feelings of sadness, loneliness, and coping mechanisms like self-harm. The session emphasizes emotional awareness, boundary-setting, and reconnecting with joy and self-compassion for the “lonely child” within. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Participants express a sense of release and gratitude for their emotional connection. They emphasize being present, learning from each other, and the importance of playfulness. The session ends with a symbolic gift exchange and a creative activity: drawing a bicycle to represent shared joy and connection. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.

Everyday interruptions during one-on-one conversations can trigger feelings of frustration and victimhood. Being frequently interrupted creates a sense of being undervalued. In group settings, competition and jealousy add complexity to interactions. The session highlights the importance of emotional expression and mutual understanding in relationships. Recognizing personal struggles fosters empathy. Childhood dynamics have a significant influence on emotional reactions, underlining the importance of patience and emotional connection. Note from Poul Perris: These sessions were conducted over two consecutive days, with two meetings per couple. While this differs from a full Schema Therapy process under regular conditions, the limited timeframe offered a unique opportunity to focus on core dynamics and create meaningful therapeutic moments in a condensed format. My approach was adapted to make the most of this setting and offer the couples interventions that could truly resonate within the time available.