Dr Jo White, Clinical Psychologist & Schema Therapy Trainer
Are you struggling to get started with mode mapping? In this blog, I will explain what mode maps are, how we use them in schema therapy and share my top tips to help you get started.
A mode map is a visual representation or formulation of the difficulties your client brings to therapy. It might include schemas, unmet needs, child modes, critic modes, coping modes and the healthy adult mode.
What is the purpose of a mode map in schema therapy?
A mode map visually summarises the client's schema mode formulation or case conceptualisation. It focuses on the unmet needs and feelings of the vulnerable child, the internalised critical chatter of the critic modes and the coping modes that have developed to emotionally survive. A mode map is a working document that can be referenced each session to understand the patterns at play for the client when they have been triggered between sessions.
The mode map is a tool to help clients become aware of their modes so they can reflect on their thoughts, feelings and behaviours when they are triggered. This self awareness is essential for change to take place and is a key skill of the healthy adult. Moving forwards it is then possible to focus on bringing in the healthy adult to manage their modes, so they can act in a way that will get their needs met more easily.
The mode map guides treatment as you can develop mode based therapeutic objectives from your mode map (I'll describe this more later). Mode maps are brilliant for reviewing progress, as you can use them to think through how a client has handled a situation, recognise changes and look at the ways the healthy adult might be able to step in to improve the situation further.
When is the right time to mode map in schema therapy?
Mode mapping can start from the first session. Even if you don’t know what the client’s mode map looks like, you can start to share how we conceptualise modes in schema therapy with a generic mode map like the one above.
Your aim is to develop a mode map in the assessment phase (which takes 5-8 sessions) alongside your case conceptualisation. Start with a draft map and add to it and change it as your understanding develops.
Tip: Let your client know this is a draft to take the pressure off getting it 'right' the first time. Mode maps should develop and change over time as you both get a better understanding of their difficulties.
Create the mode map with your client so that they are part of the process of shaping the map. You can explain modes to the client whilst you are developing the map together. See my previous blog for descriptions of modes.
Tip: Practice creating a mode map for your client outside of session or in supervision so you have some ideas of how their presentation might fit into a mode map. This will give you more confidence to have a go in the session. Try not to present clients with a ready made mode map you have developed outside of sessions, as it's important that this is a collaborative understanding.
Problem based mode maps vs general mode maps
There are two types of mode maps you can create. I recommend you have both for your client. The first is a general mode map that includes all of the client’s modes. A general mode map is really helpful for developing mode awareness, as you can bring it out each session and ask your client to talk you through how their modes have been showing up this week or review how their healthy adult managed their modes, regardless of the pattern being presented.
Tip: use images to create a general mode map for your client. The computer programme Canva is an excellent tool for developing mode maps with images. The images help clients to remember their modes and quickly give you a sense of the mode when you reference the map in sessions.
Tip: try not to get bogged down in the many different ways a mode shows up in different scenarios on the general mode map. If you include descriptions, just give an overview of how that mode shows up.
Problem based mode maps draw the pattern of the modes relating to a specific problem and include more detail about how each mode shows up in this pattern. For example, this mode map focuses on a problem where a client subjugates their needs when they are with their partner.
Tip: When creating a problem based mode map, ask your client to talk you through an example of when that problem occurred recently. As they talk you through each element of the scenario, listen out for the vulnerable child's feelings and needs, the critic mode's critical self talk, what they did to manage using their coping modes and draw out which mode they might fit into.
The schemas linking to this specific problem focused mode pattern might differ compared to other mode patterns. Therefore, you have a clearer idea of what unmet needs have to be addressed to move things forwards with this problem.
Each problem-based mode map should link to the client’s goals. Looking at the example above, the client was becoming resentful of their partner (angry child mode) because they were subjugating their needs to meet their partner's needs (compliant surrenderer mode), but they didn't know what they wanted (detached protector) because it was too scary to have needs and express them (vulnerable child). The client's goal was to have a more balanced relationship where they could express their needs to prevent resentment developing.
The mode map leads you to your therapeutic objectives. The therapeutic objectives for the problem mapped out above are:
Develop awareness of the coping modes and how they block awareness of needs and needs getting met (e.g. via interviews with the coping modes)
Help the vulnerable child feel safe enough to experience and express their needs (e.g. via rescripting childhood events of needs not being seen and expression of needs being punished).
Quieten the critic mode and discredit the critic messages (via chair work with the critic mode and imagery rescripting)
Tune into the angry child as this mode provides a helpful signal that needs are not being met.
Develop the healthy adult's assertive communication of needs.
How to mode map?
Mode mapping can be done in many different ways:
White board
Flip chart paper
Zoom whiteboard
Paper and pen
Canva images
Ensure your client has a copy to refer to outside of sessions. They can take a photo on their phone or you can share an electronic version.
Confidence mode mapping
I talk to many supervisees who feel anxious about drawing out mode maps with their clients because they are worried about getting it wrong. Please remember, you are allowed to learn new skills as a therapist. You don’t have to do this perfectly.
The first draft is a draft. I have never got a mode map ‘right’ the first time I have created one. This is impossible. As your knowledge of the client grows, so will your mode map. It's likely that your client has no awareness of mode mapping, so they will not catch you out if you make a mistake!
It’s good to model to clients that it’s okay to try something you are uncertain about, afterall, we learn by trying things out. So give mode mapping a go. It will help your schema therapy practice move forwards and the effectiveness of your work with clients. Good luck!
If you would like to learn more about schema therapy, please check out my workshops. I love to teach and share this beautiful model with others.
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