Schema Therapy
Therapy for expats and internationals
Do you keep telling yourself that this time, things will be different? Maybe you’ve promised yourself you won’t overwork until you’re numb, or that you’ll finally speak up for what you need in your relationships, yet the same old patterns keep showing up. If you feel like you’re hitting an invisible wall despite “knowing better”, I want you to know you aren’t broken. You might just be dealing with schemas.
At Bloomwave Practice, I use Schema Therapy to look beneath the surface to understand and change these lifelong loops. Book a first contact session to get to know each other. It’s free of charge, with no waiting list or referral required.
Location
🏠 Leiden
💻 Online
Languages
🇬🇧 English
🇪🇪 Estonian
Useful Info
⏱️ No waiting list
🧍Adults 18+
What is Schema Therapy?
Think of a “schema” as a filter or a lens through which you see the world. These filters are usually formed in childhood when we are trying to make sense of our surroundings. If your needs for safety, connection, or autonomy weren’t fully met back then, you might have developed a “maladaptive schema” to cope.
For example, if you grew up feeling like you had to earn love through achievements, you might have developed an “unrelenting standards” schema. Now as an adult, that same filter makes you feel like no matter how hard you work, it’s never quite enough.
Schema Therapy is a deeper, integrative form of therapy. It builds on Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT), but goes further than just looking at your thoughts. Instead, I help you explore the emotional patterns underneath by looking at your “modes.” Think of these as the different parts of you that show up in certain situations. For example, you might notice an “inner critic” that quickly puts you down when you make a mistake. Or a “vunerable child” part that feels rejected or abandoned when a friend does not text back right away.
In our sessions, we’ll work together on “re-parenting” those parts of yourself. I use Schema Therapy techniques to help you move from reacting out of old pain to acting from a place of self-awareness, self-compassion and emotional balance.
Is Schema Therapy right for you?
Schema Therapy is particularly helpful for those who feel that traditional “talk therapy” or standard Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT) hasn’t quite touched the core of their issues. You also do not need a formal diagnosis to benefit from Schema Therapy. If you notice recurring patterns that keep showing up in your relationships, work, or self-image, you could benefit from this approach. It can be particularly effective for:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Burn-out and self-sacrifice
- Unresolved trauma
- Perfectionism
- Identity and belonging
- Relationships
Meet your therapist
Laura Ruusalu (She/Her)
My name is Laura. I’m a licensed therapist and an expat from Estonia. At Bloomwave Practice, I offer therapy in English. I do sessions both in person in Leiden and online for clients across the Randstad, including The Hague, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. I mostly work with expats, international students, and LGBTQIA+ clients.
With Schema Therapy, I help you look at the deeper emotional patterns that keep showing up in your life. Maybe there’s a part of you that’s incredibly self-critical, or a side that easily feels overwhelmed or “not good enough.”
I don’t just focus on quick fixes or managing symptoms. Instead, we’ll look at where these patterns started, why you react the way you do, and how you can begin to respond differently. Schema Therapy is not about fixing you, but about understanding yourself better and building a healthier relationship with who you are.
What you can expect when working with me
Free 30-minute session
Your journey begins with a free 30-minute online contact session, where we’ll explore how I can best support you.
Sliding scale pricing
I offer a sliding scale to keep therapy accessible, with rates based on your financial situation. €75 – €130 / hour
Personalised treatment
I use an integrative approach tailored to your individual needs and desires, always in collaboration.
Client testimonials
“Laura is amazing, as someone who intellectualises their feelings and experiences, finding a good psychologist is sometimes very difficult. However, Laura was heaven sent and has really helped me actually feel my feelings and process my traumas while also working on my triggers and coping mechanisms. Cannot recommend her enough. Thank you, Laura!”
– TK
“I had a very good experience with Laura. She is professional but also makes you feel very comfortable and made me realise things about myself that I still think about/use to this day (which is the first time this has happened for me in therapy). To me, this shows that Laura really listens to her clients.”
– ND
“Having tried various therapists in the past, I came in with feeling a little uneasy and curious to see how Laura from Bloomwave would address my issues and working together through therapy. I am a 22 year old female and I am extremely satisfied with my experience. In the past i often felt like I was not able to be fully understood. But with Laura I felt not only understood but also pulled out of my perceptions to think more critically and understand myself even better. Very professional and very good with helping one find comfort in the session environment. I hope to continue working with her for many sessions to come for my foreseeable future.”
– IW
Why choose Bloomwave Practice?
- Personalised, integrative approach
- Accessible rates based on your financial situation
- No waiting list, no referral needed
- Safe space, LGBTQIA+ affirmative
Ready to change the script?
Taking the first step can feel overwhelming, so I aim to make it as simple and approachable as possible. Let’s talk about what you’re hoping for and explore whether we’re the right fit to work together.
In a free 30-minute online contact session, we’ll talk about what you are struggling with, what you would like to change, and whether Schema Therapy feels like the right fit for you. It’s completely free of charge, you don’t need a referral, and I don’t have a waiting list.