Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on self-concept, emotion regulation, and inner peace in individuals experiencing prolonged grief.
Methods: The research employed an experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group and a follow-up phase. The statistical population included individuals with prolonged grief referred to Fekr sevom psychotherapy center in Najafabad city in 2024. A total of 30 participants were selected through purposive sampling based on inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (18 participants in each group). The experimental group underwent schema therapy in ten 90-minute sessions (once a week). The research instruments included the Saraswat Self-Concept Questionnaire, Baker Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Hosseini Inner Peace Scale, administered in three stages: pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 software and repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
Results:  The findings indicated that the schema therapy intervention significantly improved self-concept, emotion regulation, and inner peace in individuals with prolonged grief in both the posttest and follow-up phases (P<0.05). In other words, significant differences were observed between the stages of the study for all research variables.
Conclusion: Schema therapy can enhance self-concept, emotion regulation, and inner peace in individuals with prolonged grief. Therefore, it is recommended as an effective approach in therapeutic centers.