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Leahy Emotional Schema Scale II (LESS II)

Leahy Emotional Schema Scale II (LESS II) Test

Understand your emotional beliefs and coping patterns in about 6 minutes. This 28 item scale pinpoints unhelpful schemas like self criticism and avoidance to guide more targeted therapy.

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Questions: 286 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

14,310 views

1,164 completions

1,006 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

5/12

Blame (B)

Measures the tendency to attribute one’s emotions to other people’s actions or inactions rather than to internal factors.

Low blaming

Moderate blaming

High blaming

2 – 6: Low blaming | 7 – 8: Moderate blaming | 9 – 12: High blaming

A score of 5 falls in the Low blaming range, suggesting you generally do not rely on blaming others to explain your emotional experiences.

example score

4/12

Low Emotional Expression (LEE)

Measures how strongly a person tends to experience and display emotions with reduced intensity or expressiveness.

Low

Elevated

2 – 7: Low | 8 – 12: Elevated

A score of 4 falls in the Low range, suggesting generally typical emotional intensity/expressiveness with minimal indication of muted emotional display.

example score

8/12

Emotional Nonacceptance (EN)

Measures the degree to which a person views certain emotions as unacceptable and tends to avoid or suppress them.

Low rejection

High rejection

2 – 7: Low rejection | 8 – 12: High rejection

A score of 8 falls in the High rejection range, suggesting a stronger tendency to judge some feelings as unacceptable and to try to push them away rather than allow them.

example score

10/12

Rumination (R)

Measures the tendency to repeatedly dwell on and analyze negative emotions rather than letting them pass.

Low

Moderate

High

2 – 7: Low | 8 – 9: Moderate | 10 – 12: High

A score of 10 falls in the High range, suggesting a strong tendency to return to negative feelings and mentally replay them, which can make emotional recovery slower.

example score

4/12

Low Consensus (LC)

Low consensus measures the extent to which a person believes their emotional experiences are unique and not shared or understood by others.

Low

High

2 – 7: Low | 8 – 12: High

A score of 4 falls in the Low range, suggesting you are less likely to view your emotions as uniquely isolating and may find it easier to feel understood by others.

example score

6/12

Duration (D)

Duration measures the belief that negative emotions will persist for a long time and be slow to pass.

Low

Moderate

High

2 – 6: Low | 7: Moderate | 8 – 12: High

A score of 6 falls in the Low range, suggesting a relatively limited expectation that negative emotions will last a very long time.

example score

8/12

Excessive Rationality (ER)

Measures the tendency to rely on logic and control while minimizing or avoiding emotional experience and expression.

Low

High

2 – 7: Low | 8 – 12: High

A score of 8 falls in the High range, suggesting a stronger-than-average preference for rational control that may limit emotional openness and full processing of feelings.

example score

7/12

Emotional Numbness (EN)

Measures the extent to which a person experiences their emotions as absent, muted, or hard to recognize and express.

Low numbness

Elevated numbness

2 – 7: Low numbness | 8 – 12: Elevated numbness

A score of 7 indicates low emotional numbness, suggesting emotions are generally present and identifiable, though they may feel muted at times.

example score

4/12

Loss of Control (LoC)

Measures the belief that emotions must be tightly controlled to prevent them from becoming overwhelming or unmanageable.

Low

Moderate

High

2 – 6: Low | 7: Moderate | 8 – 12: High

A score of 4 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively little concern that emotions will spiral out of control if not strictly managed.

example score

6/12

Devaluation (D)

Devaluation measures the extent to which a person believes emotions are unimportant or unrelated to their personal values and needs.

Low devaluation

Moderate devaluation

High devaluation

2 – 6: Low devaluation | 7 – 8: Moderate devaluation | 9 – 12: High devaluation

A score of 6 suggests low devaluation, meaning you generally see emotions as relevant and potentially informative rather than dismissing them.

example score

9/12

Simplistic View (SV)

Measures the tendency to view emotions in an overly simple, one-dimensional way, making it harder to tolerate mixed or conflicting feelings.

Nuanced view

Simplified view

2 – 7: Nuanced view | 8 – 12: Simplified view

A score of 9 suggests a stronger tendency to simplify emotional experiences, which can make complex or mixed feelings feel confusing and easier to avoid.

example score

5/12

Guilt And Shame (GAS)

Measures the degree to which a person associates emotions with personal weakness, leading to guilt/shame and increased self-criticism.

Low

Elevated

2 – 7: Low | 8 – 12: Elevated

A score of 5 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively little tendency to interpret emotions as a sign of weakness or to respond with guilt/shame.

example score

8/12

Incomprehensibility (I)

Uncertainty measures how confusing, meaningless, or chaotic your emotions feel to you.

Low uncertainty

High uncertainty

2 – 7: Low uncertainty | 8 – 12: High uncertainty

A score of 8 falls in the high uncertainty range, suggesting emotions may often feel hard to interpret or make sense of.

example score

8/12

Invalidation (I)

Invalidation measures the extent to which a person believes others do not understand, accept, or value their emotional experiences.

Low

High

2 – 7: Low | 8 – 12: High

A score of 8 falls in the High range, suggesting a stronger expectation that others will dismiss or misunderstand your feelings, which may make emotional sharing and support-seeking feel less rewarding.

example score

138/168

Overall Level of Emotional Schemas (OLoES)

Measures the overall intensity of emotional schemas, reflecting how strongly beliefs and strategies shape understanding, acceptance, and expression of emotions.

Low

Moderate

High

28 – 74: Low | 75 – 121: Moderate | 122 – 168: High

A score of 138 falls in the High range, suggesting a strong overall influence of maladaptive emotional schemas that may be associated with greater difficulty accepting, making sense of, or expressing emotions.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Therapy clients feeling stuck

41%OF USERS

People in counseling who keep looping in anxiety, shame, or sadness and want to understand the beliefs and habits that maintain those feelings.

CBT therapists and trainees

35%OF USERS

Mental health professionals who use the scale to quickly map emotion-related schemas and plan more targeted interventions.

Self-critical emotion avoiders

24%OF USERS

Individuals who judge their emotions harshly, fear vulnerability, or try to suppress feelings and want a clearer picture of their emotional patterns.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Accusation (A)

Average

5.5

Normal range

4.1 — 6.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Low Emotional Intensity (LEI)

Average

8.9

Normal range

7.7 — 10.1

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Rejection of Feelings (RoF)

Average

7.7

Normal range

6.3 — 9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Rumination (R)

Average

8.9

Normal range

7.5 — 10.2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Low consensus (Lc)

Average

6.6

Normal range

4.7 — 8.5

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Duration (D)

Average

5.2

Normal range

3.6 — 6.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Excessive Rationality (ER)

Average

6.5

Normal range

4.8 — 8.2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Emotional numbness (En)

Average

5.2

Normal range

3.7 — 6.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Loss of Control (LoC)

Average

9.1

Normal range

7.9 — 10.4

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Devaluation (D)

Average

Normal range

6.4 — 9.5

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Simplified View (SV)

Average

9.3

Normal range

7.6 — 11

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Guilt and Shame (GaS)

Average

8.8

Normal range

7.4 — 10.2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Uncertainty (U)

Average

8.9

Normal range

7.2 — 10.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Invalidation (I)

Average

5.1

Normal range

3.8 — 6.4

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Overall Level of Emotional Schemas (OLoES)

Average

72.5

Normal range

49.2 — 95.9

min.

max.

168

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It assesses beliefs and expectations about emotions and common ways emotions are interpreted, judged, and managed. Results point to emotional schema patterns that may maintain distress or interfere with regulation.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

It includes 28 items and typically takes about 6 minutes to complete. Completion time may vary based on reading speed.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best reflects typical thoughts and reactions, not a single unusual event. Answer all items unless an item cannot be understood.

How are scores interpreted?

Item ratings are combined into scale scores that reflect specific emotional schema domains. Interpretation focuses on elevated patterns such as self-criticism, avoidance, fear of feelings, or beliefs about control and acceptability.

What language version and scoring basis are used for Russian administrations?

Online Russian administrations use a working translation prepared by Ukrainian and Russian psychologists; a finalized published Russian version is not available. Scoring and interpretation follow the methods described in Robert Leahy’s published materials.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Lihi's Emotional Schemas Scale, LESS II Test

Leahy Emotional Schema Scale II (LESS II) Test - Symptoms and Signs

cbt schematherapy

This measure is designed to assess how individuals understand, evaluate, and respond to their own emotional experiences. The Leahy Emotional Schema Scale II (LESS II) is commonly used to clarify beliefs and expectations about emotions that may shape coping and emotion regulation.

The instrument consists of 28 items and typically takes about 6 minutes to complete. Item content reflects attitudes toward emotions (e.g., acceptance, self-criticism, fear of certain feelings, perceived controllability) and can help identify patterns that may contribute to avoidance, suppression, or difficulty tolerating distress. Developed by Robert L. Leahy, the Leahy Emotional Schema Scale II (LESS II) is intended to support clinical formulation and treatment planning by highlighting emotion-related schemas that may be relevant targets for intervention.

Author: Robert L. Leahy

Literature: Leahy, R. L. Emotional schema therapy. In J. S. Beck (Ed.), Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond. Guilford Press. 2011.; Leahy, R. L. Emotional schema therapy: Distinctive features. Routledge. 2015.; Beck, J. S. Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond. Guilford Press. 2011.

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