Prices
Tests
FAQ
How sessions work
en
es
Log inSign up

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.
Start Online Test
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
14305 views
1159 completions
1006 likes
Share
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.
Start Online Test
just completed the test
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
What You’ll See After You Finish the Test
Scale Results
— Explained Clearly
Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.
AI-Powered
Interpretation
A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.
Statistical
Comparison
See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.
Practical
Recommendations
Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.
AI-Detected
Insights
Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.
Discuss with
an AI Psychologist
Clarify, reflect, and explore right away. Talk through your outcomes, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue environment.
Start Online Test
Used in 52+ countries
Benchmarking
See How You Compare
Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.
Accusation (A)
Average
5.5
Normal range
4.1 — 6.9
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Low Emotional Intensity (LEI)
Average
8.9
Normal range
7.7 — 10.1
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Rejection of Feelings (RoF)
Average
7.7
Normal range
6.3 — 9
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Rumination (R)
Average
8.9
Normal range
7.5 — 10.2
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Low consensus (Lc)
Average
6.6
Normal range
4.7 — 8.5
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Duration (D)
Average
5.2
Normal range
3.6 — 6.9
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Excessive Rationality (ER)
Average
6.5
Normal range
4.8 — 8.2
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Emotional numbness (En)
Average
5.2
Normal range
3.7 — 6.8
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Loss of Control (LoC)
Average
9.1
Normal range
7.9 — 10.4
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Devaluation (D)
Average
8
Normal range
6.4 — 9.5
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Simplified View (SV)
Average
9.3
Normal range
7.6 — 11
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Guilt and Shame (GaS)
Average
8.8
Normal range
7.4 — 10.2
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Uncertainty (U)
Average
8.9
Normal range
7.2 — 10.6
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Invalidation (I)
Average
5.1
Normal range
3.8 — 6.4
min.
2
max.
12
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Overall Level of Emotional Schemas (OLoES)
Average
72.5
Normal range
49.2 — 95.9
min.
28
max.
168
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Start Online Test
Featured On
Rated 4.8/5 by Our Customers
“Freudly really helped me discover parts of my personality I hadn’t noticed before. It strengthened the areas where I needed to grow and made me feel more grounded and confident in the parts that already worked well.”
— Emma C., US
“I wanted to understand how serious my ADHD is, and now I finally do. I also realized I need to work on my self-esteem. It has been low for a long time, and that makes daily life harder than it should be.”
— Mateo R., CA
“Reading each question felt like someone really understood me. Even though I’ve already dealt with much of this, reflecting still helped me learn something new about myself.”
— Caroline F., US
“The process is simple. The test covers everything you need, and you’ll get a clear breakdown of your results. For just a few dollars, it’s a great value.”
— Klara N., CZ
“I kept thinking there might be a small chance, but now I know for sure. The questions were easy to understand, and the whole process was straightforward.”
— Bruno M., BR
“I really enjoyed this experience. I learned a lot, and it helped me make sense of my thoughts and the feeling I’ve had for a long time that I may have grown up with undiagnosed ADHD.”
— Alice B., FR
“Great platform — the insights were genuinely meaningful!”
— Daniel W., DE
“Everything was easy to follow. The tools you get at the end are genuinely helpful for self-growth, and the price is very reasonable. I really appreciate that.”
— Sofia M., ES
“Surprisingly accurate — honestly didn’t expect it to nail things so well.”
— Adir B., IL
“There are lots of different tests to pick from, and the price is surprisingly low for how much insight you get.”
— Olivia W., CA
“I was pleasantly surprised when I read the results. It was as if someone had sorted out my messy thoughts and given me useful tips to help me speak with more confidence.”
— Grace O., IE
“It was really solid, very detailed, and it actually helped me make sense of a lot of things.”
— Carla T., TT
“I was really impressed with the report. It was clear, thoughtful, and it reflected things I’ve been noticing about myself.”
— Jade H., US
“The questions made me think deeply and helped me become more self-aware.”
— Brooke S., US
“Reading through most of the questions made me feel understood. Although I’ve already worked through some of these issues, the questions still gave me useful insights and helped me learn more about myself.”
— Ryan M., US
“I usually take one or two tests each month, and this has become a good way for me to see how I’m doing.”
— Lucas W., US
“Most of the time, my results are in the 90 to 98th percentile compared to others. It really makes me feel like there’s something unique about me.”
— Ethan C., US
“I tried out some of the AI’s suggestions, and to be honest, they worked much better than I thought they would. Maybe this thing really is smarter than me.”
— Reece D., AU
Trusted by 22k+ Users Worldwide
CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

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

cbtschematherapy

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.
Test Question Form
You Might Also Like
Self-Assessment of Emotional States
This brief self-report measure is designed to capture a person’s current, m…
Start Test
Relationship Emotional Schemas Scale (RESS)
This brief self-report measure is designed to assess how an individual perc…
Start Test
Comments
Leave a Comment