Welcome to DASI

SCHEMAS
DASI
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SLEEP
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HELPING AFTER A TRAUMA
VISUALIZATION
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ANGER & IRRITABILITY
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SCHEMAS
ACUPRESSURE
LAUGHTER

Schema focused cognitive therapy is based on the belief that many negative ‘cognitions’ (yes it really is a word) have their roots buried deep in the past experiences of each and every one of us.

 

They appear to be based upon the idea that we store early memories within ourselves which when ‘triggered’ can cause us to dysfunction.

 

These schemas define how we see ourselves and our relationships with others. They begin in our earliest formative years, develop during childhood and are ‘validated’ throughout one’s lifetime. In a sense, they provide us with our rules for living. Especially if we are dysfunctional.

 

Schema’s are all too often lifelong, they are the self-defeating and self-destructive patterns of attitude and behaviour which ‘cause’ us to be dysfunctional.

 

These enduring patterns comprising of memories, bodily sensations, emotions and perceptions.

 

When they become ‘triggered’ they result in us experiencing an intense emotional feeling. Individuals with more complex problems are believed to have one or more ‘maladaptive’ schemas

 

For example if a person experienced abandonment as a child and is then abandoned in later life, they will have all the memories of early abandonment. The intense emotions of anxiety or depression, which are closely attached to abandonment. The same bodily sensations, thoughts and fears that people will always leave them. 

 

Such experiences are therefore, the deepest level of cognition that contain memories and intense emotions when activated.

 

 

LIST OF SCHEMAS

 

Emotional Deprivation: The belief and expectation that the primary needs will never be met. The sense that no one will nurture, care for, guide, protect or empathise with you.

 

Abandonment: The belief and expectation that others will leave, that others are unreliable, that relationships are fragile, that loss is inevitable, and that you will end up alone.

 

Mistrust / Abuse: The belief that others are abusive, manipulative, selfish or looking to hurt or use you. Others are not to be trusted.

 

Defectiveness: The belief that you are flawed, damaged or unlovable, and you will be rejected.

 

Social Isolation: The pervasive sense of aloneness, coupled with a feeling of alienation.

 

Vulnerability: The sense that the world is a dangerous place, that disaster can happen at any time, and that you will be overwhelmed by the challenges which lie ahead.

 

Dependence / Incompetence: The belief that you are unable to effectively make your own decisions, that your judgement is questionable, and that you need to rely on others to help get you through day-to-day responsibilities.

 

Enmeshment / Underdeveloped Self: The sense that you do not have an identity or “individuated self” that is separate from one or more significant others.

 

Failure: The expectation that you will fail, or believe that you cannot perform well enough.

 

Subjugation: The belief that you must submit to the control of others, or else punishment or rejection will be forthcoming.

 

Self-Sacrifice: The belief that you should voluntarily give up your own needs for the sake of others, usually to a point which is excessive.

 

Approval-seeking / Recognition-seeking: The sense that approval, attention and recognition are far more important than genuine self-expression and being true to oneself.

 

Emotional Inhibition: The belief that you must control your self-expression or others will reject or criticise you.

 

Negativity / Pessimism: The pervasive belief that that the negative aspects of life outweigh the positive, along with negative expectations of the future.

 

Unrelenting Standards: The belief that you need to be the best, always striving for perfection or to avoid mistakes.

 

Punitiveness: The belief that people should be harshly punished for their mistakes or shortcomings.

 

Entitlement / Grandiosity: The sense that you are special or more important than others, and that you do not have to follow the rules like other people even though it may have a negative effect on others. Also can manifest in an exaggerated focus on superiority for the purpose of having power or control.

 

Insufficient Self-Control / Self-Discipline: The sense that you cannot accomplish your goals, especially if the process contains boring, repetitive, or frustrating aspects Also, that you cannot resist acting upon impulses that lead to detrimental results.

There are reported to be three basic coping styles which are processes that overlap with the psychoanalytical concepts of resistance and defence mechanisms:

 

Schema surrender – everything the person does to keep the schema going, by remaining in the situation and doing things to keep the schema going, e.g. if someone has a defectiveness schema and they stay in a relationship with someone who has criticised them, they are surrendering to the schema, they are staying in the situation but allowing themselves to be criticised thus enhancing the schema.   

 

Schema avoidance is avoiding the schema either by avoiding situations that trigger the schema or by psychologically removing yourself from the situation so you don’t have to feel the schema. An example of avoidance might be the person with a mistrust schema who avoids making friendships because of the fear of being hurt or taken advantage of.  This action only tends to reinforce the belief when others pick up the coolness and distance themselves.

 

Schema overcompensation is an excessive attempt to fight the schema by trying to do the opposite of what the schema would tell you to do.  So if someone has a subjugation schema, they might rebel against the people who are subjugating them. If the overcompensation is too extreme it ultimately backfires and reinforces the schema.  A form of overcompensation is externalising the schema, by blaming others and becoming aggressive. Another way can be achieving at a very high level, whereby, a person who feels defective works 80 hours a week to overcompensate

 

The Schema-Focused model of treatment is designed to help people break these maladaptive coping styles which perpetuate negative patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving, so that individuals can get their core needs met.

 

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