Changing Expectations: What are Schema and How do They Impact Mental Health?
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Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes delves into the concept of SCHEMA, mental frameworks formed by past experiences that influence our perceptions and reactions. These SCHEMA serve as mental shortcuts, helping us anticipate future events based on past experiences, but can become outdated or inaccurate, leading to chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and even physical health issues. Dr. Snipes emphasizes the importance of modifying SCHEMA, particularly those associated with feelings of unsafety or powerlessness, often stemming from trauma. She discusses how personal experiences, such as interactions with authority figures, dogs, or workplace environments, shape our SCHEMA and how negative past experiences can lead to expectations of toxicity in new situations. The role of caregivers is highlighted in the development of children's SCHEMA, with caregivers providing 'scaffolding' to help children develop empathy and perspective-taking. However, caregivers' own SCHEMA can influence their reactions, potentially leading to intergenerational trauma. Dr. Snipes also addresses the transmission of SCHEMA from caregivers to children, noting how a caregiver's expression of panic can instill fear in a child. She advocates for the use of distress tolerance skills to manage fear and evaluate situations rationally. The importance of recognizing that fears from childhood may not be relevant in adulthood is discussed, with the need to update SCHEMA as circumstances change. Dr. Snipes suggests journaling and reflection to reassess reactions and adjust SCHEMA accordingly. She also explores the impact of caregivers' mental health on children's development, the role of conflicting information in shaping SCHEMA, and the importance of context in assessing their accuracy. Schema Therapy is introduced, with a focus on experiences that foster feelings of security and consistency in relationships. Dr. Snipes emphasizes the importance of secure attachments and adjusting SCHEMA by identifying beliefs that cause distress, using the mnemonic 'FIT CAT' to evaluate facts in the present context. She discusses personalization and projection in interpersonal interactions, the development and adjustment of SCHEMA related to abandonment and safety, and the adaptability of SCHEMA in different contexts. Finally, Dr. Snipes touches on the anticipation of the counseling compact, which will ease the process for counselors to practice in different states, and encourages participation in a Q&A session on doomscrolling.
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes delves into the concept of SCHEMA, mental frameworks formed by past experience