OUTLINE Working with emotions

Schema Schema Avoidance The Antidote Conceptual framework/Schema model

Mindfulness in Therapy Beginning to practice Key Elements Of Mindfulness Techniques

Working with emotions

Schemas

protect us from experiencing underlying emotions that we find intensely disturbing

make us behave and think in ways that keep us from unsettling emotions

Schema Avoidance

The tendency to avoid intense emotional setbacks triggered by deep emotions hidden in the unconscious

The Antidote

Mindfulness Getting in touch with your feelings and

thoughts

It counters schema avoidance by keeping our attention focused on what we feel, even if those feelings are uncomfortable

The Antidote Mindfulness practice cultivates an inner

knowledge

Could help break through the defenses that keep us from noticing and dealing with the underlying feelings that empower the schemas in our lives

Allows us to understand what happened from a mature viewpoint

Conceptual framework/Schema model

Two Methods

Wise reflection where we reflect on the emotional episode

with mindfulness to let insight emerge

Sustained Awareness bringing the equanimity of mindfulness to

bear during the episode itself, making us less reactive and more able to investigate our thoughts and feelings with greater clarity

Mindfulness in Therapy

I. Beginning to practice

1. Remembering to Be2. Getting Motivated3. Practicing4. Therapist Credentials

I.1: Remembering to Be

The instruction to slow down and notice what is happening in the present involves being rather than doing.

I.2: Getting Motivated

The patient must recognize the grounds and be willing to make a priority

Therapy usually starts at a time of ‘creative hopelessness’

I.3: Practicing

Practicing mindfulness has its catch – we never get it right and we never get it wrong either.

This idea of ‘practicing’ suggests that we can steadily progress, but lifelong repetition is part of practice.

I.4: Therapist Credentials the therapist has to have spent a lot

of time in formal meditation practice has to have learned to work with a

skilled teacher the need for them to practice

mindfulness may depend on how much mindfulness we bring into therapy

II. Key Elements Of Mindfulness Techniques

1. Awareness2. Present Experience3. Acceptance

II.1: Awareness

Stop It is a way of preparing our mind for

mindfulness awareness We may also slow down to develop

mindfulness so that it could be observed in greater detail

II.1: Awareness

Observe As we become conscious of our

attention, we can then begin to note feelings and thoughts that arise naturally within ourselves

II.1: Awareness

Return When we notice we have become out of

focus, we return awareness to its original focal point and watch where the mind takes us from there

II.2: Present Experience One of the main goals of mindfulness

is to be unified with ourselves

All exercises bring awareness to the present

This practice is therefore training attention to center on the present moment

II.3: Acceptance This means to consider our

experience without judgments or preferences

It relies wholly on full recognition of our experience

But this is always incomplete because we never stop judging