The Concept of Boundaries and the Development of the Enmeshment and Undeveloped Self Schema
Hook: It is essential to appreciate the value of healthy boundaries to understand the impact of boundaries on a person’s innate need to develop autonomy. Conversely, when unhealthy boundaries come in the form of intrusiveness and confused roles, a likely outcome is an EMS like enmeshment and undeveloped self.
In all human interactions, healthy boundaries are necessary for the development of safe and secure relationships. The quality of boundaries have a significant impact on children and teenagers’ ability to understand themselves and form meaningful relationships. While “healthy boundaries” are essential for relationships and growth, the term is frequently misunderstood. This presentation will examine healthy boundaries and identify clarity, mutual respect, and consistency as key components. It will also discuss the potential emergence of early maladaptive schemas (EMS) when these components are lacking in important relationships during a person’s early development. Although various EMS’s may result, this discussion will focus on the enmeshment and undeveloped self schema, with a particular emphasis on how healthy, or unhealthy relationship boundaries affect the basic human need for autonomy. Finally, the intervention of establishing healthy boundaries in the limited reparenting relationship can help heal this schema, reduce the schema perpetuating modes, and strengthen modes that support autonomy.
You will learn how to communicate about and apply healthy boundaries with your clients in a way that supports and values autonomy and agency.
Learning outcomes:
- Deeper understanding of relational boundaries and the impact of such boundaries on autonomy and agency.
- Ways to establish healthy boundaries in the therapeutic relationship.
Approaches for managing boundary violations as they emerge within the therapeutic relationship.
Speaker
Jeff ConwayClick for moreJeff Conway, MS, LCSW is the previous President of the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST). He is a founding member of the ISST and has served in several roles for the ISST since its foundation. His previous Executive Board positions were Vice President and Training Coordinator. He has many years of experience as a Schema Therapy Trainer and Supervisor and has served as the Chair of both the Supervisor Skills Development Committee and the Case Conceptualization Committee. Jeff is also a founding member of The NY Center for Emotion Focused Therapy and has extensive training in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), an innovative couple’s therapy model, based on Attachment Theory. He is also a Certified Couples Schema Therapy Trainer and Supervisor. Other areas of training and experience include the treatment of early childhood trauma, Object Relations Theory and Group Therapy Models. He runs a private practice in New York City, serving individuals, couples, and groups.
