The DNMS is psychotherapy for adults developed by Shirley Jean Schmidt, MA, LPC, a psychotherapist in private practice in San Antonio, Texas. It is an ego state therapy based on the assumption that the degree to which developmental needs were not adequately met is the degree to which a client is stuck in childhood. The DNMS starts by guiding clients to establish three internal Resources: a Nurturing Adult Self, a Protective Adult Self, and a Spiritual Core Self  (or core self) which together form a Healing Circle. Together these Resources help wounded child ego states get unstuck from the past by meeting their unmet developmental needs. Special attention is given to unmet attachment needs, which are considered the most important of all the developmental needs.

The DNMS focuses on healing maladaptive introjects (child ego states that mimic abusive, neglectful, or dysfunctional caregivers). It is important to realize that this work is not about blaming; it is about healing. (For some, the need to release and express blame can be very healing, as well.) Since these wounded ego states cause the most trouble for clients, their healing results in a huge benefit. As the introjects heal, and get totally unstuck from the past, clients report that unwanted behaviors, beliefs, and emotions disappear. The DNMS protocols are very gentle. They guide a client’s Resources to meet attachment and attunement needs, process strong emotions, and bond with the child ego states. The process builds self-esteem, desensitizes developmental traumas, and integrates dissociated parts of self. The Healing Circle is also an effective tool for daily affect regulation.

For a more detailed description of DNMS, please view the slide show at www.dnmsinstitute.com