During her senior year of college, Ren was steadily on track to complete her assignments when she encountered a particularly distressing case study as part of her academic coursework. The experience triggered significant anxiety and ultimately led to a crisis episode. Seeking help from her university’s counseling center, Ren was referred to our local in-person Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) which offered her weekly support 3 days a week up to 3 hours a day, without ever having to step away from class or campus life.
Treatment & Life Goals
- Process and manage trauma symptoms
- Develop healthy coping strategies for triggers
- Graduate in May alongside her college classmates
Treatment Plan and Recovery Journey
Ren was grateful that she could benefit from a robust treatment plan that fit flexibly around her day-to-day classes and on-campus commitments.
Individual Therapy and Clinical Coaching
- Ren’s primary focus in therapy was processing her trauma and developing coping skills to manage triggers. A significant emphasis was placed on somatic grounding and mindfulness techniques to help her come back to her body when she felt disconnected from the present. She also benefited from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with an emphasis on distress tolerance.
- While balancing school commitments and extracurriculars alongside treatment, coaching support centered on strengthening her executive functioning skills, such as time management and task prioritization.
- During school breaks, Ren seamlessly continued her therapy and coaching sessions virtually, allowing her to maintain progress while spending time with her family out of state.
Group Therapy
Through attending group therapy sessions, Ren was able to consolidate clinical support with the support of her peers. These included:
- Trauma Empower, a movement-based group designed to help individuals addressing histories of trauma and PTSD. Ren, along with other group members, were supported in processing and releasing emotions, and building confidence through physical action.
- Seeking Safely Group: This trauma-focused process group, designed for individuals who self-identify as having experienced trauma, provided Ren with a sense of safety and comfort as she navigated her healing journey alongside supportive peers.
- Executive Function Group. A space for developing skills needed to effectively plan, initiative, organize and execute tasks. This was especially important for Ren as she worked to juggle different areas of her life including schoolwork, treatment and competitive sports.
- Meditation: While Ren had tried mediation previously, she benefited from a dedicated space for regular mediation practice as part of a group with a multidisciplinary approach to stress reduction and breathing techniques.
Community Clubhouse
Ren appreciated The Dorm community as a safe and calm reprieve from the busy schedule of school and her college club commitments. She benefited from the quiet study spaces to focus on her mental health and complete school projects.
Health and Wellness
Movement had always been an important part of Ren’s life, and she found great value in participating in the weekly Mindful Wellness Walk group. This experience provided her with a meaningful opportunity to connect with her local city outdoors and practice mindfulness with intention.
Ren Today: Outcomes
Thanks to effective treatment, Ren achieved her goal of graduating alongside her peers without needing to step away from the enriching experiences of her college life. She remains connected with her friends and frequently recommends The Dorm as a valuable resource. Now, she is focused on looking ahead, with hopes of pursuing a fulfilling role in the creative field.
