Case Study Video
Grace at Admission
Grace had lived most of her young adult life defined by her identity as a “cancer survivor.” She began therapy in college to process her diagnosis and constant feelings of anxiety, but continued to struggle at home with emotional dysregulation and the feeling that her daily habits were holding her back from what looked and felt “normal” for a young adult in her late 20s. At admission she shared: “I feel like I’m watching life instead of living it.”
While working full-time at a nonprofit, Grace sought treatment at The Dorm to address suicidal ideation, repair her relationship with her family, as well as build a sense of identity and social confidence that could be truly “hers.”
Diagnoses
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Trauma
Goals: In Her Words
- Develop a sense of “ME” > “cancer survivor.”
- Find strategies to deal with my constant anxiety and feelings of overwhelm.
- Help me communicate with my family.
- Feel safe, and deal with suicidal thoughts.
- Be bolder and more confident at work!
Treatment Schedule
Treatment Journey
- Through behavioral activation and groups such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), DBT, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and the 26+ Group, Grace developed stronger coping skills, became more expressive about her needs, and learned to assert her autonomy. She began to realign her actions with her values, rather than her fears.
- Family therapy played a crucial role for processing unresolved pain and moving towards a place of greater acceptance.
- Being in a city like NYC, Grace immersed herself in fellow LGBTQ+ communities and even rallied together a group of peers to attend the NYC Pride Parade.
- Grace loved exploring improv alongside her fellow community members, where she created authentic friendships, let go of years of isolation, and rediscovered her identity as Grace: the witty, creative, fun-loving person who is more than her medical past.
Group Spotlights
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT):
- Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, this group builds psychological flexibility by helping clients shift their relationship to thoughts, emotions, and internal experiences.
- Objectives:
- Increase psychological flexibility
- Strengthen values-based action
- Build acceptance of internal experiences
- Skills Achieved:
- Increased ability to navigate difficult thoughts and emotions
- Greater alignment between actions and personal values
- Improved capacity to stay present and engaged in challenges
- Objectives:
- 98% of clients became more flexible in how they respond to challenges and internal struggles
26+ Group:
- Designed to address age-specific identity development, this group supports clients in navigating life-stage transitions, societal expectations, and evolving self-concept.
- Objectives:
- Explore identity in the context of age and life stage
- Challenge internalized societal expectations
- Build confidence in non-linear life paths
- Skills Achieved:
- Increased sense of empowerment in identity development
- Greater confidence in navigating age-related milestones
- Improved ability to challenge internalized stigma
- Objectives:
- 97% of clients are more empowered in their identity and able to challenge stigma around age milestones
Grace Today
Known in the community for her warmth, curiosity, and incredible desire to live in alignment with who she was “becoming,” Grace was finally able to separate from the diagnosis that had so long defined her.
Today, she is beginning a new chapter, stepping away from her career in the non-profit world to finally pursue her dream in fashion — with a full scholarship at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City.
Grace remains connected to The Dorm community through a Sunday community gathering and maintains the friendships she fostered in groups.
