Beckett came to The Dorm in the midst of his PhD studies, experiencing increasingly debilitating depression, anxiety, and existential doom. With symptoms of Persistent Depressive Disorder (dysthymia), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and ADHD being exacerbated by the recent political climate, Beckett’s outside therapist recommended The Dorm for further support.
Initially hesitant, Beckett was concerned about disrupting the rhythm of his academic life. However, after learning that he could receive services at The Dorm while continuing his studies, he felt more comfortable engaging with the program and its community.
Treatment and Life Goals
Some goals Beckett wanted to work on with The Dorm’s team included:
- Symptom stabilization
- Developing skills and tools to manage overwhelming emotions
- Improving executive functioning skills
Treatment Plan and Recovery Journey
Individual Therapy
Beckett continued working with his existing therapist as he joined The Dorm’s community, maintaining continuity of his treatment journey without needing to switch therapists. His Dorm treatment team coordinated with his therapist to ensure that treatment goals were aligned and addressed congruently, in both treatment environments.
Clinical Coaching
During clinical coaching sessions, Beckett’s team employed several key modalities:
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) helped Beckett learn and apply effective coping skills, particularly when political stressors triggered negative thought spirals. Mindfulness techniques helped him stay grounded, and distress tolerance skills allowed him to reduce the effects of intense emotions.
- Executive Functioning Coaching (EFC) was a large part of Beckett’s coaching sessions. He specifically struggled with time management, as Beckett would find himself stuck in various tasks due to depression, anxiety, and ADHD. With his coach, he learned how to block out time for specific tasks and estimate completion time more accurately. EFC helped him regain focus and improve productivity.
- Trauma-Focused Work — Beckett explored the impact of childhood family trauma, working with his team to understand how those early experiences continued to shape his emotions, behaviors, and thought patterns.
Parent Coaching and Family Therapy
While Beckett’s family was not directly involved in treatment, he used individual therapy sessions to reflect on the nature of his relationship with his parents and how to set healthier and more constructive boundaries.
Group Therapy
At first, Beckett struggled to speak about his mental health in group settings. However, after working through his discomfort, group therapy was the part of The Dorm programming where he really thrived. Key groups that resonated with him included:
- DBT group, which helped him practice skills alongside peers who held him accountable, was extremely beneficial for Beckett, as someone who was initially unfamiliar with the various facets of DBT. Having a group dedicated to learning and applying these skills helped him feel more comfortable using them in his own life.
- Trauma Group allowed Beckett to bond with individuals who had also experienced trauma, whether it was similar or different from his own, and found solidarity and understanding in the shared space.
- Identity and Sexuality Group similarly allowed Beckett to connect with people like him. He was proud of his queer identity, but found it hard to celebrate it because of current politics. This group gave him a safe space to express himself, build connections, and make like-minded friends.
Community Clubhouse
As a newcomer to the area, Beckett valued the opportunity to meet new people through The Dorm. He developed lasting friendships, many of which he maintains to this day through alumni programming and ongoing community engagement.
As an older client, Beckett came to The Dorm with different needs than many of the other clients — he was already living an independent life, and had already experienced much of the ups and downs of the transition to adulthood. Receiving support from The Dorm while remaining a full-time student, however, was essential in maintaining both his academic progress and personal independence. The Dorm gave him a community and structure without disrupting his established life.
Beckett Today: Outcomes
After successfully completing his time at The Dorm, Beckett has continued his PhD studies in sociology and has found a job as a yoga instructor. Once unfamiliar with DBT skills, he now uses them regularly to manage emotional intensity and maintain balance. His time management has significantly improved, creating schedules that help keep him productive. Beckett continues to meet with his original therapist, practices yoga and meditation for mental wellness, and has joined an LGBTQ support group to stay connected to and celebrate his identity.
