Rumi arrived at The Dorm after a hospitalization for suicidal ideation (SI), openly sharing during their admission that “SI is the primary reason I sought treatment.” Along with SI, Rumi also struggled with the weight of PTSD, anxiety, OCD, BPD, depression, and substance use, which had left them on a leave of absence from school. The combination of these challenges created an overwhelming sense of isolation and hopelessness, but Rumi hoped that The Dorm would be able to help them heal.
Treatment and Life Goals
Rumi came to The Dorm wanting to decrease their suicidal ideation, work through their trauma, and improve their interpersonal dynamics. With their treatment team, they also added additional goals, including:
- Learn emotional regulation and coping skills
- Work on their codependency
- Maintain sobriety
- Go back to school
Treatment Plan and Recovery Journey
Individual Therapy
Rumi’s therapist conducted individual sessions using the following modalities:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a modality targeted toward individuals with PTSD, which helped Rumi in process past traumatic events and reframe harmful beliefs. Through this work, they experienced a significant decrease in trauma-related suicidal ideation and began to feel more empowered in their healing journey.
- Motivational Interviewing (MI) was used in the beginning of their time at The Dorm, providing Rumi with strategies to stay motivated to continue in treatment. Early in their treatment journey, Rumi and their team experienced friction due to their disruptive behaviors, such as lying to their treatment team about their substance use. As they continued in treatment, developed a better rapport with clients and clinicians, and worked with their team to create a more structured schedule, Rumi was better able to focus on themselves and maintain honesty with their team.
Clinical Coaching
Rumi’s coaching sessions incorporated a variety of modalities, designed to help them develop skills and behaviors they could apply in their everyday life:
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), where Rumi learned and practiced emotional regulation and interpersonal skills, which helped Rumi with their BPD-related codependency. They also identified various coping mechanisms to turn to when struggling with suicidal ideation, to safely navigate emotionally intense moments.
- Executive Functioning Coaching (EFC), where Rumi’s coach focused on building essential executive functioning skills, including time management, task prioritization, and organization. The coaching also emphasized strategies for overcoming procrastination and enhancing focus, helping Rumi develop healthier routines and more effective ways to manage daily responsibilities.
Parent Coaching and Family Therapy
Through parent coaching, Rumi’s treatment team guided their parents in understanding how their overbearing approach was impacting Rumi’s well-being. Sessions centered around helping the parents shift away from being overly critical, and instead learning to celebrate Rumi’s progress, no matter how small or different it was from their own expectations. The coaching emphasized the importance of positive reinforcement and learning to focus on Rumi’s strengths and victories.
Group Therapy
During their time at The Dorm, Rumi found many groups to be helpful in their recovery journey:
- Survivors of Sexual Assault (SOSA) and Seeking Safety Groups, where Rumi found a supportive space to process their traumas with peers, who provided validation, meaningful feedback, and insight into their thoughts and behaviors—helping Rumi deepen their self-awareness and feel less alone in their experiences.
- As a nonbinary individual, Rumi found comfort and connection in the TGNB and Identity and Sexuality Groups, which provided a safe, affirming space for Rumi to explore their gender identity. Rumi also found supportive peers navigating similar journeys, helping them gain confidence to be their most authentic self both within and outside the treatment space.
- DBT Group allowed Rumi to build upon skills learned in coaching sessions, where a group was able to support, encourage, and keep Rumi accountable about practicing coping mechanisms for SI and applying skills to address their codependent tendencies.
Community Clubhouse
At first, Rumi struggled with building connections, both with clients and clinicians, feeling isolated in their experience. However, over time, they began to open up and form meaningful relationships within The Dorm’s community. They became actively involved in various activities, like botany club, community meetings, and social events, which gave them opportunities to interact in supportive settings. Connection with peers not only fostered a sense of belonging but also provided valuable support as Rumi worked through relational challenges.
Rumi Today: Outcomes
Rumi successfully achieved their goal of returning to school and is now a full-time student, balancing academics with a position at a university research lab. They’ve developed the ability to juggle both responsibilities, finding a healthy rhythm between work and study. Rumi continues to prioritize their mental wellness by meeting regularly with an outside therapist and has experienced a significant decrease in suicidal ideation. They actively apply the skills they learned in treatment to improve their interpersonal relationships, navigating social dynamics with more confidence, emotional awareness, and resilience.
