From Resistance to Resilience:

Transformation with DBT

Introduction

Meet Ethan, a 17-year-old boy from Geelong who faced significant emotional challenges.

Struggling with family violence, drug use, and a deep-seated aversion to counselling, Ethan initially resisted any form of therapy.

This is the story of how Shake Counselling transformed his outlook, helping him build resilience, manage his emotions, and reconnect with his family and passions.

Background

Ethan’s journey began with substantial emotional turmoil:

Emotional Dysregulation: Frequent panic attacks and difficulty managing intense emotions.
School Avoidance: Challenges attending school due to anxiety and fear.
Low Self-Worth: Negative self-perception affecting his daily life and interactions.
Family Violence and Drug Use: A tumultuous home environment contributing to his struggles.
Stigma Against Therapy: Deep-rooted beliefs against counselling made it difficult for Ethan to seek help willingly.

Goals

Together with Ethan, we set out to achieve the following objectives:

Increase Distress Tolerance: Teach Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills to help Ethan manage intense emotions.
Discover Personal Goals: Explore Ethan’s aspirations and help him set achievable personal and professional goals.
Mend Family Relationships: Assist in repairing and strengthening relationships with family members.
Express Emotions Healthily: Find constructive ways for Ethan to articulate and process his emotions.
Manage Anger: Develop strategies to control and channel his anger positively.

Our Approach

Over an ongoing 8-month program, Shake Counselling employed a compassionate and strategic approach to support Ethan’s transformation:

Building Rapport:

Initial Focus: Establishing trust through consistent and non-judgmental interactions.
Supervised Sessions: Early sessions conducted with the supervision of trusted workers to ensure Ethan felt safe and supported.
Gradual Independence: Encouraged Ethan to attend sessions on his own as trust was built, despite his initial reluctance.

Introducing Therapeutic Tools

Whiteboard Sessions: Utilised whiteboards to visually map out Ethan’s emotions and challenges, making abstract feelings more tangible.
DBT Skills: Introduced DBT techniques such as SWAN (Stop, Warn, Act, Notice) and Shake Steps to help Ethan navigate moments of anger and distress.
Personal Values Exploration: Engaged Ethan in discussions about his values and the person he aspires to be, aligning therapy with his personal goals.

Integrating Interests

Basketball as Therapy: Leveraged Ethan’s passion for basketball to create relatable and engaging therapy sessions. This included:
Active Engagement: Playing basketball to release endorphins and build a positive association with therapy.
Real-Life Application: Incorporating DBT skills during games to practice emotional regulation under pressure.
Confidence Building: Encouraging Ethan to participate in one-on-one games to foster self-control and resilience.

Outcomes

Improved Emotional Regulation:

Mastered breathing techniques and grounding exercises to manage panic attacks.
Applied DBT skills during basketball games, feeling more in control and less overwhelmed.

Enhanced Performance:

Increased efficiency and enjoyment in basketball, leading to fewer conflicts with teammates.
Successfully participated in his basketball grand final, contributing to his team’s victory.

Achieving Personal Goals:

Actively seeking employment, aiming for a trade to avoid becoming a statistic.
Training in boxing three times a week, culminating in an exhibition match in Geelong.
Helping peers at his former school by sharing his positive experiences with counselling, thereby reducing stigma and encouraging others to seek help.

Mended Family Relationships:

Reconnected with family members, fostering a supportive and understanding home environment.
Improved communication and reduced instances of family violence.

Conclusion

Ethan’s transformation underscores the profound impact of a consistent, personalised, and empathetic approach to counselling.

By integrating his interests and addressing his unique challenges, Shake Counselling not only helped Ethan manage his emotions but also empowered him to pursue his passions and rebuild his self-esteem.