Setting boundaries is essential to maintain positive relationships with others. They serve as an invisible shield, protecting us from negativity and draining interactions while helping us maintain our own energy and individuality. Whether you are interacting with people online or offline, unhealthy boundaries can make you feel drained and unfulfilled. In contrast, healthy boundaries lead to enriching interactions. People with healthy boundaries are mature and a source of enriching discourse even when you disagree. They know their limits and can say "no" when necessary while respecting others' boundaries. They are less likely to engage in win-lose interactions, which leave both parties feeling dissatisfied. They practice healthy boundaries to cultivate positive and collaborative relationships.

The field of psychology has come a long way in the past few decades, especially when it comes to understanding and treating trauma. One of the biggest advancements has been the recognition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a unique diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). When the older DSM-III was published in 1980, PTSD was not a recognized diagnosis, and even after it was added, it was initially classified as an anxiety disorder. So its taken a while for recognition and likewise research.

Experiencing a traumatic event can be devastating, and it's normal to feel distressed afterward. While there's no surefire way to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), research has shown that connecting with others can be an important protective factor. Dr. Luana Marques, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, explains, "It seems that people who, in the aftermath of a traumatic event, are able to reach for and accept help, support, and care from others fare off better." In contrast, those who avoid discussing their trauma may be at a higher risk of developing PTSD.

These studies confirm that seeking help for PTSD, even after living with symptoms for many years, can lead to significant improvements in symptoms and overall quality of life. It's important for individuals living with PTSD to know that healing and recovery are always possible, and there is hope for a better life. If you're experiencing symptoms of PTSD, it's essential to seek help from a trauma-competent therapist who can help you learn coping strategies to manage your symptoms and work through the emotions associated with the traumatic experience. With the right support and guidance, you can regain control of your life and start to feel whole again. Remember, it's never too late to start your journey towards recovery!

As a caregiver your the main support for family members and as a parent, you want to provide the best possible support for your child. Especially if your parents of kids with significant medical/developmental issues or your kids have experienced trauma or illness. Some issues with their behavior can come up and we want you to find effective parenting methods that work in such situations. This is where we have created a Parenting Skills handout that can be extremely helpful in managing difficult situations.

Will Trauma ever go away? According to researchers individuals with untreated PTSD are at a higher risk of developing chronic mental and physical health conditions. Not seeking help for trauma-related symptoms can also negatively impact your daily functioning and quality of life. The healing journey from trauma takes time, but with the right mental health support. And a virtual therapist can help you find the approach that best fits your needs. It's also about learning coping mechanisms, managing symptoms, and improving your overall quality of life.

Trauma can leave a lasting impact on our mental and emotional health, leading to feelings of distress that we try to avoid at all costs. If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms that seem to stem from a traumatic event, it's possible that you're dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of PTSD to look out for:

Intrusive Symptoms: This cluster of symptoms, also known as re-experiencing, refers to the internal experiences that can make it feel like the memory of the trauma is still alive. This can include:

Unwanted intrusive memories or thoughts

Flashbacks to the traumatic event

Nightmares

Emotional distress when reminded of the event

Traumatic events can have a lasting impact on a person's mental and emotional well-being, but not everyone who experiences trauma goes on to develop PTSD. Understanding the difference between trauma and PTSD is crucial in seeking appropriate treatment.

Trauma can result in a range of symptoms, including depression, anxiety, panic, relationship difficulties, and more. Even if the symptoms do not meet the criteria for PTSD, it is still beneficial to work with a virtual therapist who has received additional training in trauma work and has a trauma-informed perspective. This type of therapist is best equipped to see the full picture of symptoms and address the impact of traumatic events on the body and nervous system, as well as the experience of dissociation.

How Is this applied to Chronic Pain Clients?

As noted by multiple researchers changing the order of DBT modules can make DBT more effective for chronic pain clients (Cavicchioli et al, 2021; Norman-Nott et al., 2021, Linehan, 2021, Linton, 2010; Reutter, 2021).

Most recommend beginning with emotion regulation and distress tolerance first as they are key to correcting skills deficits and treating disorders in this population.

Due to its flexible style of therapy it can be quite an affordable option for clients. This is important as many may be on disability due to their illness. Yet they can do DBT therapy through groups online, and virtual therapy, making it an affordable quality service for this population.

Module on Interpersonal Effectiveness is to teach clients how to have skillful interaction in their relationships.

As many clients in DBT skills training groups want to improve the quality and quantity of their relationships, yet they often don’t have the tools to communicate effectively and increase assertiveness - which is why the DBT approach helps so much. We don’t all learn the skills we need for communication from our parents or teachers. And that’s why DBT assumes that clients are doing the best they can with the skills they have and may have areas where they can learn more.

The emotion Regulation Module has been found to correct skills deficits and teach clients about the functions of their emotions.

DBT seeks to look at the factors that make up the clients emotional reaction through the use of chain analysis that is often used in CBT. And through the DBT treatment the aim is for better regulation of their emotions and the desired outcome of building a life worth living.

There are three parts to teaching emotion regulation, first helping clients to Understand and Naming Emotions. When we go over this we often bring in Brene Browns Emotions research as through her shame resilience research she has come up with beautiful descriptions. Then, in our virtual therapy sessions we proceed to teaching the Functions of each emotion, as often we don’t connect this. Using tools like videos and slide we discuss process these and use the model of emotions to break down the cognitive and behavioral parts. Lastly reviewing how clients can Observe describe, and name emotions as they arise. Part of this is teaching clients how emotions motivate their action urges.

"A lot of clients come to therapy seeking solutions and strategies to solve problems that prompt pain and distress in their lives. The skills in the Distress Tolerance module have been designed with a different approach - as they are designed to help clients get through painful situations without adding additional pain." (Linehan, 2021)

Distress Tolerance is also part of the Acceptance side of the program, while the next two modules (i.e. emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness) focus on the change side of the therapy.

Skills taught in Distress tolerance are the following:

Distress Tolerance skills have two parts, crisis survival skills and radical acceptance skills.