Sorenson's Ranch School Announces- Helping Self-Harm Behavior With a New Combination of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Groups and Other Therapies

After over 30 years of treating troubled teens, Sorenson's Ranch School knows the most effective and caring approach is Dialectical Behavior Therapy. And for the first time, Sorenson's is combining it with other time tested therapies.

Koosharem, UT (PRWEB) June 29, 2009 -- Sorenson's Ranch School, the nationally respected school and treatment facility, has provided parents of troubled teenagers quality assistance for over 30 years. Sorenson's unique combination of therapy, education, and experiential learning is the exact reason they have been in this business for so many years. When it comes to treating a self-destructive child, the school uses the Dialectical Behavior Therapy, a renowned and internationally accepted form of therapy used to treat self-destructive behavior.

When it comes to strong emotions, some teenagers have a "roller-coaster life", where self-destructive behaviors such as self-harming can be the "norm". This behavior usually stems from depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, or drug and alcohol addiction. These behaviors are considered coping skills for the patient's extremely intense, negative emotions. The key for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is to help the patient learn mindfulness skills, which focus on the ability to consciously observe and experience surrounding events as well as one's self.

The goals for DBT, or, what the patient can expect once they have completed the treatment program are:

1. Inhibit inappropriate behavior related to strong negative or positive emotions,

2. Organize oneself for coordinated action in the service of an external goal (i.e., act in a way that is not mood-dependent when necessary),

3. Self-soothe any physiological arousal that the strong emotion has induced, and,

4. Refocus attention in the presence of strong emotion.

Students who participate in the program are given handouts and homework to complete to better help them achieve the goals listed above. Core materials for the DBT program are taken from resources written by Dr. Marsh M. Linehan.

Students who successfully complete the DBT program have a much easier time returning to society and family life after completing all of their program at Sorenson's Ranch School. This skill and other skills taught by the program have contributed to the school's success, and there are always students to treat, educate, and most importantly, encourage!

Please visit Sorenson's Ranch School online for more information at:

www.sorensonranchschool.com

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