College can be a busy and fun time of your life. It can also be chock full of deadlines, social pressures and other stressors that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Feeling overwhelmed is to be expected, but before you resign yourself to another semester of stress-fueled all-nighters, consider this: Summer break can be the best time to invest in improving your mental well-being. Taking this time to invest in yourself can help set the stage for an incredible fall semester. Here’s where intensive short-term dynamic therapy, or a Short-Term Option, comes in. A Short-Term Option, simply put, can be like a summer training program for your mental well-being, equipping you with tools and strategies to conquer the semester ahead. 

What is intensive short-term dynamic therapy?

An intensive short-term dynamic therapy program is a targeted program offering focused sessions in a shorter time frame. This time frame can be as short as two weeks and can be perfect for summer break. During the program, you’ll work with an experienced primary therapist during three individual sessions. They’ll use a holistic approach using evidence-based modalities to create a fully personalized treatment plan. These sessions allow for an exploration of your challenges and will help you build effective coping strategies. You’ll also meet weekly with a psychiatrist to help ensure a comprehensive approach to your care. 

Family is a cornerstone of recovery, and biweekly family therapy sessions are offered. These sessions can help improve communication and strengthen understanding between you and your loved ones. Another component is group sessions. You can connect and gain strength from others facing similar challenges. Our trained clinicians lead up to five daily group sessions. These can provide you with a safe space to share experiences, learn from each other and feel empowered. 

Why during the summer?

Summer can be the ideal time for a Short-Term Option. College life can put you through the wringer with academic challenges, social anxieties, the pressure to excel and more. Summer often provides a much-needed break from all the chaos. With fewer distractions, you’ll be able to fully commit to the process and absorb the benefits of therapy.

How can a Short-Term Option help you ace the fall semester?

The concentration of a Short-Term Option during the summer can help you in the fall semester with benefits such as:

• Increased self-awareness — During your Short-Term Option sessions, you’ll explore underlying emotional patterns and defenses and the effects they have on your mental health. This self-awareness you gain during the summer can help empower you to navigate challenges better in the fall semester and beyond. You’ll be able to recognize when stress is creeping in and take proactive steps to manage it before it can derail your study session or exam prep. 
• Reduced emotional intensity — By processing your past experiences and their connection to your current emotions, you can learn how to regulate your emotions more effectively. This emotional regulation you learn during the summer can make you feel less overwhelmed by stress in the fall. 
• Improved communication — Your Short-Term Option sessions can focus on helping you identify and address emotional avoidance that can make communication tricky. You may avoid difficult conversations or struggle to express yourself clearly. These sessions can give you the skills you need to have open and honest communication with professors, classmates and other people in your life.
• Enhanced problem-solving — A Short-Term Option can equip you with healthier coping mechanisms. Developing these skills during the summer can make you more resourceful. When you face academic or professional hurdles in the fall, you can keep on going with a more positive and productive mindset you built during the summer. 
• Avoiding regression — Addressing mental health concerns during the summer can help you build a strong foundation for maintaining positive mental health habits throughout the year. You’ll have the tools you need to help prevent potential regressions triggered when you return to your demanding academic routine in the fall. You’ll be able to prioritize, stay organized and tackle challenges head-on. 

Get back on track and ready for the fall semester with Lightfully U’s Short-Term Option

At Lightfully U, we understand the challenges college life can throw your way. Summer break can be the perfect time to regain control over your mental well-being. Our Short-Term Option program offers a powerful yet focused approach to help you bounce back quickly and do well in your upcoming semester. Taking care of your mental health is an investment in your overall well-being and future. Our expert clinical therapists take a whole-person-centered care approach to equip you with the tools and support you need using our unique approach to treatment. 

We use process-based therapy (PBT), which allows us to create a fully personalized framework using the most effective components of evidence-based modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). It also incorporates compassion-based and somatic therapies. This treatment plan designed just for you targets the four core processes that are drivers behind mental health conditions and their symptoms. These four drivers are difficulties with emotions, thoughts, behaviors and relationships. 

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you