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Learn DBT Skills In A Group
Weekly sessions are available. Grouport offers therapist-led dialectical behavior therapy skills groups online. The first 12 weeks covers fundamental DBT skills.
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People-pleasing can be benign, reflecting an individual's genuine desire to make others happy. However, it may indicate a deeper issue when it becomes a chronic, compulsive behavior that comes at the expense of one's own needs and desires. This behavior can indeed be a trauma response, developed as a coping mechanism to navigate adverse experiences. This article explores the connection between people-pleasing and trauma.
People-pleasing is a behavioral pattern where one constantly seeks to satisfy others, often neglecting their needs and boundaries. In trauma, this behavior can be understood as a survival mechanism. When an individual experiences trauma, particularly in their early years, they may learn to adapt their behavior to minimize conflict, gain approval, or avoid further traumatic situations.
For example, a child who grows up in a chaotic or abusive environment may become adept at reading others' moods and adjusting their behavior accordingly to maintain peace or avoid triggering volatile reactions. While this strategy might be necessary for survival in such an environment, over time, it can become an ingrained response that persists even in safe contexts, manifesting as chronic people-pleasing behavior.
The psychology of people-pleasing is rooted in fear and the need for validation. Individuals may fear rejection or abandonment if they fail to meet others' needs or expectations, and they may seek external validation to compensate for low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness that often result from traumatic experiences. This is a reflection of the trauma that often underlies such behavior.
Unfortunately, people-pleasing can become a self-perpetuating cycle. The more one prioritizes others' needs over their own, the more they reinforce the belief that their needs and desires are unimportant, further undermining their self-esteem and personal boundaries.
Breaking free from people-pleasing involves unlearning deeply ingrained behaviors, a process that can be challenging and often requires professional help. Cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy can provide tools to recognize and change harmful thought patterns and behaviors.
Trauma-focused therapies such as EMDR or trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy can address the underlying trauma contributing to people-pleasing behavior. These therapies can help individuals process their traumatic experiences in a safe and supportive environment, enabling them to develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Recognizing people-pleasing as a potential trauma response can provide crucial insights into this behavior's roots. By acknowledging the trauma that often underlies chronic people-pleasing, individuals can embark on a healing journey, developing more balanced relationships that respect their own needs and boundaries as much as those of others. Understanding this connection is a significant step towards breaking the people-pleasing cycle and achieving healthier interpersonal dynamics.
Grouport Therapy provides online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) groups to assist individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and trauma. Our online group therapy sessions teach members how to integrate CBT techniques into their daily lives. Incorporating these skill sets enables them to recognize triggers, counteract negative thought patterns, and adopt more positive behaviors to recover from and manage their symptoms. In addition to CBT, our PTSD treatment utilizes prolonged exposure therapy (PE), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and stress inoculation training (SIT) in a group setting.
Our licensed Therapist leads weekly group sessions conducted remotely in the comfort of members' homes. According to participant feedback, 70% experienced significant improvements within 8 weeks.
You don't have to face these challenges alone. Join our community and work together towards a brighter future. Sign up for one of our courses today and begin your journey towards meaningful, lasting change and renewed hope.
Due to licensing restrictions, our online group therapy sessions are for Florida, New York, and New Jersey residents. If you are not a resident of either state, consider our dialectical behavior therapy skills group. It is a therapist-instructor-led online group that will teach you strategic new skills to replace behaviors and emotions causing friction in your daily life and relationships.
We infuse cognitive behavioral & EMDR techniques in our group therapy sessions for PTSD & Trauma. Get effective and affordable treatment for trauma.
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