Dissociative Disorders

I have training in depth psychotherapy, EMDR, and DBT, which can all be used to help people progress in their recovery from dissociative disorders. I have experience working with people who are diagnosed with dissociative disorders.

I have experience with, and passion for working with people who struggle with dissociation including Dissociative Amnesia, Depersonalization / Derealization, OSDD, and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). https://praxisthriving.com/dissociation

As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, my focus is on working with dissociative disorders, including Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly called "multiple personality disorder"). In this work, you and I will focus on decreasing the effects of the dissociation on your present day life rather than on remembering the details of the traumatic events, which could be re-traumatizing. We can't change the past, but we CAN change how it affects you now.

I have training and experience working with folx living with complex dissociation, structural dissociation, depersonalization and derealization.

As a trauma and embodiment specialist, dissociative disorders are a special area of interest for me, as well as a particular area of expertise.

Has it been hard to stay present, connected, or embodied? Do you sometimes lose access to memories, skillsets, or other capacities? Have you felt like there are "many different people" inside you, who strongly influence you (or even "take control over you") from inside? I am trained and experienced with supporting folks who struggle with dissociative experiences and dissociative identities, with a non-pathologizing and non-judgmental approach.

Dissociative disorders, including DID, are at times hotly debated, even amongst mental health professionals. I have experience working with clients who have been diagnosed with DID, and you can expect empathy, support, understanding, and an approach that is tailored to you and not a blanket approach to your diagnosis.

Dissociative disorders are more common than many realize. Because I specialize in trauma, and dissociation is a very common and primal response to trauma, I have training in this area, with sensitivity to complex trauma, RA, and other somatic trauma responses.

I use a parts based method (AIR Network) to work with those with dissociative abilities. I believe that our bodies are designed to protect ourselves and the resilience of the human body to come up with techniques that help them survive abusive environments.

I have experience working with systems, which some people call Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). My goal in working with systems is to provide consistent communication and cooperation among your parts (sometitimes called "headmates" or other terms). I do not consider "integration" or dissolving a system (into a singlet) a legitimate, respectful, therapeutic goal.

Dissociation is something we all experience from time to time, but we often overlook it in therapy. In my work, I help clients identify their dissociative experiences and learn to work to regain full awareness of life through mindfulness practice, working with dissociative parts, and sensorimotor work.

I frequently work with systems, which some people call Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or being plural. My goal in working with systems is to provide consistent communication and cooperation among your parts (sometimes called "headmates" or other terms). I do not consider "integration" or dissolving a system (into a singlet) a legitimate, respectful, therapeutic goal. My goal is to facilitate collaboration, communication, and connection among dissociative parts.

I have extensive training from one of the world's leading experts in Dissociation and Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder DP / DR from Dr. Willoughby Britton, Director of Brown’s Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at the Warren Alpert Medical School. With Dr. Britton I co-lead a training for Postdoctoral fellows at the Osher Institute for Integrative Medicine at Harvard University Medical School in March 2023, which included training on the neuroscience of dissociation.

Dissociation exists on a spectrum, and can be an intelligent survival strategy implemented to deal with trauma, significant pain or stress, or overwhelm. Helping survivors with dissociative symptoms and experiences, I utilize a trauma-informed and neurobiological lens - including structural dissociation model, sensorimotor psychotherapy (somatic), and mindfulness.

I've worked with depersonalization and derealization of dissociative disorders as well as alternate identities of dissociative identity disorder, all a form of detachment and dissociation due to trauma. With the challenging nature of these disorders for clients, I feel much respect and admiration is due for their creativity in coming up with necessary survival skills and resiliency. We work to find safe ways to track, ground, and communicate between parts of the self.

My expertise is in treating complex trauma and dissociative disorders. I have a particular subspecialty in treating Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). I use egg state/parts work and I have extra competence in using the progressive EMDR approach for dissociative disorders.

Trauma is full of painful memories, feelings and body sensations, and any number of things can trigger those. It's natural for us to not want to feel or remember what happened. This can result in dissociation where we "check out" to varying degrees. This however can make it difficult to live our lives, engage in meaningful relationships, succeed in our jobs, and even participate in therapy. I have experience working with dissociative disorders to help you feel more present.

Dissociation is not a dirty word. I have years of personal and professional experience working with dissociative responses and focus on normalizing the experience, building skills to minimize it when it is unhelpful, and helping folks let go of the shame that often comes with it.