Dissociative Disorders

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

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 am certified in trauma and trauma informed stabilization treatment. This is a parts approach that uses polyvagal theory and the structural dissociation model which helps people struggling with dissociation and fragmentation to become more present and aware.

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

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.

The dissociative spectrum is broad and goes all the way from being "in the zone" to Dissociative Identity Disorder. Dissociation is a natural phenomenon and we all do it to a degree. For some of us, this natural protection kicks in so much that it begins to disorder our lives. By combining trauma-informed theory with IFS techniques, I am able to help clients normalize the dissociation process and gently gain more control over their experience by healing their emotional parts.

I work with complex dissociative disorders, including other-specified dissociative disorder, DID, and depersonalization/derealization to help clients heal from trauma that may have fragmented their memories or identities in order to cope. I have had advanced training in modalities to help clients slowly piece their lives back together and be present to the world at their own pace - learning to separate the past from the present.

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.

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.

I have been trained and certified in complex trauma. Dissociation is one of the symptoms clients may have developed as a trauma response. With compassion and understanding I introduce how dissociation has played an important role in a clients survival and how to help a client reduce or manage these symptoms.

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.

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.

I have been trained and certified to treat complex trauma. Dissociation is one of the symptoms clients may have developed as a trauma response. With compassion and understanding I introduce how dissociation has played an important role in a clients survival and how to help a client reduce or manage these symptoms.

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.

Abuse, particularly early in life, sometimes leads to dissociative experiences in an effort to make the situation more bearable. I have training and experience in helping people lessen dissociation and find ways of opening internal communication and integrate their life experiences.

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.

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.