Dissociation
Dissociation manifests in many forms, from mild "spacing out" to more extreme presentations of dissociative identity disorder (DID). Often misunderstood or overlooked, dissociative symptoms can sometimes signal trauma too profound to process in real time. Recognizing dissociation in children and adults requires us to understand how the mind may fragment for survival, and how to gently facilitate reintegration without retraumatizing. These articles offer thoughtful reflections on the role of grounding in treating dissociative disorders, busting common myths around dissociation, the debate around IFS and integration, and understanding dissociation's protective function. Discover specialized approaches for navigating this complex state from Janina Fisher, Frank Anderson, Ruth Lanius, and Bethany Brand.
Finding Choice in the Dissociative Process
Grounding, Somatic Resourcing, and Other Strategies
Dissociation in our sessions isn’t obvious—one trauma expert has learned through trial and error how to sense it and respond. Read more
Years ago, neuropsychiatrist Dan Siegel’s client recovered from DID—and now she’s showing therapists what’s possible for their own clients. Read more
Trauma treatment pioneer Janina Fisher gives a brief history of a misunderstood trauma symptom—and shares practical tools for spotting and treating it. Read more
Two leading experts in trauma and dissociation have figured out what’s getting in the way of trauma recovery—and what to do about it. Read more
When a deeply troubled client begins a first session by shifting erratically through different mood states and periodically going numb, many therapists... Read more
Few cases offer as eerie a therapeutic challenge as a suddenly noncommunicative child, lost in a dissociative shutdown. Read more
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