Dissociation Isn't What You Think: DID, Structural Dissociation & Therapist Confidence with Kathy Steele
Transforming Trauma
Normalizing dissociation and therapist confidence
Kathy urges clinicians not to reflexively refer out and reframes dissociation as understandable defenses.
Have you ever slipped so far into a daydream that you felt detached from reality, your emotions, or your sense of self? Brief moments of dissociation are understandable and can even preserve our mental well-being in times of intense stress. Persistent dissociation, however, is something else entirely. It's a maladaptation that often hints at layers of complex trauma—and that can intimidate therapists.
One clinician invites us to reconnect with the deeply human experience of "spacing out" and remain curious about the mind's capacity to protect and survive before referring our clients to another practitioner.
On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth invites trauma and dissociation specialist Kathy Steele, MN, CS, to share professional observations from her 40+ years of experience working with clients, supervising therapists, and developing treatment guidelines for dissociative disorders and complex PTSD.
While Kathy acknowledges that it's unsettling the first time a therapist encounters DID, she reaffirms that clinicians have the basic skills to begin treating those clients. "These are normal defenses that anybody would develop in the face of severe trauma. They just take on a life of their own," she says. "It's just like anything else. You need some practice in working with it."
Transforming Trauma is grateful to Kathy for destigmatizing DID and empowering our community to approach dissociative clients with curiosity and understanding.
To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma
SPACE:
SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.
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The Complex Trauma Training Center:
https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com
View upcoming trainings:
https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/
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The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.
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