Emma's Journey with Dissociative Identity Disorder

Professional Guests

 Clinical Guests

 

Note: Some episodes may be missing while we re-upload episodes after temporarily taking the podcast down for safety & re-evaluation following traumatic disruptions to our process during 2023. Episodes are being re-instated in order of original air date, and we are currently working on 2021.

 

David Archer is our guest, and he shares about prejudices, privilege, racism, racial trauma, white supremacy, and how healing comes when we love ourselves. Trigger warning for references to racial violence, foster care and adoption, and politics.

 

We talk with special guest Tamara Baker, LMFT, about Brainspotting.

 

Dr. E interviews special guest Susan Pease Banitt, LCSW, author of “The Trauma Toolkit” (for survivors) and “Wisdom, Attachment, and Love in Trauma Therapy” (for clinicians). In a poignant moment before the interview even begins, Dr. E is startled by the compassion offered by her guest, and the interview that followed may be one of her favorites ever done. Susan Pease Banitt shares the history of healers, explains about holistic healing, and teaches about acknowledging our own vulnerability. Due to the nature and content of the interview, some triggering topics are referenced, such as types of abuse including ritual abuse. However, no detailed stories or examples are given in this episode.

 

Dr. E welcomes back Susan Pease Banitt, LCSW, to share about her recent presentation at the ISSTD conference. This is a very triggering episode, in which she presents about ritual abuse and attachment. No abuse details are discussed or disclosed in this episode, but several triggering topics are explained: ritual abuse, organizational abuse, mind control, and trafficking / sex slavery. She gives a history of mind control in the United States, mentioning specific government programs and protects, and explains a bit about programming and conditioning. She explains traumagenic DID and engineered DID. She connects these survivor experiences to attachment in regards to rupture and repair.

 

Dr. E interviews Peter Barach, PhD, past president of ISSTD. Dr. Barach is the one who linked disordered attachment to DID, and he also was on the committee that produced the treatment guidelines for DID. He opens by sharing his own story of learning about DID. He explains about hypnosis, as well as EMDR, and why this is helpful with trauma and dissociation. They discuss the impact on survivors of managed care, the changes in graduate schools education, and the False Memory Syndrome. They talk about the Plural Positivity World Conference, and why it matters in bridging the gap between clinicians and survivors to bring healing to the systemic wound caused by those issues. It's a positive discussion even from differing perspectives, and a beautiful place for beginning conversation as a united community. He explains how he defines trauma and dissociation, and what is important in treating it. They discuss the phenomenon of time seeming to speed up or slow down around trauma. He shares about connecting with clients through shared moments of communication, being present in his own body and sensorimotor responses, and helping his clients do so as well. Dr. E reviews some context of our diagnosis, which has been shared already in previous episodes, including the deaths of our parents and the impact of DID diagnosis on her clinical practice. They discuss self-care as well and what good therapy looks like and what you can talk about in therapy, and that it's critical to change therapists if you feel it isn't safe or helpful. Dr. E links this to ACE's and repeated traumas as survivors re-enact traumas with bad therapists, not just domestic violence situations. Dr. E also shares about working with adolescent sex offenders early in her career, and they process the triggers of that experience in the context of (S)RA survivors who were forced to act out abuse as part of their own abuse. They close with a discussion about integration and why functional multiplicity is part of the process - and what the risks are for stopping therapy at that point rather than continuing. He shares some case study stories in this episode: a veteran with phantom leg pain, a woman in a psychiatric hospital due criminal charges, and an outpatient client who presented with a little girl. There may be some aspects of these stories that are triggering, due to the trauma related to causing DID, but those aspects are not focused on or discussed in depth.

 

We speak again with Dr. Peter Barach, who teaches us all about attachment. He tells the story of being in class with Mary Ainsworth, and explains Bowlby’s theory (links in the blog). He explains the different attachment styles, and what that looks like in adults. He shares that disorganized attachment is quite common in DID. He gives the example of the Robertson research film “A Two Year Old Goes to the Hospital”. He then applies all of this to the context of trauma and multiplicity for some discussion - including suggesting that different alters have different attachment styles. There is a trigger warning for when discuss therapy boundaries, and how unresolved attachment issues play a role in unethical behavior of otherwise good therapists (and bad ones) - an example of a therapist diapering her adult clients is given. We also discuss ways to remain connected with your therapist between sessions, in good and safe ways that are healthy and contribute to healing attachment. Then we apply it internally, too, and explain why improving internal communication changes things so much - and how that heals attachment, too. He then ties this full circle to Dr. Daniel P. Brown’s theory of CPTSD, and how it’s caused by disorganized attachment followed by abuse later. He also references “Ghosts in the Nursery”. We apply what we learned our struggle through the last week, weather trauma, and efforts not to re-enact trauma. Charts, pictures, links, and video clips are in the blog!

 

We invite Dr. Peter Barach to speak with us again about a reader’s question regarding regression in treatment, which he explains as dissociative response to stressors. We use the experience of tornadoes as a neutral example to explore this. We take what we learn and apply it to the good stress of girls weekend, and the difficult weather. We talk about good stress such a non-trauma holidays still being stress, plus hard stress with the things you cannot control. He then explains the importance of staying in therapy when you can, regardless of choice to integrate or focus on functional multiplicity. We discuss the shift that comes when you consider your body as an ally, the others inside as a resource, and safe friends as a connection to healing. We finish by discussing ACE’s and why it really does feel like one hard thing after another even adulthood when your trauma was experienced as a child a and then connect this back to attachment and healing through relationships. They both share some of their clinical training story.

 

We talk with Peter Barach, PhD, about our clinical experiences of the transition to telehealth because of COVID.  He shares about the importance of eye contact in stopping flashbacks.  We share about trying to cope with quarantine as a new trauma without creating a new alter.  We discuss trauma triggers experienced in quarantine, including physiological responses on the PolyVagal ladder.  Examples given include reference to war zones, entrapment, and foster care. Dr. Barach reviews several basic coping skills and  relaxation techniques.  We talk about resources like EMDR apps and interventions that support people while we wait for in person sessions resume.

 

Our guest today is clinical psychologist Ken Benau. He explains “relational trauma”, and why most people are not even aware of this trauma. He talks about shame and “pro-being pride”, and how they are conscious or not, and what makes each maladaptive or adaptive.

 

We welcome Dave Berger to the podcast, to hear him explain about the physiological impact of trauma and how sensory experiencing helps.  He talks about how working within the context of the body, using touch safely or even without touch, brings healing by increasing our awareness and processing trauma physiologically.  He talks about why (safe and appropriate) physical connection is part of a full attunement experience.

 

We interview Dr. Laura Brown about her journey treating complex trauma. She shares about the history of believing women’s stories when others did not. She also explains why she does not use “disorder” with dissociative identities. She also shares her experience with keeping a therapy dog in her office. Trigger warning for mention of trauma cases and a variety of abuses, but no in depth discussion of specifics and no details disclosed.

 

Our guest this week is Jackie Burke, PhD, from Australia. She is working on policy and legislation and with organizations and agencies regarding vicarious trauma. She differentiates between vicarious trauma and counter-transference, and normalizes it as happening to anyone exposed to the trauma of others. She gives practical applications for organizations and agencies to empower workers to be human and cared for as humans.

 

We welcome Dr. Richard Chefetz to the podcast! He shares his perspective of the dissociative processes, and how they relate to associative processes. He explains his terminology of “self states” and normalized them as part of the human experience. He also explains assimilation and accommodation, and what these have to do with trauma. He also talks about how he uses hypnosis in his practice, and explains what that it like for those who want to know.

 

We talk with D. Michael Coy.  He shares about somatic dissociation, medical trauma, and his own lived experience.  We discuss identity development and movements.  We explore intersectionality.  We talk about dissociation informed EMDR and the MID.

 

Dr. E presents the keynote address for the 2019 Plural Positivity World Conference. She was invited to speak about the history of DID, as well as a treatment history. Dr. E walks us through the past, from the first self-reported case in 1584 to the development of the DSM and the ISSTD. She shares some of the latest research reports, specifically about fMRI's. She issues a call for renewal, to bridge the gap between the clinical and survivor community. This episode has some historical case studies given with a variety of abuse scenarios referenced, but none discussed in depth. References to difficult therapy or therapy culture struggles may also be triggering, but is discussed in the context of acknowledging systemic wounds and seeking healing.

 

Dr. E introduces the polyvagal theory, research from Stephen Porges. His proposes a theory that connects the neurobiological processes of the brain with emotional experience, attachment, and communication. There are some pictures and video links on the blog that may be helpful while listening to this podcast. Dr. E explains why it is still only a "theory", how the vegus nerves work, and what that has to do with trauma and dissociation.

 

We presented at the ISSTD Annual Conference in 2021. This is part of that practice for preparing that presentation. We discuss dyadic, community, intergenerational, disability, and historical traumas, as well as addressing trauma as experienced in war zones, refugee camps, and the pandemic. We review the history of trauma diagnoses to explore the impact of these in the clinical setting and how that intersects with modern Plurality.

 

Our guest today is Lynn Crook, who was herself a clinician discovering her own traumatic past. She was one of the first to sue her parents for abuse suffered as a child, and won her case just as the Memory Wars began in the 90’s. She shares her experience with us, and tells the story of debunking the “Lost in the Mall” study often used in legal cases and the media by “experts” against recovered memories. Trigger warning for references to child molesters and child abuse.

 

We speak with emerging clinician Jessica Endres about her ISSTD presentation. She shares how she plays “detective” when noticing what clients bring to her office, and what this taught her in early clinical experiences with DID.

 

Dr. E speaks with Christine Forner, the current president of the ISSTD. Christine shares her own trauma journey to healing, and opens up about what that was like professionally. She explains her clinical perspective of trauma and dissociation and what healing looks like from her own perspective. She discusses her goals for her presidency, as well as upcoming ISSTD projects related to survivors and updated treatment guidelines. Domestic violence and trafficking and other “genres” of abuse are referenced, but nothing is disclosed or discussed in detail.

 

We welcome back Christine Forner, to share after the virtual ISSTD conference.  She talks about the “Cascade of Defense”.  She explains Active and Inactive Defenses.  She gives feminist context to survivor experiences and treatment.

 

Our guest this week is Steven Gold, PhD.  We talk about trauma, neglect, and dissociation, and he shares about how he broadens understanding of all these terms.  We also talk about attachment and the "mirror" of how we see ourselves.... and what happens when there is no mirror, when the mirror is broken, and when there are lots of mirror attempts.  We also discuss re-enactments and increasing our capacity for healing.

 

Our guest, Annie Goldsmith, is a registered dietician who works with trauma, and she explains how dissociation and digestion are connected. She explains why building safety and going very slowly is so important in bringing healing to both. She explains disordered eating and intentional eating. We discuss eating in the context of food scarcity and the pandemic. Trigger warning for discussion of disordered eating, eating disorders, weight stigma, and food-related traumas (with one example given).

 

Our guest is Heather Hall, MD. She shares her experience of treating complex trauma, including differentiating between dissociation and detachment. She also shares about the impact of historical and societal trauma. Trigger warning for case examples and a reference to suicide attempt (but passing reference only, no details or discussion about it).

 

Dr. E interviews Lynne Harris about her perspective on treating trauma and dissociative disorders. They open with a discussion about being invoked in treating human trafficking, but no case studies are discussed in detail. Lynne shares how she explains dissociation to survivors, and how she normalizes it with them. She explains the difference between functional dissociation and maladaptive association. She explains how dissociation works in the brain, and the impact of this on the body itself. She explains the three stage model of treatment: safety and stabilization, metabolizing memories, and coming to terms with your post-traumatic self. Finally, she shares about sensorimotor skills as support for grounding and connection to the present moment in now time.

 

Dr. Lou Himes, a psychologist in New York, shares with us about their presentation at the recent ISSTD annual conference regarding trauma-informed treatment of transgender clients. They explain the difference between gender and sex. Together we explore gender identity, including discussions regarding expression, roles, and presentation. They also explain the difference between physical attraction and emotional attraction. We discuss why this matters, how misgendering and microaggressions are additional traumas, and how this impacts clients who already struggle with trauma and dissociation. Trigger warning for gender identity issues, reference to religious abuse, reference to oppressive parenting, and reference to therapeutic ruptures.

 

We talk with Rick Hohfeler, PhD, who shares about shame.

 

We visit with Jillian Hosey, a therapist in Toronto. We explore presence in therapy, ruptures and repair, and the importance of our own work in caring for our clients. This is a two-part conversation.

 

We visit with Jillian Hosey, a therapist in Toronto. We explore presence in therapy, ruptures and repair, and the importance of our own work in caring for our clients. This part two of two.

 

We talk with Shelly Itzkowitz.

 

Our guest this week is Mary-Anne Kate, PhD, from Australia. She shares her research into Dissociation. She explains how she educates about and advocates for a broader understanding of Dissociation. She explains her research comparing the fantasy and trauma models. Trigger warning for reference to different types of abuse, but only in context of categorizing for research - no case studies, disclosures, or examples are discussed.

 

We welcome Dr. Cathy Kezelman, President of Australia’s Blue Knot Foundation National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma. She shares about the Blue Knot Foundation, and tells us the story of her own journey from survivor to advocate. She announces the release of the 2019 Practice Guidelines for Clinical Treatment of Complex Trauma, which will be explores further in a future interview with the co-author of the guidelines. This episode has a trigger warning for reference to suicidal ideation, but no direct experiences or specific trauma details are disclosed.

 

Our guest this week is Richard P. Kluft, MD, one of the first and most extensively published research clinicians of dissociative disorders. He tells the story of dissociation treatment, giving the history of how he stumbled into it himself, his friendship with Cornelia Wilbur, and the shifts in treatment over the decades. He reflects on newer treatment tools and when they are beneficial and why sometimes they are not.

 

Significant trigger warning from this episode with our Guest Ellen Lacter, PhD, who studies ritual abuse.  She explains several different dissociative responses with some specific examples.  She defines extreme abuse and ritual abuse, with examples.  She explains the distinction between these and trafficking.  She clarified why it is more accurate to reference child pornography as “production of child rape and torture materials”. She is explains why the term “organizational abuse” is inadequate.  Programming and mid control are also discussed, with examples, including new alters created by abusers, as well as how it undone by making it conscious.  She talks about her research into helping these survivors, as well as sharing ways to reach out for help and find a therapist available to help with these issues.  As specific examples of extreme abuse are given, please consciously and intentionally care for yourself during and after listening to this episode, and keep yourself safe during and after listening.

 

Rachel Lewis-Marlow is a somatically integrative psychotherapist and shares with us about the importance of connecting to our bodies. She explains about the different ways different systems are organized, and different ways facilitating change. She explains how this “language of sensation and movement” applies to preverbal and nonverbal memory work, to eating disorders specifically, as well as to dissociation. She defines embodiment, so as to define dissociation as disembodiment.

 

We discuss attachment with Dr. Linington from London, and explore the impact of caring styles on development and relational trauma. He explains different attachment styles, and what that process looks like in the interactions between the parent and child. He explains these Circles of Security, and also teaches us about Tetragrams.

 

We chat with guest Peter Maves, a pioneer in the field and a colleague we work with planning conferences and building the professional training program with ISSTD.

 

We speak with Kelly McDaniel, who coined the term Mother Hunger. She explains what this means, and how it is the earliest trauma and a disenfranchised grief. We discuss not having “permission” to talk about our mothers, much less work out mother trauma, which leaves us isolated from mothering and healing. In this, she is able to explain how and why dissociation starts in infancy - and what it is protecting us from exactly. Trigger warning for mother related content, and reference to the mother-baby dynamic, though no specific abuse stories are discussed.

 

Our guest today is Maureen McEvoy, who volunteered to talk with us about re-enactment. She provides three examples, including one that references sexual consent in marriage. She clarifies that intrusions (like flashbacks) are when memory time invades now time, but re-enactment is when the same dynamic is actually happening again in now time (with different people or circumstances). Trigger warning to passing reference to “home movies” which she uses in references to old messages and memories from the past (not child exploitation materials).

 

Our guest is Veronique Mead, MD, MA, who shares about trauma and chronic illnesses. She explains about the ACEs and their impact. She describes the epigenetic effect of trauma. She shares how understanding these patterns opens up places for non-judgment and even compassion for ourselves and others. Trigger warning for abuse mentioned and referenced, but no details or disclosures. Links reference are included on the blog.

 

Dr. E interviews Warwick Middleton, past president of ISSTD and published researcher on trauma, dissociation, ritual abuse, and abuse ongoing into adulthood. He shares how he got into the field of studying trauma and dissociation, including his research into documenting verified cases of extreme and ongoing abuse. He shares case studies and different examples of different types of abuse. Due to the nature of the research and it’s content, a serious trigger warning is given for this episode. Different types of abuse are described, as are different types of confinement. Different weapons are mentioned. Examples of ritual abuse are given, including abuse in church settings, Satanic ritual abuse, and other types of abuse in organized settings. The “me too” movement is referenced in response to the False Memory Syndrome backlash of the 90’s, as well as discussing other types of cover-ups in effort to silence victims. In closing, Professor Middleton shares a poem song he wrote about the loss of innocence, which is very moving but also highly triggering. Please care well for your system while listening and after listening to this episode.

 

Dr. John O’Neil, author of “the brick”, shares with us his story of how he began learning about dissociative disorders. He explains the significance of the phenomenological model of dissociation, and how this is different from structural dissociation. He explains about faculty dissociation, depersonalization and derealization, and how these are different from multiplicity.

 

Pat Ogden, PhD, is our guest to explain sensorimotor psychotherapy. She tells her story of learning about trauma work, and the recognition of the body as an ally in healing. She explains how somatic resources help stabilize the nervous system. Trigger warning for the example of thinking about how your body feels when your remember being abused (a father specifically is used in the example, but no abuse story is detailed at all). She explains how safe touch can be so healing, and how being mindful of our bodies not only can help us stay present, but also help us function differently in now-time.

 

After trying for months to connect, Dr. E finally gets to talk with Robert Oxnam, who wrote the book “A Fractured Mind”. He opens the interview asking her questions, which gives us all a rare glimpse into her own perspective throughout the interview. She mentions what we have shared before, about the deaths of our parents. He shares about his collaboration with McClean Hospital and gives some statistics about the occupancy of DID. He introduces his own story of DID, including causes for his experience with it (trigger warnings for his examples of growing up in wartime, beatings, screaming, threats, and being confined in a freezer). He normalizes DID as an understandable reaction to trauma. He describes other countries and cultures where a multiple perspective is quite normal, and how these conversations help fight stigma. He talks about the creativity of DID, and how beneficial this can be in ways other singletons don’t have access to be able to do. He proposes that functional multiplicity should be called “cohesive multiplicity” to emphasize successful internal cooperation. In sharing his story, he emphasizes the importance of being creative, being safe, and connection with others who are positive and strong enough to support you through your journey (trigger warning for mention of suicide attempt, but no details disclosed). He also recommends humor as one of our greatest coping skills.

 

Our guest is Teri Pokrajac, PsyD, who shares about her research into dissociation, and the differences in how it shows up in people with dissociative disorders and how it shows up in people with a borderline personality diagnosis. We discuss shame, and explore why it’s so hard to shake off and how we can’t just think our way out of it. She explains why connecting when we need it most is so very hard. We talk about the impact of this in the context of the ongoing pandemic and increased isolation because of quarantine. Trigger warning for mention of rape and sexual abuse, but only in passing reference with no details or discussion.

 

Our guest is Elizabeth Power, who shares her story of dissociation in response to medical trauma (sans perpetrator), and how she has used her experiences to help others. We discuss shame, honoring hard feelings, and the authenticity of doing depth work to acknowledge pain and stay present with it so that it can be tended to and cared for well. We talk about boundaries, betrayals, and how owning our big feelings gives us the power to choose our responses.

 

Our guest is Colin A. Ross, expert in the study of dissociation. He speaks with Dr. E about the four definitions of dissociation, horizontal and vertical splitting, and the spectrum of diagnostic labels. He shares four reasons that explain why such controversy surrounds the topic of dissociation. During this discussion, abuse is referenced without any detail. Around minute 27, pedophiles are referenced and MK Ultra is referenced. No details or in depth discussion about those topics happen otherwise. He then discusses Trauma Model Therapy, phases of treatment, and resources for clinicians and consumers. No graphic or specific memory content is shared in this episode.

 

We welcome Michael Salter, criminologist and researcher, to the podcast. He shares about his work in domestic violence, child exploitation materials, and online trafficking. He talks about the critical need to listen to the stories and voices of survivors for mental health care to improve. He encourages focus on vicarious resiliency, rather than only vicarious trauma. Trigger warning for example of trafficking (without abuse details given) and types of abuse mentioned.

 

Our guest this week is Richard Schwartz, PhD, who developed the treatment model of Internal Family Systems.  He explains that everyone is born “Multiple” and that “all parts are good”.  He gives the history of developing the model and examples of how it works.  Trigger warning for doorbell alert in background noise we were unable to edit out.  There is also reference to working with a suicidal part, without any graphic details.

 

Dr. E interviews Dr. Dan Siegel of the Mindsight Institute, who defines dissociation by defining integration by defining differentiation. He explains interpersonal neurobiology, and how that has everything to do with DID but is also bigger than that. He then defines developmental trauma as an assault on integration. He then explains the science of why and how this is, and what hope it gives for healing.

 

Our guest is Joyanna Silberg, Past President of ISSTD, and expert on dissociation in children and adolescents. She shares with us about her work with children and trauma. She talks about the capacity of dissociation as a gift to yourself! She speaks to the impact of screen time on families, and she also shares about her work with trafficking victims. Trigger warning for short and simple examples of abuse and trafficking in passing (not in depth).

 

Prior to airing this episode, we explain some issues and terminology related to the interview. Dr. Roger Solomon shares with us about the loss of Francine Shapiro, as well as the history and work of the EMDR Institute. He defines trauma as that which is overwhelming and impactful, as well as stored maladaptively in the brain (different aspects of the memory stored in different parts of the brain). He talks about how this impacts our present functioning in many areas of our lives. This is dissociation, he days, with a sense of self for each of these states. He explains action systems for psychological defense, and how trauma interferes with these. Then, he says, a dissociative disorder is when there are clear cut parts of me and not-me. He explains the three phases of treatment, and how EMDR is applied.

 

Eli Somer, a clinician in Israel, joins us to discuss dissociative absorption, reality shifting, and maladaptive daydreaming. He says the experience of non-traumagenic plurals is entirely valid, but also distinct from traumagenic DID. He says that final fusion or integration is not the only treatment goal, nor a decision for the therapist to make. He distinguishes the anthropological experience of multiplicity as a new phenomenon and a completely different thing than DID. He shares about his research, when intentional dissociation does become maladaptive or abnormal, and what clinical trends are happening globally.

 

Our guest this week for two-part episodes is Kirsten Stach, MA, Dipl, MIACI. We discussed trauma and dissociation. We explore the neutralizing of shame through cognitive understanding of the brain and how it works. She applies compassion to survivors, distinguishing what they have endured from the label of a diagnosis. (Part 1 of 2).

 

We continue our discussion with Kirsten Stach. Trigger warning for discussion of historical trauma.

 

We welcome Pam Stavropoulos, PhD. She shares about her work with the Blue Knot Foundation in Australia, and changes in the field since 2012 and the addition of CPTSD as a diagnosis with ICD11. She discusses in depth the research behind the new Practice Guidelines for Clinical Treatment of Complex Trauma just released at the end of 2019.

 

Dr. E comes full circle in chatting with Kathy Steele. Kathy shares how she learned about dissociation and how that led to the Coping Skills workbook. She explains the structural theory of dissociation. Dr. E discussed her experiences of wrestling with some of these ideas, as well as some of the unfolding community and cultural implications for survivors and clinicians alike.

 

Our guest is Martha Straus, PhD, who works with adolescents struggling with trauma. She explains how she talks with families about historical trauma. She discusses helping parents co-regulation as part of empathic attunement. She shares about the increasing complexity of adolescent brains developing into adult brains, and how all of us have parts navigating identity through that process. She broadens the concept of body memories to include preverbal experiences later expressed as symptoms like under or over activation symptoms. She explains how all developmental trauma is relational trauma because it takes place in a caretaking relationship. She reframes self-harm as a protective strategy that “almost works”. She shares what it’s been like doing teletherapy with adolescents during the pandemic. She gives examples of repair after rupture.

 

We interview Justin Sunseri, LMFT, from the PolyVagal Podcast. He shares how he learned about the PolyVagal theory, and his experience presenting about it. He shares stories of applying it to dissociated adolescents in the school setting, and the difference this understanding brings not only to him and the students, but their teachers and families as well. He gives a super simple synopsis of PolyVagal Theory, and shares what clients and therapists need to know about it.
Justinlmft.com
Instagram.com/JustinLMFT
Twitter.com/JustinLMFT

 

Our colleague with lived experience, Dan Shaw, LCSW, who recently spoke at the ISSTD Virtual Conference, shares about “traumatic narcissism”, what he learned leaving the cult of an Indian Guru, and how the deepest piece of trauma is being alone in it. This episode focuses on relational dynamics, and no examples of abuse are disclosed or discussed in detail. Politics are mentioned in passing reference, but only in the dynamic context as part of our family’s experience as already shared on the podcast during the pandemic.

 

Our guest is Dr. Joan Turkus, who shares her pioneer history in the field of traumatology. She explains her perspective of trauma and dissociation, including clarifying the importance of the DSM despite its limitations. We discuss psychodynamic and relational approaches to the trauma framework. She shares some of her thoughts about the more pragmatic aspects of advocating for survivors in treatments.

 

We talk with Joanne Twombly, a therapist and author, about Internal Family Systems.

 

Our guest is Fran Waters, who specializes in treating children with dissociation.   She shares about how she got involved in treating trauma and dissociation, and how she explains dissociation to both parents and children.  There is a trigger warning for use of case examples that reference child abuse and different kinds of abuse, though none are discussed at length.

 

We talk with Katie Wood, who presented at Healing Together about medical abuse.

 

This month in our NerdTown Topics Meetup, our colleague, Bill Woodburn, MEd, LPC-S, LMFT-S, shared about using stories in therapy.

 

This month in our NerdTown Topics Meetup, our colleague, Bill Woodburn, MEd, LPC-S, LMFT-S, shared about using stories in therapy.

 

This month in our NerdTown Topics Meetup, our colleague, Bill Woodburn, MEd, LPC-S, LMFT-S, shared about using stories in therapy. This episode contains a passing reference to a gun in context of a story that is told, but no violence is described or discussed or detailed. As always, care for yourself during and after listening to the podcast.