Trauma & Dissociation

CLOSED FOR NEW BOOKINGS but there are plans to repeat it in 2024.

This one year blended learning course is for qualified psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists with at least two years post-qualification experience who are currently working therapeutically with clients experiencing complex levels of trauma, CPTSD and dissociative identity disorder (DID) or hoping to do so in the future.

It is designed to enhance and support your core modality training to help you to feel confident in working with this complex client group. The course will help you recognise that you do indeed have the necessary skills. It will build on these existing skills while acknowledging that some ‘fresh thinking’ will help both you and your clients.

It is a blended learning course providing a total of 50 hours of CPD. It combines seven online modules and four one day live training modules delivered in person at The Friends Meeting House in York, England. Online modules will be accessible for a limited period from 12th February to 6th June 2023. Dates for the in person training days are Thursday & Friday 29th – 30th June 2023 and Thursday & Friday 21st – 22nd September 2023.

For individuals this new one year course replaces and incorporates elements of ESTD-UK’s previous 4 module online learning course. The 4 module course is still available for group bookings by NHS and other organisations.

In the year following completion of the one year course you will be given the opportunity to participate in a Peer Support Group facilitated by an experienced trauma & dissociation therapist. Those who complete the course and regularly attend the Peer Support Group will be eligible to be listed in an ESTD-UK Directory of Therapists. This directory is intended to guide those seeking appropriate therapy to practitioners who have completed at least the minimum training and support that this course offers. Inclusion in the directory will not indicate endorsement or recommendation by ESTD-UK

Section 1 – Complex Traumatic Dissociation : From childhood adversity to dissociative identity disorder (DID) – online modules 1 to 3

Presented by Kathryn Livingston BEM and Melanie Goodwin of First Person Plural these three modules lay a foundation that the continuing learning builds on. Each module is mindful of DID as it considers the origins and impact that enduring childhood abuse has on the child and into adulthood. Understanding presenting behaviours in this context can help both the clinician and therapist to feel less frightened and confused, optimising the outcome of ‘good enough, DID informed therapy’.

Section 2 – Understanding and Working with Complex Traumatic Dissociation – online modules 4 to 7

These four modules focus on complex trauma that result in dissociative conditions including dissociative identity disorder. These modules will help you gain an increasingly solid foundation in a critical knowledge and skills set. Each presenter supports this with insights they have gained over many years of working with DID, what has helped and what has not.

The video elements of this Section 2 have previously been available as ESTD-UK’s shorter online course “Understanding & Working with Complex Traumatic Dissociation” which is now only available for organisational group bookings.

Module 4 – “The Inside Story – Living with DID and how DID informed support helps” consists of four units and is presented by Kathryn Livingston BEM and Melanie Goodwin

The module looks at the dissociative disorders and some common misunderstandings in relation to those who experience these conditions. It gives practical information on how to support someone and the importance of developing and maintaining trust through clear and sustainable boundaries.

Module 5 – “Introduction to assessment and treatment of Complex Dissociation” consists of six units and is presented by Remy Aquarone

The module introduces the history of the field of dissociation and provides a foundation level introduction to the assessment and treatment of complex dissociative disorders, including Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS) or Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD)

Module 6 – “Origins in Dissociation in childhood neglect and abuse” consists of six units and is presented by Dr Renee P Marks

This module provides significant insight into the internal world of the child and adolescent who is dissociative. The theoretical aspects of child dissociation are presented. The primary development of the self of the child enables the participant to understand the essential needs in the infant and young child for the necessary nurture and attachment. Without these, trauma might occur, which might lead to significant dissociation in the child. The module allows the child’s voice to be heard and enables the participant to gain a better understanding of the child’s subjective experiences of dissociation.

Module 7 – “An Attachment Approach to understanding and treating dissociation in adults” consists of six units and is presented by Sue Richardson

The module provides an overview of attachment concepts relevant to work with dissociative clients/patients & their application to practice. The module introduces some relevant ideas from attachment theory and the use of an attachment framework in work with dissociation, its assessment & repair.

Section 3 – Mandatory face to face training Days – in person modules 8 to 11

These four mandatory face to face training days will take place over 2 x 2 day periods. The venue will be The Friends Meeting House, York and the dates are Thursday & Friday 29th – 30th June 2023 and Thursday & Friday 21st – 22nd September 2023.

Day 1 – Module 8 : “DID and the evolving therapeutic relationship – the clients’ perspective”

Facilitated by Melanie Goodwin & Kathryn Livingston (trainers from First Person Plural)

Objectives: –

> To develop your knowledge about the therapeutic relationship with DID clients as it continues and evolves through the stabilisation and trauma phases of therapy
> To develop practical skills which help ensure the therapeutic relationship appropriately evolves while maintaining clear boundaries.

In the dyad of the therapeutic relationship with complexly dissociative clients, the client is sometimes unable to express their own experience of the relationship and there is the complication of the different perspectives on the relationship that each part or alter of the multiple client can have. This is particularly an issue in the early stages of stabilisation and again as the client progresses into Trauma work.

Each person’s experience is unique to them but with many common threads. This module introduces some ideas about these while continuing to stress the importance of genuine ‘partnership working’. The value this module brings to this course cannot be over-stated. The trainers are experts-by-experience with personal lived experience of Dissociative Identity Disorder who are very experienced and respected professional trainers in the field of complex trauma-related dissociation. They are able to reflect on and have good insight into their own journeys through therapy. They are articulate, open and generous in their sharing of what has helped and hindered them towards recovery.

Participants will expand their understanding of clients’ perspectives on living with dissociation; how this can affect their experience of and ability to develop and utilise the therapeutic relationship effectively as it evolves and fluctuates throughout therapy. Participants will gain some practical ideas for what might work to support their complexly dissociative clients.

Day 2 – Module 9 : “From Adversity to Partnership”

Facilitated by Remy Aquarone

Objectives: –

To assist participants in:

> Making contact and communicating with hard to engage parts
> Developing skills to feel more comfortable being on the receiving end of verbal expressions of anger and murderous rage.
> Understanding the limits of our own power and ability.
> Being forthright but respectful about our own differing views about what some parts are up to.
> Acting as mediators between conflicting parts.

Role play will be used to demonstrate some of these issues.

Working with what are often called ‘internal persecutors or abusers or protectors’ among other descriptions, are generally considered the most difficult part/s of someone with DID to work with. They instil fear, anger, hate in therapists who can end up trying to either ignore, prohibit or confront these aspects any of which will in most cases deadlock or even destroy the therapeutic relationship and the processing of the past trauma.

This workshop will explore the reasons for such a defensive approach from both the client and the therapist. It will demonstrate various ways of turning this into the most powerful partnership for change. It will also explore our cultural counter transference reactions that make it very difficult to confront anger in general as well as specific in a way that is neither dismissive nor aggressive.

Day 3 – Module 10 – “Core Concepts of Working with Children: What Child and Adult Therapists Need to know about dissociation originating in childhood Part 1”.
Day 4 – Module 11 – “Core Concepts of Working with Children: What Child and Adult Therapists Need to know about dissociation originating in childhood Part 2”.

Facilitated by Claire Harrison-Breed and Lynne Ryan

Objectives

> Develop knowledge and skills in the assessment and treatment of child dissociation
> Application of the tri phased trauma protocol in practice
> Explore ways of working with child parts in children and adults
> Gain practical tools and resources
> Identify future learning needs and support

It is recognised that psychological trauma is widespread and that the links between trauma and dissociation are strongly evidenced. However, since dissociation is unlikely to be screened for in general counselling and therapy practice, the likelihood that it is unrecognised, is high.

The irony is, that many practitioners are unknowingly working with dissociative client’s and so are often best placed, to build on their existing therapeutic relationships and to upskill themselves, in order to competently and confidently undertake such work.

As research has shown, adult dissociation is often rooted in childhood trauma, and how this evolves, is important for both the child and adult therapist to understand.
The aims of modules 10 and 11, are to increase the therapist’s toolbox of strategies when working therapeutically with children who dissociate, or when working with the dissociative adult’s, child parts.

Participants will be given a clear framework for working safely with trauma and dissociation, including when and whether it is appropriate to move to trauma processing and the training will offer creative and practical ways of working with child parts both in adults and children, blending theory and application in practice.
In addition to the learning from the 2 days, the importance of therapist’s self-care, ongoing training and development will be emphasised, and relevant future training and support will be identified and explored.