UNDERSTANDING DISSOCIATION:
An Insider's View on Helping Dissociative Clients

Jamie Marich, Ph.D., (she/they) describes themselves as a facilitator of transformative experiences. A clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, writer, performer, short filmmaker, Reiki master, TEDx speaker, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to inspire healing in others. She is a woman in long-term recovery from an addictive disorder and is living loudly and proudly as a woman with a dissociative disorder with the goal of smashing stigma about dissociation in the mental health field and in society at large.

Jamie is the author of 11 books on EMDR, trauma, arts, and dissociation. Her latest books are Trauma and the 12 Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement, Dissociation Made Simple: A Stigma-Free Guide to Embracing Your Dissociative Mind and Navigating Life, and Healing Addiction with EMDR Therapy: A Trauma-Focused Guide with Dr. Stephen Dansiger. She is the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness approach to expressive arts therapy and of Yoga for Clinicians.

MODULE 3: Working with Parts: How to Navigate Aspects of Experience When No Perfect Model Exists
In this module, we will learn to work with parts mapping in a clinical setting. We will focus on languaging when working with dissociative clients and how to find the words that will work with each unique client.

You will learn:

• How to listen to all parts and aspects of your experience
• Why no perfect model exists
• How to identify pronouns for your clients
• How to develop a personal or system-based metaphor for a client

MODULE 4: Treatment Solutions: Beyond Method and One Size Fits All Approaches
We will examine the concepts of healing and treatment in this module. Starting with the self, we’ll explore what “healing” means to the participant, the relational imperative when working with dissociative clients, and options for treatment.

You will learn:

• Best practices for navigating relational elements
• Treatment possibilities and cautions
• How to work with parts mapping across therapeutic modalities
• A parts journaling exercise
• A movement meditation to help listen to the parts and aspects of the internal world

MODULE 5: Eliminating Stigma and Discrimination About Dissociation: The Role of Human Services Professional as Advocate
In the final module, we will discuss how helping professionals can be change agents for the marginalization of dissociative disorders. We will look at how the myths and misrepresentations of dissociation create stigma and discrimination and what you can do to educate the public. You will explore your own biases of dissociation and DID, the impact of social media on public perception, and your role as an advocate for people with dissociation.

You will learn:

• How to recognize myths and biases about dissociation and DID
• The impact of media and social media on dissociation
• How to eliminate stigma and discrimination of people with dissociative identity disorders
• How to be an advocate for people with dissociative disorders

Understanding Dissociation
Learning Objectives

(1) To discuss the various definitions of dissociation that originated from Pierre Janet’s original development of the concept

(2) To apply Shapiro’s concepts of adaptive and maladaptive in evaluating how dissociation shows up in societies and in clinical presentations

(3) To define the principles of phenomenology and discuss why listening to lived experience is a legitimate form of inquiry in psychology and behavior health

(4) To summarize the thematic findings from the Dissociation Made Simple project and discuss its relevance for the delivery of behavioral health services

(5) To deliver grounding/anchoring, mindfulness, and other preparation skills in the stabilization stage of treatment using language and approaches that are optimally trauma and dissociation-informed

(6) To discuss how seeking to perfectly learn a “parts model” for working with dissociation may impede effectiveness overall in EMDR therapy, working instead towards integrating wisdom from several different models and adapted to therapy according to client preference and lived experience

(7) Discuss the basic assumptions of the Addiction as Dissociation model and explain how unaddressed dissociation is most likely to show up in addiction treatment

(8) Construct one’s own Dissociative Profile inventory and then assist clients in doing this exercise as part of their treatment plan

(9) Decrease overall fear and increase personal confidence in working with dissociative clients in professional settings, assessing further needs for training, consultation, or personal work

Intermediate Mental Health Professionals.

To receive Distance Learning/Home Study continuing education credit, applicants must complete all course materials, purchase the CEs, submit an evaluation form, and pass a post-test with a score of 80% or greater. It is the responsibility of the attendee to determine if the CE credit offered by Academy of Therapy Wisdom meets the regulations of their state licensing/certification board.

Cost
There is a CE Processing Fee of $25 for the Distance Learning CEs.

Continuing Education credits offered:

Psychology:
Not available.

Counseling: Academy of Therapy Wisdom has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7370. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Academy of Therapy Wisdom is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This program is approved for 5 CE Credit hours.

Social Workers: Not Available.

Marriage and Family Therapists:
California Professionals: Academy of Therapy Wisdom, Provider #1032323, is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs. Academy of Therapy Wisdom maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

This course is $497. You can purchase it here.

If you for some reason are not satisfied with the course you have 7 days from the first live call or from your purchase date to request a cancellation and a refund. Please refer to the policy section for details on how to cancel.

Commercial Support Disclaimer

This program is provided solely by the Academy of Therapy Wisdom and its teachers. There is no conflict of interest for this program.

Disability Access

If you require ADA accommodations please email the Program Administrator at support@therapywisdom.com.

Cancellation Policy

You may request a refund up to 7 days after your date of purchase. Please contact support@therapywisdom.com if you wish to cancel your purchase.

After 7 days from your date of purchase, you will no longer be eligible for a refund and will be responsible for the payment in full.

Grievance Policy

Grievances shall be submitted via the form found here and acknowledgement of receipt sent within 24 hours. The Program Administrator will review the grievance and respond back to the participant within 2 business days.  Please use this form if you would like to submit a grievance with Academy of Therapy Wisdom for any of the following reasons:

• Refund requests
• Complaints about course content
• Complaints about facilities
• Complaints about non-receipt of certificates
• Complaints about miscellaneous occurrences

For questions or concerns, please send an email to support@therapywisdom.com.