Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists

by Onno van der Hart, Kathy Steele, Suzette Boon

Winner of the 2011 International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) Pierre Janet Writing Award. A patient-oriented manual for complex trauma survivors. This training manual for patients who have a trauma-related dissociative disorder includes short educational pieces, homework sheets, and exercises that address ways in which dissociation interferes with essential emotional and life skills, and support inner communication and collaboration with dissociative parts of the personality. Topics include understanding dissociation and PTSD, using inner reflection, emotion regulation, coping with dissociative problems related to triggers and traumatic memories, resolving sleep problems related to dissociation, coping with relational difficulties, and help with many other difficulties with daily life. The manual can be used in individual therapy or structured groups.

Genres: Psychology, Mental Health, Self Help, Nonfiction, Counselling, Social Work, Health

496 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2011

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I will never be through reading this book. I always return to it for grounding and direction. It has both basic and deeper, more insightful information about the experience of dissociation. Valuable companion for anyone personally dealing with these issues and very useful tool for clinicians.

[Astrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation is the first skills manual specifically for individuals with complex dissociative disorders. It covers a wide variety of topics, including acknowleding your dissocation and dissociative parts, creating an inner sense of safety, coping with various emotions (such as anger and shame) and dealing with relationships. The book is ideally used in group therapy, but I used it on my own. Its practical advice and homework are very useful. This is a much needed book for everyone who deals with dissociative identity disorder or milder forms of it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like a textbook with an absolute ton of information. It was interesting reading about what people with a dissociative disorder experience. I was only familiar with a small number of the struggles involved.

[Initially NO · Rating 1 out of 5]

After almost getting back into this book, after leaving it because it annoy me, I only read until p 142. I had kept wondering why it wasn't something I wanted to read, until I got to this page and the line, 'psychiatric medications often help your brain function more effectively.' What utter hogwash. Not validating at all to psychiatric survivors and therefore unhelpful to those who find reality already traumatising. I really do see why I should bother reading any more unless someone thinks there's an exercise in there that's useful, that I haven't already learnt elsewhere.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic guide for dissociation but good for those in therapy who are just learning this material the first time. Can't help but feel that if you are having these symptoms and your current therapist doesn't already know this information you should probably find someone more experienced as this seems common stuff to me.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only self-help book that has every really helped me. I recommend this for anyone suffering from dissociative identity disorder, or working through dissociated experiences from their past. It offers real tools for developing dialogue between parts and cultivating mindfulness in order to manage anxiety before dissociation occurs.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one very big textbook for therapists treating trauma related psychological disorders: from occasional flashbacks to true dissociative disorders. The difference being that both patient and therapist are addressed and given examples and teachings to help strong boundaries (re)develop.

It’s taken me months to read this book. Each chapter challenges even the most intelligent person to learn and incorporate skills for both life skills and emotional tools to stay present and healthy. I like that it seems to accept that humans are flawed. It is how we recognize and respond to past a/o present stressors, dissociative thoughts and behaviors and healthier sleep that keep dissociative patients stuck, because these old patterns are safe. To be a fully functioning person in the best sense, a book like this can give you life skills and roadmaps and to not be scared to accept the help out there.

As the authors say, this book, and this field are works-in-process. Overall, as slow as the read was, in this reviewers opinion it will help someone without “trapping” them into a set treatment. It would be a great book for Masters level counselors open to learning new things. 5/5

[Lore LongSoulSystem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read material. Cubre muchos temas. Fácil de digerir. Muchísimos ejercicios. Guía para terapeutas y grupos. Muchos ejemplos.
Must have para clínicos enfocados a trauma y disociación y para pacientes de trastornos disociativos complejos

[Blu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally useful as a guide for therapists and clients - especially for survivors who are new to their diagnosis. It provides a decent foundation explanation, and with the right therapist could be useful. However I found the book patronising and blinkered in parts, and seemed to have a single ideal. If this book was the only experience that a therapist had with complex Dissociative survivors then I think it would end up being irritating and unhelpful. As a help tool though alongside an experienced therapist it could be good though.

[Fiona van Dahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot of repetition, and covering things I now view as relatively basic psychology. However, this is still a very rare book, I'm glad I found and read it, and I'll be recommending it to anyone with similar interests.

[Mario Perales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, title a little misleading.

This book and the guidelines it contains, had helped me managing a patient with diagnosed BPD and a big probability of having also DID. I say the title is quite misleading because the ‘Trauma-Related’ part has predisposed almost everyone who reads it, including my patient and other colleagues, that Trauma-Related Dissociation necessarily has to stem from overtly traumatic experiences like sexual abuse, and not from more subtle kinds of trauma like neglect and excessive parental control and invalidation. Anyway, the book eventually makes that distinction clear, so it doesn’t really matter.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

Though it reads more like a textbook than anything else, I still found it an easy read. I had known little of the information about dissociation before, but the clear presentation made it easy to understand and empathize the illness. “You as a whole person are thus unable to reconcile conflicts about anger and learn to tolerate and express anger in healthy ways. Inner turmoil and dissociation are maintained.” An inability to consistently process emotions would be draining and disconcerting. A person who has experienced trauma may seal a portion of themselves off so as not to have re-live that experience, but then also find that they are no longer able to connect with that portion of themselves. The goal of this book is to help re-integrate these portions of the self into a unified whole.

The section on blending was excellent: when coping with the needs of your unfulfilled past self, those needs will continue with you until dealt with.

This book finally gives a good definition of the difference between guilt and shame: We feel guilt about actions, shame is about who we are.

[Shelley Diamond · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a manual for clinicians working extensively with this population. It contains lots of handouts and explicit lessons on coping with symptoms of dissociation. However, I suspect this book has limited usefulness because most patients are not likely to do many of these types of deep homework assignments and so the practical application is small.

That said, if you want to learn about dissociation and/or treat this population, it's probably a good book to read so you are familiar with the issues involved.

[Sarah Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly helpful tool for both me & my therapist to help me learn about and understand how trauma has impacted my life and way of thinking.

[Zev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. This is a wonderful starting point. I learned a lot from the first eight chapters, but leafed through or skipped entire other ones. I'm in a few 12-step groups that do use these techniques and address these topics, and have been for eight years. The information in the book does repeat and can blur, in a way. I don't recommend reading it in one sitting. I'm really glad I came across this. It's helping me have a plan to move forward, and I feel so much less alone.

[Whitney Dahlberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of really helpful tips and exercises.

[Stargazer · Rating 5 out of 5]

his book is excellent for therapist and client alike. Very informative book well worth a read or purchase

[Shawn N. Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

invaluable

This is a fantastic resource for anyone struggling with depersonalization, derealization, or any other dissociative symptoms from past trauma. I recommend the print version because there are many exercises that you’ll want to refer back to.

[Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: practical, easy to follow information. Very thorough.

Cons: It fluctuates between acceptance language and pathology language. Pathology language puts the client's lived experience on the backburner, rather than utilizing client's perspectives as a way to motivate and ground themselves. I also don't agree with the common idea that a) dissociated parts should not be treated as full people, b) That Littles should only be let out for the purpose of healing exercises. All parts are welcome and hold valuable and unique perspectives, and providing safe and risk- informed settings for parts to be out and participatory in daily life aligns more with empowerment and healing. The rigidity of this model means it will only fit a very specific type of client.

[[REDACTED] · Rating 5 out of 5]

essential reading for not only every professional (as, unfortunately, an abundance of clinicians seem to have little to no experience with treating complex trauma and dissociative patients) but also every patient struggling with everything from (C-)PTSD to DID.

personally it's been indispensable for me both in my treatment and in my own acceptance and, eventually, management of DID. i also can't suggest it enough for loved ones of people with a dissociative disorder, as honestly it put things into words far better than i ever could have ever dreamed to.

[Abbas Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its been my 10 year that i am dealing with dissociative disorder, this book really helped me understand what is happening in my mind... I did not do any exercise but still i was able to gather enough knowledge to help cope with this dp/dr distress. Although i will recommend you reading c-ptsd by pete walker and healing the shame thats binds you by bradshaw before reading this. It will help you understand why you have dissociative disorder and how can you cope. This book is a life saver and you wont feel helpless after reading this book..

[Patrick Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent idea, a book for the person who experiences the partitioned-narratives.

only I wonder if the language and descriptions could be triggering?
I wonder if readers would benefit from shorter sentences, a smaller vocabulary and less jargon?

Their other book for therapists is wonderful. I have read it twice.

[Melissa Hartsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly the most beneficial book I used during 3 years of trauma therapy. I did not read the whole book. I had incredible difficulties getting through sometimes just opening this book. I did although get through the parts that helped me the most with the constant help of a dedicated and knowledgeable trauma informed therapist specializing in EMDR.

[C.E. G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic information but maybe good for an intro, and geared more toward DID diagnoses.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is these three people are doing important work in trauma. I can never read enough of their stuff.

[Moniek]

"Postęp zawsze w końcu nadchodzi, choć czasem dzieje się to niemal niezauważalnie."

Coś czuję, że będę tęsknić za tą książką.

[Sini Persson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traumaperäisen dissosiaatiohäiriön vakauttaminen on järeä teos. Ajattelin aluksi lukea teosta selaillen, mutta oli kyllä niin kiinnostavaa ja ajatuksia herättävää, että luinkin lähes loppuun saakka. Jätin väliin vain ryhmän vetäjälle/terapeutille suunnatun osuuden kirjan lopusta. Asiasisältö on niin laaja, että se vaatii rutkasti pureskelua. Teos herätti isoja oivalluksia, ja sen vuoksi olisi varmasti hyödyllistä palata tekstiin, kun se on hetken hautunut. Suosittelen kaikille, jotka ovat tekemisissä traumojen kanssa joko itse kokijana tai auttajan roolissa. Kirja sisältää paljon perusasiaa traumapsykologiasta, mutta ehkä lukijalla olisi hyvä olla pohjatietoa tai kokemusta itse dissosiaatiosta. Teos tarjoaa havainnollisia näkökulmia monimutkaiseen asiaan sekä työkaluja dissosiaation käsittelyyn. Se auttaa ymmärtämään trauman kokemusta ja dissosiaatiota.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a few challenging clients with DID, and a colleague recommended this book. Now I meet twice a week, and we spend time at the beginning of the week covering material from the chapter and at the end checking progress on homework and skills acquisition. This has really helped my clients and me to find hope for treatment of a disabling condition. My one gripe was that Section Two was too triggering to put early in treatment but works well if you do Section Three (sleep, exercise, structure, etc.) first.

[Niamh · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 ⭐

Incredibly basic. Like *extremely* so.

Also most of the activities require the ability to visualize or to have other sensorial imagination abilities, when not only do many people have full aphantasia etc.. but all sensorial imagination is on a scale where many people who do not have complete aphantasia might also not be able to imagine too clearly, so only useful for those who have moderate to good ability in these areas.

[SpringInHades · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent first book to read to start healing trauma when your main coping mechanism is dissociation. Filled with calm yet direct exercises to evaluate and start dealing with your trauma.

As a (member of a) system, I would have appreciated some more information on steps towards a functional lifestyle for systems after the initial healing is done.