There is some current controversy over whether it is necessary to work directly with all dissociative parts or only to work with parts through the “adult self” in clients with DID. This workshop will describe problems that have led some clinicians to emphasize working solely through the adult self, such as dependency of child parts, chaotic switching, and unwillingness of the adult self of the client to engage in treatment. We will explore what we are really trying to achieve by requesting an “adult part” in the room, that is, to ensure the client can engage in a cooperative therapeutic endeavor. An alternative that allows for more flexibility in working directly with part as needed will be offered. We will focus on three main issues: (1) how to access capacities in the client that are required to engage in effective psychotherapy: the ability to be present, to access and regulate emotion, to work cooperatively with the therapist, to share subjective experience, and to reflect; (2) how to decide when it is to the client’s benefit to work through an adult part or more directly with other parts; and (3) how to engage the entire systems of parts in each session.
This course is based on the recorded webinar, An Alternative to Working Only Through the Adult Self in DID created by Kathy Steele, MN, CS in 2020.
Publication Date:
May 2020
Course Material Author
Kathy Steele, MN, CS
Kathy Steele, MN, CS has been in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia for over three decades. She is also an Adjunct Faculty at Emory University. Kathy is a Fellow and a past President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), and is the recipient of a number of awards for her clinical and published works, including the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from ISSTD. She has authored numerous publications in the field of trauma and dissociation, including three books. She is sought as a consultant and supervisor, and as an international lecturer on topics related to trauma, dissociation, attachment, and psychotherapy.
Kathy Steele, MN, CS authored the material only, and was not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.
Sandi Cardaman has been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for more than 15 years. She has worked with eating disorders, domestic violence and clients who are working with the dependency system.
Recommended For:
Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate levels of knowledge.
Course Objectives:
After taking this course, you should be able to:
Describe rationale for working through the adult self, as well as the pros and cons of this approach
List capacities needed for a client to engage in effective psychotherapy
Discuss ways to engage the entire system of parts in each session
Disclosure to Learners
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships
CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited
Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity –
including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial
relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).
The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and
the reviewer:
Planners and Reviewers
The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.
Faculty: Sandi Cardaman
There are no relevant disclosures.
Commercial support
There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.
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