Dissociation – Creative Survival

Where there is chronic abuse in childhood many learn to survive by dissociating from the experience.  This may involve leaving the body, numbing out, splitting off, depersonalising and/or derealising. The experience and expression of dissociative process can be confusing for therapists as well as for the person experiencing it.  The vulnerability of people experiencing dissociative processes to being pathologised and diagnosed with various mental illnesses (i.e. psychosis, personality disorders and so on) comes from a lack of understanding of this survival strategy. This day will focus on what dissociation is, how it acts as a somewhat protective strategy, and how we may empower individuals who may be experiencing dissociation now.