This is an online workshop. You will join the current cohort on the Postgraduate Certificate in Psychological Trauma and Personality Development course.
Dissociation is a common, pan-diagnostic psychological phenomenon that can present in diverse ways, sometimes mundane and often vital. Dissociative responses range from brief “blanking” in sessions through to the presentation of Dissociative Identity Disorder (D.I.D) and they can involve intense “tuning in” as in flashbacks or intense “tuning out” as is detachment disorders. Clearly, there is a wide range of presenting symptoms and therapists need to be able to recognise them, share a psychological understanding of them, manage them or realise when to refer on. With that in mind, this workshop aims to:
- Demonstrate the range and presentations of dissociative symptoms and states (including flashbacks) within a simple unifying framework.
- Clarify the basic psychology and neuropsychology of trauma and dissociation
- Explore the links between traumatic or stressful experiences and dissociation
- Explore the impact of trauma and dissociation on the development of self
- Provide a sound basis for recognising and formulating difficulties arising from trauma –related memories and dissociation
- Use formulations and CBT “first principles” to explore relevant CBT interventions to give relief from distressing dissociative experiences.
Thus, the presentation will demystify working with dissociative presentations and equip the clinician to formulate them and to use formulations to guide treatment.
Helen has worked with forms of dissociation for over thirty years, developing simple ways of communicating the phenomenon to patients and using familiar CBT interventions to help patients cope.
Helen is co-editor of “Cognitive Behavioural Approaches to the understanding and treatment of Dissociation” (Kennedy, Kennerley & Pearson, 2013) and she published one of the first CBT therapist guides to working with dissociative symptoms: Kennerley, H. (1996).
Cognitive therapy of dissociative symptoms associated with trauma. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 35(3), 325-340.



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