Instructor: Farnsworth Lobenstine, LICSW
Open to clinicians who take, An Introduction to the Integration of Structural Dissociation, Ego State Therapy and EMDR Therapy Nov. 16-17, 2019, past workshop participants and to graduates of the Advanced Seminar. 8:30am to 4pm. 6 CE hours approved.
We will begin the day reviewing a unique timeline of the modern treatment of dissociation, with a particular focus on EMDR Therapy. Focusing on the complex internal structure of clients with DID, we will use Structural Dissociation to understand the profound phobias that divide alters living in the present (Apparently Normal Parts of the Personality) and alters living in the past (Emotional Parts). Clients with DID also have ego states/parts that are not fully dissociated.
The central challenge of therapeutic change is the facilitation of the client’s realization in therapeutically safe and titrated ways. These things happened to me in the past and I am able to live differently and more safely in the present. And as there is more internal communication and understanding, the client’s mental energy and mental efficiency increases, facilitating more rapid progress as well as living in the present more successfully.
It is essential to find ways to ally with or neutralize the client’s perpetrator introjects in order to begin to build communication and trust among parts of the personality and meet the needs of terrified younger abused parts. Encouraging the development of the Self (from IFS) that is able to guide the internal communication and meet needs further empowers the client. Thus we avoid reification of alters/parts, especially of child parts, that invites the therapist to take care of the client. Demonstrations with participants roleplaying one of their clients will illustrate the use of EMDR and cautious use of bilateral stimulation to address self-care, current internal conflicts (not early trauma causing it), and draining some of an alter/part’s overwhelming affect.
Participants will be asked in advance to read the narrative of one of Farnsworth’s client’s journey from DID to DDNOS and this will be a reference point during the day. Other readings on the treatment of DID from clinical masters past and present will also be provided.