An understanding of dissociation in general, and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in particular is sorely lacking in the mental health field.
Therefore, many therapists may think it is best to treat clients with DID, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, as if they don’t have parts and just have trauma.
Sometimes therapists do this because they don’t believe the client has DID, they may not be trained enough to see it, or they recognize it but don’t feel competent to work with it, so they proceed to try to treat what they do know, the PTSD.
But research shows that this approach does not work. It does not benefit the client and is actually incredibly disrespectful to them.
It is frankly ludicrous to try to treat someone with parts as though this fundamental aspect of who they are does not exist. What exactly are they treating then? Just one piece of the person. Thus delaying true health and healing.
People with dissociative disorders deserve competent therapists who know about dissociation and believe their experiences.
