Full Answer Section

Professional beliefs about dissociative disorders

I believe that dissociative disorders are real disorders that are caused by trauma. I support my belief with the following scholarly references:

• Van der Kolk, B. A., & Fisler, R. E. (1995). Dissociation and the traumatic stress disorders: Theory and treatment of the shattered self. New York: Guilford Press.
• Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence from domestic abuse to political terror. New York: BasicBooks.
• Brown, D. R. (2006). The body remembers: The psychophysiology of trauma and trauma therapy. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

These scholarly references provide evidence that dissociative disorders are caused by trauma and that they can have a significant impact on a person’s life.

Strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client that may present with a dissociative disorder

It is important to maintain a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship with a client who may present with a dissociative disorder. Here are some strategies:

• Be patient and understanding. It is important to be patient and understanding with clients who have dissociative disorders. They may need more time to process information and to build trust.
• Validate their experiences. It is important to validate the client’s experiences and to believe them. This can be difficult, as some people may not believe that dissociative disorders are real.
• Provide a safe space. It is important to provide the client with a safe space where they can feel comfortable talking about their experiences. This may involve setting ground rules for therapy and creating a safe space in the therapy office.
• Use grounding exercises. Grounding exercises can help the client to stay present in the moment and to feel safe. Some examples of grounding exercises include deep breathing, naming objects in the room, and focusing on the physical sensations in the body.
• Be mindful of triggers. It is important to be mindful of the client’s triggers and to avoid using them in therapy. This may involve talking to the client about their triggers and developing strategies for coping with them.

Ethical and legal considerations related to dissociative disorders

There are a number of ethical and legal considerations that I need to bring to my practice when working with clients who have dissociative disorders. These include:

• Consent. It is important to obtain informed consent from the client before treating them for a dissociative disorder. This means explaining the risks and benefits of treatment and giving the client the opportunity to make a decision about whether or not to proceed with treatment.
• Confidentiality. It is important to maintain confidentiality with clients who have dissociative disorders. This means keeping the client’s information confidential, unless there is a valid reason to disclose it, such as to protect the client or others from harm.
• Reporting suspected abuse. If I suspect that my client has been abused, I am legally obligated to report the abuse to the appropriate authorities.

These ethical and legal considerations are important because they help to protect the client’s rights and well-being.

Conclusion

Dissociative disorders are complex and controversial disorders. However, there is a growing body of research that supports the idea that they are real disorders that are caused by trauma. It is important for mental health professionals to be aware of the ethical and legal considerations related to dissociative disorders when working with clients who may present with these disorders.