Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociation: A Practical Guide to Navigating Therapeutic Challenges

Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociation is the ideal guide for the front-line clinician whose clients come in with histories of trauma, abuse, self-injury, flashbacks, suicidal behaviour, and more. The book helps clinicians develop their own responses and practical solutions to common questions, including "How do I handle this?" "What do I say?" and "What can I do?"

Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociation is the book clinicians will want to pick up when they're stuck and is a handy reference that provides the tools needed to deal with difficult issues in therapy. It is supportive and respectful of both therapist and client, and, most of all, useful in the office.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part 1: Understanding Complex Trauma and Dissociation

1. The Meaning and Impact of Interpersonal Trauma
2. Complex Trauma and Dissociation
3. Neurobiology of Trauma and Dissociation
4. Diagnosis

Part 2: Treatment

5. Overview of the 3 Stage Phasic Model of Treatment and Tasks of Each Stage

Part 3: Complicating Factors – Heads Up – The Person You Will Be Treating Comes With More Than You Know

6. Foundational Issues
7. Challenging Behaviors
8. Difficult Emotions

Part 4: The Trauma Therapist

9. Maintaining the Balance
10. Conclusion

Links

References

Index

"Danylchuk and Connors have crafted a nuanced, front-line exploration of complex PTSD and the dissociative disorders. Their totally accessible style, numerous clinical examples, and unique suggestions for working through clinical conundrums and dilemmas make this a must-read book for clinicians new or ‘old’ to trauma treatment. Sensitive and wise, compassionate and respectful, the authors pour their hearts into the text and guide the reader through these often fraught, challenging treatments. I highly recommend this book."
- Richard A. Chefetz, MD, author of Intensive Psychotherapy for Persistent Dissociative Processes: The Fear of Feeling Real

"Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociation is a welcome addition to the field. The authors have distilled their extensive clinical experience into a practical, readable format that is at the same time subtle, nuanced, and comprehensive. The case examples and suggestions included throughout are particularly illuminating. The authors do an excellent job of covering the spectrum from full DID to milder forms of dissociation."
- Colin A. Ross, MD, president of The Colin A. Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma

"The authors have turned their decades of clinical experience into a very readable, practical, and authentic work that forthrightly addresses the many questions that inevitably arise in treating the highly traumatized and dissociative individual. The style is warm and the science very accessible, and wise reflections abound."
- Warwick Middleton, MD, president of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation

"This volume is helpful, well-written, and, best of all, readable. A great addition to the trauma therapy literature. Enjoy it and grow as a trauma therapist."
- A. Steven Frankel, PhD, JD, clinical professor of psychology, University of Southern California