EMDR Therapy, Complex Trauma and Dissociation

Dissociation is a disconnection between a person’s thoughts, sensory experience, memory, and/or sense of identity. On a mild level, dissociation is a common experience many people recognize as wanting to detach from something emotionally stressful. On a more extreme level, it can cause difficulty functioning in everyday life and create a loss of connection to a person’s sense of self. Dissociation can occur as a result of experiencing trauma. In this episode, we chat with EMDR Certified Therapist, Trainer, and Consultant D. Michael Coy, MA, LICSW, about EMDR therapy, complex trauma, and dissociation.

 References from this episode. 

• Dworkin, M. (2005). EMDR and the relational imperative: The therapeutic relationship in EMDR treatment. Routledge.
• Laliotis, D., Luber, M., Oren, U., Shapiro, E., Ichii, M., Hase, M., La Rosa, L., Alter-Reid, K., & Tortes St. Jammes. L. (2021). What Is EMDR Therapy Past, present, and future directions? Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 15(4), 187-201. 
• International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation
• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
• Consensus Guidelines for the Treatment of PTSD, Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders PTSD and Complex PTSD (International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies)
• Dissociative Disorders (Adults; International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation)
• Dissociative Disorders (Children and Adolescents; International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation)
• Fine, C. G. (1999). The tactical-integration model for the treatment of dissociative identity disorder and allied dissociative disorders. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 53(3), 361-376.
• Kinsler, P. (2018, June 8). Relational aspects of therapy. In ISSTD Webinar Series VIII. 
• Lazrove, S., & Fine, C. G., (1996). The use of EMDR in patients with dissociative identity disorder. Dissociation, 9(4), 289-299.
• Paulsen, S. L. (1995). EMDR: Its cautious use in dissociative disorders. Dissociation. 8(1), 32-44.
• Young. W. C. (1994). EMDR treatment of phobic symptoms in multiple personality disorder. Dissociation, 7 (2), 129-133.
• The Journal Dissocia

Learn more about EMDR therapy at www.emdria.org.