This module is an introduction to dissociation for therapists treating children and adolescents who suffered complex trauma, which might include a history of abuse, neglect, medical interventions, and exposure to domestic violence.
This population of children are often more difficult to engage in therapy, more resistant to change and their avoidance and denial can cause a major stumbling block in the therapeutic progress. One of the reasons for these resistant behaviours, might be that the child struggles with clinical levels of dissociation. As most dissociative children believe that their unique internal experiences are normal experiences for all children, they do not discuss these experiences with therapists, unless it is directly explored. Some children might already have found out that their friends do not share these experiences and start to believe that they are ‘mad’ and ‘nobody can help me’.
This module introduces the origins, types and signs of dissociation in children and adolescents. Information is richly illustrated with photos of drawings, sand trays as well as verbal feedback on internal experiences of dissociative children and adolescents.
Renée P Marks (PhD) is a therapist, supervisor and trainer in the North of England. She is in private practice, specialising in children and adolescents with complex trauma and dissociation. She also provides, national and international individual and group supervision for therapists, treating complicated cases. Renée chairs the Child and Adolescent Committee of the European Society of Trauma and Dissociation (ESTD) and initiated developing Guidelines for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Dissociative Symptoms and Dissociative Disorders. Renée is co-author of the book Treating Children with Dissociative Disorders: Attachment, Trauma, Theory and Practice and published multiple chapters in published academic books on therapy for children and adolescents with complex trauma and dissociation.
This module can also be found in the Children, Teens and Family Support section of the Learning Area.
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