Owning the Past, Claiming the Present: Perspectives on the Treatment of Dissociative Patients

Abstract

Objective: From the early 1990s there has been a growing awareness in Australia of dissociative processes and dissociative disorders. The objective in this paper is to provide a selective overview of the context and process of treatment based on the substantive dissociative disorders literature, ongoing clinical experience and research, and over 8 years as director of a trauma and dissociation unit at Belmont Hospital, Brisbane. Conclusions: The construct of individual selfhood is of direct relevance in illustrating the psychological damage sustained by patients who have relied on dissociative defences to survive, and in highlighting issues and areas that are a particular focus of informed treatment.