Bessel van der Kolk Interview Series: Onno van der Hart, Ph.D. world-renowned expert on treating dissociative disorders

Bessel van der Kolk Interview Series: Onno van der Hart, Ph.D. world-renowned expert on treating dissociative disorders

In this intimate interview, Bessel van der Kolk interviews one of the pioneers in the field of trauma and dissociation – a world-renowned expert whose has written extensively on understanding and treating chronic traumatic stress, and helped guide trauma treatment worldwide.

Listen to Drs. Van der Hart and Van der Kolk in a captivating exploration of the nature of trauma and dissociation and learn how dissociation has often been under-diagnosed and poorly treated in mental health circles. They cover issues of the history of the field, recognition, assessment and effective treatment techniques.

With case studies to illustrate the reality of dissociation, and enriching commentary, this continuing education moment will enhance your understanding of the clinical presentation of dissociation and trauma and the challenges of treatment.

1. Critique the DSM’s categorization of PTSD as an anxiety disorder versus Dissociative Identity Order.
2. Explore how the work of Pierre Janet is relevant for current therapy models in evaluating trauma
3. Critique the nature of evidence-based treatments relative to trauma and the possibility of retraumatizing the client.

• DSM and defining PTSD
  • The work of Pierre Janet: current contexts
  • PTSD as a Dissociative Identity Disorder vs. an Anxiety Disorder
  • Implications of seeing trauma as DID
  • Understanding people with “parts” – how to become a different therapist.
  • ”Befriending self, allowing yourself to know what you know” – Bessel van der Kolk
• Dis-association: a non-connection of parts
  • The confusion of nomenclature
  • Clinical implications involved in the assessment and treating “shutting down” of personality from dealing with DID
• Traumatic memories
  • The recommencements of actions that happened at the time of the trauma – actions that require completion – Janet
  • What does this signify for contemporary therapy.
  • Dealing with “knowing when it’s over” in practice
  • Facilitating completion of the action: Somatic and Sensorimotor therapy
  • Evidence based treatment methods and their limitation for trauma
  • Retraumatizing the client
• Psychological tension: high and low mental energy & efficiency
  • The need to incorporate psychological tension in evaluation process
  • Helping the client explore enhancing this tension