This 3-hour continuing education program provides a foundational overview of dissociative disorders with an emphasis on assessment, differential diagnosis, and phase-oriented treatment planning. Dissociative symptoms are frequently under-recognized in outpatient and trauma-focused clinical settings and may be misattributed to psychosis, personality disorders, attention disorders, or mood instability. This training aims to enhance clinician competence in identifying and responding to dissociative presentations in a clinically responsible manner.
Participants will review dissociation as a trauma-related adaptive response and examine the dissociative continuum, including depersonalization, derealization, dissociative amnesia, and identity fragmentation. DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder, Dissociative Amnesia, Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD), and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) will be presented in applied clinical terms.
The program includes instruction on differential diagnosis, utilization of screening instruments (e.g., DES-II, MID), and clinical interview considerations. A phase-oriented treatment framework will be introduced, emphasizing stabilization, pacing, and ethical decision-making prior to trauma processing. Clinical case material will be used to support application of assessment and treatment planning strategies.
This training is designed to increase clinician competence and confidence in recognizing dissociative symptoms, differentiating them from other psychiatric conditions, and implementing foundational treatment planning principles consistent with current trauma-informed practice.
Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this 3-hour CE program, participants will be able to:
Differentiate dissociative symptoms from psychotic disorders, PTSD, personality disorders, ADHD, and bipolar disorder.
Identify core features along the dissociative continuum, including depersonalization, derealization, amnesia, and identity fragmentation.
Describe DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for dissociative disorders.
Utilize basic screening tools to inform assessment of dissociative presentations.
Apply phase-oriented treatment principles when developing treatment plans for dissociative clients.
Recognize ethical considerations related to pacing, memory work, and scope of practice.