Recognizing and Responding to Dissociation in Therapy

Dissociation shows up in the therapy room more often than many of us were trained to recognize. The blank stare. The sudden silence. The shift in posture. The client who says "I feel far away" or "I don't feel like my body is mine." These moments are not interruptions to the work. They are the work, and how we respond shapes whether our clients feel safe enough to keep healing.

This workshop offers clinicians a clear, grounded framework for understanding what dissociation is, how to recognize it in session, how to assess it appropriately, and how to respond in ways that support safety, stabilization, and trust. The training draws on established research from van der Kolk, Porges, van der Hart, Steele, Fisher, Ogden, and other foundational voices in the trauma field, and translates that research into practical clinical skill.

What You Will Explore

This training is organized into four sections that move from foundational understanding to clinical application:

Identifying Dissociation. What dissociation is, how it functions adaptively and disruptively, the difference between state and trait dissociation, psychoform and somatoform presentations, and how to distinguish dissociation from avoidance. Includes an overview of the neurobiology that drives dissociative responses.

Assessing Dissociation in Clinical Practice. Observable signs in session, common ways clients describe their experience, and an overview of the most widely used dissociation assessment tools, including the DES-II, the SDQ-20, and the MID. How to choose the right tool and what each one tells you.

Stabilization and Safety. Four key factors for safe and ethical practice with dissociative clients: preventing unintentional harm, working within the window of tolerance, grounding and orienting strategies, and resource development. How to recognize when processing should slow, pause, or stop.

Therapist Skills and Presence. The role of therapist nervous system regulation, co-regulation, and pacing. How to recognize urgency in yourself and respond with invitation rather than direction.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Identify at least 3 behavioral and somatic indicators of trauma-related dissociation
2. Differentiate dissociation from anxiety-based avoidance and other presentations
3. Describe at least 2 types of dissociation
4. Identify at least 3 neuroanatomical structures involved in dissociative processes
5. Describe two assessment approaches for identifying dissociative symptoms in session
6. Describe grounding and stabilization strategies appropriate for clients presenting with dissociation

Who This Workshop Is For

This training is designed for:

• Licensed mental health professionals working with trauma
• Therapists who want to recognize dissociation more reliably in session
• Clinicians working with complex trauma, PTSD, or chronic dysregulation
• Therapists seeking a clearer framework for assessing and responding to dissociative presentations
• Practitioners committed to trauma-informed, choice-driven clinical care

About the Presenter

Amanda Kimbrell, LPC-MHSP, EMDRIA-Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant

Amanda is a trauma-focused psychotherapist who specializes in helping adults heal from the lasting effects of childhood trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, and complex PTSD. Her clinical work is known for its depth-oriented, compassionate approach and her skill in working with dissociative presentations.

In addition to her clinical practice, Amanda provides consultation and clinical supervision to therapists seeking to deepen their trauma skills and confidence with EMDR. As an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant, she is passionate about supporting fellow clinicians in building sustainable, fulfilling practices. Amanda is the founder of Inward and Onward Therapy and Elevated Growth Collective, where she fosters a collaborative professional community for therapists.

Continuing Education Credit

This program is offered for 3 NBCC clock hours.

 Policies, Attendance, and CE Requirements

Your registration includes agreement to Groundwork Trauma Education’s policies related to attendance, cancellations, refunds, and continuing education. To receive CE credit, full participation is required. For on-demand trainings, this includes completing all course materials, quizzes, and evaluations.

We encourage you to review our full Policies Page for important details before registering.