More Alike Than Different: Treating Severely Dissociative Trauma Survivors

By Margo Rivera

Book Overview

Just as the prevalence of incest and child sexual abuse was a well-kept secret until recently, the phenomenon of multiple personality disorder (MPD) - recently re-labelled dissociative identity disorder DID] - has been minimized. In her practice as a psychologist, Margo Rivera has found this to be no coincidence.

Confirming that the root of most severe dissociative conditions lies in severe trauma, most commonly child abuse, Rivera first discusses the general historical and social contexts of dissociation and proceeds through clinical theory, case vignettes, and recorded personal experience to provide practical guidance to assessment and treatment. Rivera covers such topics as 'therapeutic frame, ' 'transference and countertransference, ' and how to understand and make use of these concepts. She discusses the controversies around 'False Memory Syndrome' and ritual abuse, issues which currently divide professionals treating trauma survivors.

Rivera makes a unique contribution to the treatment of lesbian and gay abuse survivors. She theorizes that all sexuality is a social construct, subject to change over an individual's lifetime, a reality that is nowhere more clear than in those with MPD who may experience themselves as alternately heterosexual female, homosexual male, lesbian, and heterosexual male.

Insightful and provocative, this important therapeutic guide will be of interest to professionals who treat trauma survivors as well as to their clients.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802072380
• ISBN13: 9780802072382
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: University of Toronto Press
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Tolled and Climbing

The value of identifying the traumas associated with abuse enables an understanding of the extent of the disassociative state that allows concepts to govern practicalities as they are known throughout the traditional world. While most have presumed muliple impact to be all negative, and all psychologically damaging, the unique reactions and perceptions of the independent who finds himself or herself in this state, may have more in common with history's uncommon thinkers than to be assigned the category of ill or eccentric. Einstein, Freud, the Wright Brothers, and Edison may all have had interestingly common experiences that result in unique perspectives, etc., and inventions that depart from traditional design. Writing off even severely dissociative trauma victims is as much a mistake as writing off associative non-trauma victims as boring and uninteresting. While different approaches to value may be necessary or required for such a person to be productive, the effort is well worth the results. The key is often difficult to find, even harder to use, and sometimes fraught with danger and/or disappointment, but the obscure brilliance that lies dormant perhaps even encased in its own uniquely configured protective armor yields sometimes surprising results, a common outcome in such instances. The careful and delicate psychological surgery required to enable fruition is not for amateurs and not for the biased and conforming. Openmindedness and a nonjudgemental attitude is a prerequisite, however, since at the sight of danger, the psychologically frail and vulnerable multi-impacted victim envelops him or herself in safety by returning to the cocoon in which he or she is most familiar and comfortable. It is definitely not for the uninitiated, and definitely not for cowards. Generally, the widest scope or range of resources are required to address the many conflicting messages that are typical of the breed to correct the errors of past performance in an environment of acceptance, stimulation, understanding. Most thrive under the influence of empathetic souls who may be able to help guide them in a trusting relationship of unquestioning loyalty. The relevance of such an analysis is that currently more numbers of children have become victims of multiple trauma in busy, economically challenged families where one or both parents work, and have little time for the nurturing that might be present but are missing.