Who’s Really in the Room? Dispelling Myths & Diagnosing Dissociative Identity Disorder
This is a webinar recording.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is not rare it’s just rarely recognized. Despite decades of research and inclusion in the DSM, DID continues to be one of the most misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and stigmatized conditions in the field of mental health.
In this foundational and eye-opening webinar, psychologist Dr. Adrian Fletcher guides therapists through a deep introduction to DID and the broader dissociative spectrum. Grounded in both clinical science and lived experience, this training invites participants to reconsider everything they thought they knew about dissociation, trauma, and what it means to be human.
We’ll trace the history of DID as a diagnosis, explore how media portrayals and outdated training have distorted clinical judgment, and learn why so many dissociative clients are hiding in plain sight often misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, or treatment-resistant depression and anxiety.
Through stories, case examples, and practical reflection, you will learn:
- The basics of how dissociation works and why it’s an adaptive response to complex trauma
- The subtle ways DID presents in therapy and why it’s so often missed
- Common misconceptions that keep therapists from recognizing or treating dissociative clients accurately
- Lived experience insights that bridge the gap between theory and practice
- Ethical considerations for working with dissociation especially when clients don’t know they have it
Whether you’re new to dissociation or beginning to suspect you’ve been working with it all along, this webinar is your starting point for more attuned, trauma-informed care. Because when we know better, we can do better.
Educational Objectives
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to
- Identify common misconceptions and misdiagnoses related to DID, and recognize at least two subtle clinical indicators that may suggest dissociation in clients.
- Explain basic ethical considerations for working with dissociative clients, including how to apply a trauma-informed, harm-reducing approach in early stages of recognition and treatment.
Syllabus
Welcome + Framing the Learning
- Overview of learning objectives and agenda
- Normalizing gaps in clinician training re: dissociation
- Experiential connection exercise
What is Dissociation + DID? A Clinical and Human Introduction
- Definitions: dissociation, DID, and the dissociative spectrum
- Why DID is a brilliant adaptive coping strategy to overwhelming and extreme trauma
- Introduction to internal systems: parts, their roles, and amnestic barriers
A Brief History: The Evolution and Stigma Surrounding DID
- Timeline: MPD to DID
- Media influence, stigma, and professional skepticism
- How clinical training continues to contribute to miseducation, minimization and denial
Misconceptions, Missed Diagnoses, and What DID Actually Looks Like
- Top myths and false assumptions about DID
- Common misdiagnoses: BPD, bipolar, psychosis, PTSD, OSDD
- Subtle signs of dissociation in therapy: avoidance, switching, phobia of parts
- Stories of lived experience reflection and why using the word "case" is harmful to those with DID
Doing No Harm: Ethical & Relational Considerations
- Ethical risks of non-recognition and clinical invalidation
- Foundations of trauma-informed care for dissociative clients
- Respecting system autonomy, informed consent, and pacing
Lived Experience: What Therapists Need to Hear
- Insider perspective: what helps, what harms
- Bridging the gap between theory and humanity
- A call for clinical humility, curiosity, and treatment collaboration
Q&A, Reflection, & Next Steps