Building Trust With A Therapist With Autism And DID
Why Build Trust With a Therapist?
Trust-based Relational Intervention training emphasizes that "healing comes through loving connections." For autistic individuals, forming relationships can be challenging due to miscommunication. People with dissociative identity disorder often face difficulties in relationships due to a history of trauma. As Bessel van der Kolk states in The Body Keeps the Score, "You have to find someone you can trust enough to accompany you, someone who can safely hold your feelings and help you listen to the painful messages from your emotional brain."
Therapy Providers
We have compiled a list of several websites that offer directories of therapists skilled in treating dissociative disorders. The first is the directory of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISST-D). The second is a list of providers trained in Janina Fisher's Trauma-Informed Stabilization Technique (TIST). The third is a directory of therapists and coaches vetted by MultipliedByOne.org. Additionally, Psychology Today has a more general directory of providers where you can search by gender, type of therapy, insurance, and other criteria. If you have health insurance, check your insurance company's website or contact them for a list of in-network therapists.
Key Ideas About Therapy
If you find it challenging to open up in therapy, consider reading the article How to Open Up in Therapy" by PsychCentral for helpful tips and an explanation of why it is essential. In a YouTube video, Dr. Mike Lloyd from the CTAD Clinic provides "A Visual Depiction Of What Is Important In Therapy For Complex Trauma And Dissociation." He also discusses "How To Know If Your Therapist Is Good At Working With Dissociation." Additionally, you might find Kati Morton's YouTube video, "4 Things Not to Say to Your Therapist," helpful if you're unsure about how to communicate in therapy.
Therapy Support Plushies
Sometimes, we need extra support to attend therapy sessions, and our younger alters often seek comfort. On those days, a Therapy Support Plushie can be helpful. We highly recommend choosing a Warmies plushie, which provides excellent sensory input to help calm autistic anxieties. These plushies are scented and weighted with lavender, offering olfactory and proprioceptive stimulation. However, any plushie that makes you feel secure can be beneficial during challenging sessions.
If You Are in Crisis
If you find yourself in a crisis or feel physically unsafe, please seek support immediately. DID-research.org has a list of hotlines and chat services to provide the urgent help you need. Don't hesitate—reach out right away.
Building Trust With Friends With Autism And DID
Why Build Trust With a Friend?
While friendships can be complicated for autistic individuals due to social interaction challenges, fostering friendships can create stability and connection. When we found our tribe, we experienced greater happiness.
Finding Your Community
You can find community online through platforms such as Facebook Groups and The Mighty Communities. In person, we have connected with kind, supportive individuals in local churches, Community Bible Studies (CBS), and Celebrate Recovery (CR). Twelve-step groups are also a great way to build connections, especially if you face co-occurring issues like alcohol use disorder (Alcoholics Anonymous), substance use disorder (Narcotics Anonymous), eating disorders (Overeaters Anonymous), and more. Use a search engine to locate a local or online 12-step group. Additionally, consider attending classes or events related to your interests, such as local art classes, community college courses, or joining local sports teams. Your local newspaper may also list in-person activities and support groups; check the classifieds for opportunities to connect with others who share your interests or experiences. However you choose to find community, Building Trust will lead to more stability.
Know Stability
Sometimes patterns of anxiety cannot be overcome by simply "trying harder." If you struggle to find stability because you live in survival mode, this book offers ways to find a life of connection and joy.
Living a life of gratitude is a wonderful recovery technique. Ann Voskamp takes you along with her on her journey to living life fully and greater trust in God.
If its triggering for you to think of God as your Father, thinking of him as your Shepherd might be the spiritual help you need for stabilization with autism and DID. This book speaks about the rich, sweet ways that God acts as our Shepherd.
Reveal lies you believe about yourself and then build a new sense of self-worth based on truth. Trust in God - He sees you as being worthy of His love with both your autism and DID.
If the darkness of depression has you feeling distant from God, this book offers spiritual help and a way to look upwards.
God cares deeply about your suffering, autism and DID. This is an intense read, but if you've already experienced intense suffering, you can find new reasons to trust in God's love for you.
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