The Therapist Thrival Guide 94. Treating Dissociation: How Trauma Shows Up & What Helps
In this episode of Therapist Thrival Guide, Miranda is joined by trauma therapist Amy Wilkerson, LICSW, for a conversation that many of us need but don’t always know how to start—understanding dissociation.
Amy brings deep experience working with clients in foster care, adoption, and the military, and she breaks down what dissociation really is (hint: it’s not just zoning out during a boring meeting). We talk through how dissociation shows up in everyday life, why it’s often connected to trauma, and how therapists can support clients with curiosity and care.
We also dig into therapeutic approaches like EMDR, parts work, and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), plus we share some grounding tools you can use right away.
Whether you’re a therapist or someone who’s ever felt disconnected from yourself—this one’s for you.
Links:
- Learn more about Amy and her practice here.
- The Haunted Self by Onno van der Hart, Ellert Nijenhuis, and Kathy Steele
- Trauma and the Struggle to Open Up by Robert T. Muller
- Deep Brain Reorienting by Frank Corrigan
- Trauma Related Dissociation by Suzette Boon, Onno van der Hart Ph.D., and Kathy Steele
OUR HOST:
Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on LinkedIn.
The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.
Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:27 Amy's Background and Experience
02:23 Understanding Dissociation
03:03 Symptoms and Everyday Examples of Dissociation
05:18 Causes of Dissociation
06:03 Trauma-Related Dissociation
10:12 Parts Work and Dissociation
17:29 Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)
22:19 Grounding Skills and Regulation
27:38 Recommended Resources and Conclusion