905.351.6908

Trainings

Dissociation-Informed Clinical Practitioner Training

An Essential Component to Trauma-Informed Care
Dissociation-Informed Clinical Practitioner Training with Ian Robertson

Instructor

Ian Robertson, MSW, RSW

Format

Online

Duration

—

Training Overview

Trauma-informed practice has become a foundational framework across mental health, healthcare, addictions, education, and other social service settings. However, practitioners may not always recognize the many ways trauma can be expressed through dissociation. Without an understanding of different dissociative states, clinicians may misunderstand client presentations, misinterpret symptoms, or use interventions that overwhelm rather than support recovery.

This training provides an overview of the different clinical types and presentations of dissociation to strengthen practitioner recognition, knowledge, and awareness. Participants will explore dissociation as a normal, adaptive response to overwhelming experiences and examine how a dissociation-informed lens can strengthen trauma-informed practice.

The course also explores the relationship between trauma, attachment, nervous system regulation, and different forms of dissociation. Participants will examine both subtle and overt dissociative presentations that may appear as anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, substance use, self-criticism, somatic symptoms, relational difficulties, and treatment resistance.

Who Is It For?

This training is ideal for:
Social workers
Psychotherapists
Psychologists
Nurses
Psychiatrists
Occupational therapists
Counsellors
Substance abuse counsellors
Healthcare professionals
Community service workers
Clinical supervisors
Other helping professionals

What Will You Learn?

1

Understanding Dissociation

Define dissociation as an adaptive response to trauma and chronic stress.
Differentiate between normal, everyday dissociation and trauma-related dissociative processes.
Dissociation and non-realization
Differences in dissociation classification between the DSM-5 Tr and ICD-10
Identify the hidden nature of dissociation.
How dissociation mimics or exacerbates other symptoms.
Understand positive and negative symptoms of dissociation.

2

Trauma Fragmentation and Structural Dissociation

Understand trauma fragmentation as a continuum and the ‘splitting’ of the self-state
Understand structural dissociation and its implications for assessment and treatment.
Recognize the relationship between attachment disruptions, trauma, nervous system regulation, and dissociative adaptations.

3

Recognizing Dissociative Disorders

Learn to recognize and attend to all the different Dissociative Disorders

  • DID
  • Dissociative Amnesia
  • Depersonalization/Derealization
  • OSDD – Type 1,2,3,4, 1a & 1b
  • Unspecified Dissociative Disorders
  • Functional Neurological Disorders

4

Assessment and Clinical Recognition

Identify common presentations of dissociation that are often mistaken for other mental health concerns.
Apply dissociation-informed principles to trauma assessment, case formulation, and treatment planning.
Key signs that a patient dissociates—and what to do if it happens in a session.

5

Stabilization and Clinical Intervention

Utilize practical stabilization and grounding interventions that support safety and regulation.
Using somatic approaches to work with dissociation
Integrate parts-oriented and trauma-informed approaches into clinical practice.
Enhance therapeutic effectiveness by fostering integration, resilience, and client-centred healing.

How to Register

Interested in learning more about the Dissociation-Informed Clinical Practitioner Training?

Fill out the form below to connect with our team and receive additional information about the training, including scheduling and customization options.

counsellingniagara@gmail.com

905.351.6908

6150 Valley Way Suite #108 Niagara Falls, ON L2E 1X9

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this training only for clinicians who specialize in dissociative disorders?
No. This training is designed for a broad range of helping professionals who work with trauma and may encounter dissociative presentations in their clinical or professional settings.
Does the training cover different types of dissociative disorders?
Yes. The course examines a range of dissociative presentations and disorders, including Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociative Amnesia, Depersonalization/Derealization, OSDD, Unspecified Dissociative Disorders, and Functional Neurological Disorders.
Will the training include practical approaches for responding to dissociation?
Yes. Participants will explore practical stabilization and grounding interventions, somatic approaches, parts-oriented work, and strategies for recognizing and responding when dissociation occurs during a session.