Worth Every Penny

Winner of the 2011 International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) Pierre Janet Writing Award. A patient-oriented manual for complex trauma survivors. This training manual for patients who have a trauma-related dissociative disorder includes short educational pieces, homework sheets, and exercises that address ways in which dissociation interferes with essential emotional and life skills, and support inner communication and collaboration with dissociative parts of the personality. Topics include understanding dissociation and PTSD, using inner reflection, emotion regulation, coping with dissociative problems related to triggers and traumatic memories, resolving sleep problems related to dissociation, coping with relational difficulties, and help with many other difficulties with daily life. The manual can be used in individual therapy or structured groups. Understanding dissociation and trauma-related disorders. Understanding dissociation -- Symptoms of dissociation -- Understanding dissociative parts of the personality -- Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in complex dissociative disorders -- Skills review -- Initial skills for coping with dissociation. Overcoming the phobia of inner experience -- Learning to reflect -- Beginning work with dissociative parts -- Developing an inner sense of safety -- Skills review -- Improving daily life. Improving sleep -- Establishing a healthy daily structure -- Free time and relaxation -- Physical self care -- Developing healthy eating habits -- Skills review -- Coping with trauma-related triggers and memories. Understanding traumatic memory and triggers -- Coping with triggers -- Planning for difficult times -- Skills review -- Understanding emotions and cognitions. Understanding emotions -- The window of tolerance: learning to regulate yourself -- Understanding core beliefs -- Identifying cognitive errors -- Challenging dysfunctional thoughts and core beliefs -- Skills review -- Advanced coping skills. Coping with anger -- Coping with fear -- Coping with shame and guilt -- Coping with the needs of inner child parts -- Coping with self harm -- Improving decision-making through inner cooperation -- Skills review -- Improving relationships with others. The phobias of attachment and attachment loss -- Resolving relational conflicts -- Coping with isolation and loneliness -- Learning to be assertive -- Setting healthy personal boundaries -- Skills review -- Guide for group trainers. Guide for group trainers -- Introductory session -- Leave-taking sessions.