Healing My Parts: Real Talk on Dissociative Identity Disorder and Complex Trauma

Episode SummarySome people discover they’re a system in a single moment.Others… don’t.In this episode, we’re joined by Mike and the Committee, a system who came to understand themselves not through diagnosis—but through patterns, reactions, and a question that changed everything:What protected me?From there, their journey unfolds in a way that’s messy, human, and deeply relatable.We talk about what it actually looks like to live as a system while navigating work, relationships, parenting—and the internal chaos that can come with it.Inside this conversation:* When system awareness feels more like chaos than clarity* Learning to recognize which part is activated—and why that matters* The shift from fearing intense or “dark” parts to understanding their role* A simple grounding tool they use in real time* Why safety—not insight—is the foundation of healing* What happens when you push too fast internally* The role of the body in healing (and why it doesn’t always happen in therapy rooms)* The impact of stigma, silence, and being misunderstood in the outside worldThis episode doesn’t offer a neat, linear path.It offers something more useful:A lived-in look at what it means to build trust inside a system—slowly, imperfectly, and over time.If parts of your experience feel overwhelming…If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “doing this right”…If you’ve been trying to make sense of something that doesn’t follow clean rules…You may find a mirror in here.⏱️ Timestamps* 00:01:05 – Meet Mike & the Committee* 00:02:07 – The question that changed everything* 00:02:18 – A simple tool for overwhelm (BAR)* 00:05:22 – When system awareness feels like chaos* 00:08:21 – Rethinking the parts you’re afraid of* 00:13:49 – An unexpected turning point* 00:17:02 – From “what’s wrong with me?” to something else* 00:24:20 – The cost of pushing too fast internally* 00:35:40 – Stigma, silence, and real-world consequences* 00:46:00 – Advocacy and being seenResourcesBooks:The Many Faces of Me The Throne WithinEtsy Shop:HealWithCourage For more resources visit: healingmyparts.orgHealing My Parts Substack@healingmyparts on InstagramThank you for listening! 🩷🫶💜 Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

✨ Episode SummaryWhat happens when the people who live with dissociation and the people who treat it finally sit at the same table—and actually listen to each other?In this deeply human conversation, we sit down with Dr. Paul Langthorne and Melanie Goodwin, two of the editors and contributing authors of a powerful new clinical text on treating dissociation—bringing together lived experience, clinical expertise, and something often missing from both: real relationship.This episode is for systems, clinicians, and anyone who has grappled with the tension inherent in complex dissociation care.There’s honesty here.There’s grief here.And something else too—quiet, persistent hope.This is one of those conversations that stays with you.👥 About the GuestsDr. Paul LangthorneClinical Psychologist (NHS), working extensively with trauma-related dissociationMelanie GoodwinExpert-by-experience, co-founder of First Person Plural, and long-time advocate for improved careTogether, they helped create a resource that bridges a gap many people have felt for a long time.📚 Featured Resource BOOK: Working with Dissociation in Clinical Practice: Guidance for Mental Health Professionals and Multidisciplinary TeamsA long-overdue bridge between research, real life, and the care people actually receive..* Blends clinical knowledge + lived experience* Offers practical, grounded guidance* Designed for providers, systems, and supporters✨ Use code: 26ESE1 by June 30th for 20% offWorking with Dissociation in Clinical Practice: Routledge ⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – “Something is missing in how we treat dissociation…”Why this conversation matters more than most—and who it’s really for07:30 – “I thought I was helping… and I wasn’t.”The quiet reality: most clinicians were never trained for this18:30 – Head and heart—and what happens when they finally meet each otherWhy lived experience changes everything (and why it’s been left out)32:00 – “They saw everything… except what was actually happening.”Misdiagnosis, being unseen, and the harm that follows48:00 – It’s not the technique—it’s the relationshipWhat actually helps (and why that can feel risky in systems that want quick fixes)1:05:00 – What if healing isn’t what you were told it would be?Stabilization, daily reality, and a kind of hope that doesn’t rush you1:20:00 – If the system is broken… what now?What needs to change—and how this book begins to open that door🌿 What You’ll Hear in This Episode * Why dissociation is still so often missed, misdiagnosed, or dismissed* The quiet harm of treatment that doesn’t fit—and how often it happens* What actually helps (hint: not just technique… but relationship)* How validation—even in small moments—can shift everything* Why collaboration between clinicians and lived experience isn’t optional—it’s essential💬 A Line That Stays With You“It’s not the clever stuff—it’s the everyday human stuff that helps.”🧠 For Providers You don’t have to get everything right.But being willing to:* step into authenticity* compassionately listen* genuinely validate* stay curious…can change the trajectory of someone’s life more than you may ever know.🫶 For Systems If you’ve ever been:* misdiagnosed* disbelieved* told to “try harder”* or made to feel like the problemThis conversation might feel familiar.And maybe—just maybe—a little less lonely.🔗 ResourcesWorking with Dissociation in Clinical Practice: Routledge Books Use code: 26ESE1 by June 30th for 20% offConference: Building Foundations Together: The Future of Complex Dissociation in the UK. Playlist: (16677) Dissociation Conference Recordings - YouTubeTraining film Remy Aquarone, Melanie Goodwin and Jamie Wright More Resources:CTAD Clinic YoutubeDissociative Disorders Alliance- UKCarolyn SpringHealingMyParts.orgAn Infinite MindA Couple of MultiplesBeauty After BruisesThe Plural AssociationMultiplied By OneFor more resources visit: healingmyparts.orgHealing My Parts Substack@healingmyparts on InstagramThank you for listening! 🩷🫶💜 Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Show NotesHealing My Parts Podcast — with Body Wise: Many Selves, One BodyThis episode sits inside the lived reality of DID—specifically polyfragmentation—and what healing looks like when the body becomes part of the work, not just the story.We’re joined by Body Wise: Many Selves, One Body, a polyfragmented system and somatic trauma therapist, who shares openly about system discovery, co-consciousness, and the slow, often non-linear process of building safety in the body.There’s honesty here about how hard this work is.And also… a grounded kind of hope.In This Episode* What polyfragmentation can actually look like from the inside* Discovering DID suddenly—and skipping denial* Living as a co-conscious system (and holding a lot of memory)* Why somatic work can feel terrifying—and still be essential* How healing often happens in very small, tolerable steps* Trusting the internal intelligence of the system* What helps (and what doesn’t) in therapy for complex systemsTimestamps00:00 — Opening + podcast intention01:18 — Meet the guest (polyfragmented system + therapist)02:29 — Sudden DID discovery05:01 — Understanding polyfragmentation + subsystems07:28 — Co-consciousness and holding memory11:33 — Why somatic work changed everything17:22 — Healing slowly: building safety in the body21:02 — Trusting your system’s internal guidance33:04 — Somatic flashbacks + coping tools43:49 — Rewriting trauma through the bodyFor ListenersIf your experience doesn’t match what you’ve seen elsewhere, remember:There isn’t one way to be a system.There isn’t one way to heal.ResourcesConnect with Body Wise Many Selves One Body on their Instagram: bodywise.manyselves.onebodyConnect with them at their Natural Holistics Practice website.For more resources visit: healingmyparts.orgHealing My Parts Substack@healingmyparts on InstagramThank you for listening! 🩷🫶💜 Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when trauma doesn’t just shape memories — but reshapes the body itself?In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Frank Putnam, one of the most influential researchers in the field of childhood trauma and dissociation. For more than four decades, Dr. Putnam has studied how early maltreatment affects development, health, and survival across the lifespan.His groundbreaking Female Growth and Development Study has followed survivors of childhood abuse for more than 35 years, revealing something profound: trauma doesn’t only affect the mind. It changes biology, aging, health, and even the next generation.Together we explore how dissociation develops in childhood, why trauma survivors often experience earlier physical illness, and what the science actually tells us about healing.This conversation bridges research, clinical care, and lived experience — offering a rare look at the long arc of trauma and the resilience of those who survive it.Key Moments03:20 — How childhood trauma can accelerate biological aging09:45 — Dissociation as a survival strategy, not a disorder18:10 — The origins of the Female Growth and Development Study32:40 — The “tentacles” of trauma across physical health and development46:15 — What clinicians often misunderstand about dissociation58:30 — Why stabilizing daily life must come before trauma processingAbout Our GuestFrank W. Putnam, MD is a professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and one of the leading researchers on childhood trauma and dissociation.His newest book, Old Before Their Time: A Scientific Life Investigating How Maltreatment Harms Children and the Adults They Become, brings together decades of research on the lifelong impact of childhood abuse.Who This Episode Is For• Survivors navigating dissociation, DID, or complex trauma• Clinicians working with trauma and dissociative systems• Anyone interested in the intersection of science, trauma, and healingResources📘 Old Before Their Time — Dr. Frank Putnam 📩Contact Dr. Frank Putnam 🌀About Dr. Putnam 🌐 healingmyparts.org Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

What if dissociative identity disorder is a brilliant, life-saving strategy?In this moving and grounded conversation, therapist and author Sally Maslansky shares her lived experience of DID and the therapeutic relationship that changed everything.Diagnosed in the 1990s (when it was still called MPD), Sally entered treatment during a cultural moment steeped in fear and shame. But her therapist, Dr. Dan Siegel, offered something radically different:Not “What’s wrong with you?”But “What did your mind do to survive?”From disorganized attachment to learned secure attachment.From fragmentation to fluidity.From terror without context to memory with meaning.⏱ Timestamps00:04 – Romania, terror, and the shock of not remembering childhoodAdoption awakens something she can’t ignore.08:58 – The diagnosis in the 90sFrom “Am I crazy?” to “This is a brilliant adaptation.”11:33 – Disorganized attachment: fear without solutionHow the brain fragments to survive.14:37 – Parts as verbs, not nounsWhy dissociated states are processes — not separate people.21:46 – What healing actually feels likeMemory intact. Suffering over.33:55 – Implicit vs. explicit memory“If I’m hysterical, it’s historical.”If you’ve ever feared that healing means losing your parts, this episode offers another picture.Memory intact.Suffering over.Safety carried securely from the inside.Links & ResourcesSally’s WebsiteSally’s Book A Brilliant Adaptation Sally at the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium March 20th Sally & Dr Dan Siegel Speaking March 11thThe Wheel of AwarenessDr Dan Siegel’s WebsiteDr Ruth Lanius WebsiteDr. Bethany Brand’s WebsiteHealingMyParts.org Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

In this deeply nuanced conversation, we’re joined by author and survivor Cheryl Rainfield to explore the realities of cult torture, dissociative identity, and the layered impact of organized abuse.We unpack what it means to reclaim the word torture, how cult-created programming functions inside dissociative systems, and how healing unfolds when compassion replaces fear.We explore:• Why some survivors reclaim the term cult torture• How programming operates — and how it can be gently dismantled• The distinction between cult-created parts and other trauma-based or persecutory parts• Subtle indicators that may suggest a history of organized abuse• Why relational repair, attachment, and emotional responsiveness matter profoundly in treatment• What therapists often misunderstand about working with survivors of organized abuse• How systems can begin building trust with cult created partsThis conversation does not sensationalize. It names. It clarifies. And it holds hope.Cheryl speaks candidly about what survivors need most: to be believed, to be heard, and to be met with steady compassion.Whether you are a survivor, clinician, or someone seeking to better understand complex dissociation, we hope this episode offers clarity, validation, and thoughtful guidance.Time Stamps00:00 – Introduction + reclaiming the term “cult torture”08:40 – What programming is and how it functions21:15 – Cult-created parts vs. persecutory/trauma parts36:20 – Subtle signs of organized abuse histories52:10 – What therapists need to understand1:06:30 – Modifying modalities (EMDR, grounding, attachment needs)1:20:45 – Community, writing, and reclaiming voice1:32:00 – Hope for survivors + practical next stepsContent NoteThis episode discusses organized abuse, dissociation, and suicidality. Please listen at your own pace and care for yourself as needed.Connect with CherylCherylRainfield.comCheryl’s BooksCheryl’s Social MediaTikTok @CherylrainfieldInstagram @CherylrainfieldFacebook Cheryl RainfieldYouTube Cheryl.RainfieldSubstack Cheryl RainfieldCheryl’s ArticlesSome Signs and Symptoms of Cult Torture and How To Help:Article on cult torture and programming:Cheryl’s Links to Resources on Cult torture and DID Cheryl’s Recommended Books on cult torture/RAMCOA:Becoming Yourself by Alison Miller Healing The Unimaginable by Alison Miller Demystifying Mind Control & Ritual Abuse Safe Passage to Healing by Chrystine Oksana. Cheryl’s Recommended Websites:Survivorship.orgra-info.orgritualabuse.us endritualabuse.org grassroots-ra-mc-collective.org Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, our guest, Cyndi Bennett, speaks publicly about their system for the first time and shares parts of their personal journey before turning toward their work supporting trauma survivors in professional spaces. We talk about business boundaries, nervous system capacity, internal consent, and what it means to navigate careers and leadership as a plural system. This conversation is for systems thinking about work, sustainability, and how to make decisions that honor more than one internal voice.⏱️ Timestamps * 00:02:15 – Cyndi introduces themselves and their plural system* 00:06:45 – Building a coaching practice as a system* 00:14:20 – On boundaries, burnout, and protecting your bandwidth* 00:21:00 – Why coaching isn’t therapy (and why that matters)* 00:33:40 – Internal communication tips from Cyndi’s own parts* 00:42:55 – Reflections on authenticity, professionalism, and trust* 00:55:30 – Final thoughts: honoring all parts, including the messy onesConnect with Cyndi: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Ryder Fox beckons us to step into deeply nuanced spaces with bravery and heart—to ensure that lives are not only saved, but poised to thrive.Today’s episode features a moving and deeply human conversation with Ryder Fox, founder of Stronger U and co-founder of Thrive Lifeline—a community-rooted, non-carceral crisis support organization prioritizing safety, consent, and agency for multiply-marginalized communities including DID/OSDD systems.Ryder invites us to rethink everything we’ve been taught about “safety,” crisis intervention, and care. They speak from a place few are willing—or able—to go: lived experience that includes extreme trauma, forced intervention, chronic illness, and surviving without language, housing, or community.Now, as a peer support trainer and advocate for plural systems, Ryder offers a path toward crisis response rooted in dignity, dimensionality, and real respect for autonomy.Together, we explore:* Why traditional crisis response often retraumatizes plural systems* The difference between “managing risk” and actually offering support* What it means to hold space for complexity instead of controlling it* How to train helpers to recognize plurality and internal experience* Why forced care often perpetuates the very harm it claims to prevent* What dimensionalized, relational care actually looks likeThis conversation isn’t easy—but it’s necessary. Ryder leads us there with clarity, fierce compassion, and an unwavering belief that we can—and must—do better.💬 Whether you’re a DID/OSDD System, clinician, or supporter, —this episode is for anyone ready to reimagine what real crisis care can be.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Welcome & intro to Ryder Fox (Thrive Lifeline + Stronger U)01:00 — Growing up marginalized & surviving extreme trauma06:00 — Why crisis support systems continue to harm plural people10:00 — How traditional responders misread DID/OSDD crises causing escalation14:00 — Forced hospitalization: retraumatizing instead of protecting18:00 — Carceral vs non-carceral crisis care: what the terms really mean20:00 — What actually happens when a plural system contacts Thrive Lifeline26:00 — Dimensionalizing care vs flattening a person to the crisis33:00 — Systems as experts of their own survival41:00 — Forced care and the mandate of silence43:00 — “Keep the body breathing” vs honoring the actual human44:00 — Stronger U Wellness: pathways for plural healing + clinician education47:00 — How to connect with Stronger U (even when your brave window is tiny)50:00 — From survival to thriving: relational pathways for plural systemsResources:Thrive Lifeline Non-carceral crisis, warmline, and group support, centering multiply marginalized communities. Fully grassroots. Built by and for community.Stronger U a liberatory wellness and education collective providing immersive, trauma-informed, and non-carceral services to organizations, private practices, individual practitioners, and survivors. Our mission is to co-create sustainable systems of care that uplift those who are most often excluded by traditional models—through strategic consulting, certification programs, coaching, and community-based programming. Book a Discovery CallStronger Together Discord non-carceral discord server centering complex trauma survivors and multiply marginalized peopleTRANS Discord server non-carceral discord server for anyone of trans experience.Thrive Lifeline's Resources Stronger U Free Resources Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

📣 Episode SummaryIn this rich and wide-ranging conversation, we sit down with social worker, author, and therapeutic guide Greg Nooney, MSW, LISW, LCSW—a deeply respected clinician with over 40 years in mental health and a specialty in working with people with dissociative identities. Greg’s gentle, curious presence and humility make this episode a grounding, refreshing listen for both therapists and systems alike.Together, we explore topics including:* How early experiences shaped Greg’s approach to DID care* Why curiosity over certainty is essential in system-informed therapy* The three C’s for system care* How clinicians can practice asking helpful—not harmful—questions* The impact of privilege and singular identity in treatment* Thoughts on IFS, integration, and why fusion is not the “only path.”* Creative stories from the inner world (yes, including fixing windows 🪟😄)* Tips for therapists new to working with DID or OSDDGreg also shares his latest book project geared toward people with lived experience—and invites listeners to help shape early drafts. There’s an opportunity in here for *yous*!⏱️ Time Stamps* 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction* 01:00 – Meet Greg: His 40-year journey in mental health* 05:00 – Trauma in the 80s & 90s:* 13:00 – Outsider vs. Insider Knowledge & Naming Privilege* 22:30 – The Single Identity Bias in Mental Health* 29:00 – IFS, DID, and the Problem with Assuming a Core Self* 32:00 – Parts vs Alters: Helping therapists navigate the difference* 39:00 – Plural Resources and the 3 C’s* 50:00 – Inner World as a Real World: Its Healing Power* 55:00 – Caring for Littles and Internal Attachment Work* 01:00:00 – Greg’s Books + New Harbinger Project* 01:03:00 – Community Q&A Zoom on November 24th* 01:04:00 – Final reflections & where to find Greg’s resources📚 Resources Mentioned* Connect with Greg at https://www.gregnooney.com/* 📘 Diagnosing and Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Guide for Social Workers and All Frontline Staff – [NASW Press]* 📘 An Introductory Clinical Guide to Dissociative Identity Disorder: Best Practices for Working with Multiplicity – [PESI Publishing]* 🧠 Upcoming Self-Help Book – Interested in reviewing early chapters?➡️ Email Greg directly at [email protected](Please do not redistribute unpublished content.)* 💻 Join Greg’s upcoming Community Conversation on DID🗓️ November 24th One hour discussion on plural identities | $15 for therapists | FREE for lived experience with code: LIVED100🔗 Register Here* 📝 Download Greg’s DID Dimensional Scales, Categorical Model & 10 Aspirations🔗 Available free in the episode notes on healingmyparts.substack.com 🎧 Listen & ShareIf this episode speaks to you:* ❤️ Share it with a system friend or your therapist* 📢 Tag us on Instagram @healingmyparts as you listen* 🧠 Subscribe on Substack for more tools, blogs, and stories at healingmyparts.substack.com* 🌙 For consults, services or training requests, visit healingmyparts.org services pageThank you for listening! 🩷🫶💜 Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

In this heart-shaking, wisdom-soaked episode, we’re joined by the incomparable Karla Fleshman (they/she) — a licensed clinical social worker, EMDR therapist, irreverent reverend, published author, and breast cancer survivor thriving in community.What unfolds is part interview, part sermon, part love letter to queer and dissociative youth — and a fierce call to action for therapists, schools, and adults everywhere.We explore:* Karla’s cancer diagnosis and system discovery anniversary * Their journey through severe school bullying, trauma, and survival as a queer teen* How dissociation shows up as a somatic, adaptive response to systemic harm* A powerful reading of their poem “Who Was Nex? Who Is Nex.T?” honoring Nex Benedict and queer youth lost to violence ⚠️ *Content note: The poem addresses bullying, suicide, and trauma.** What it means to create healing community inside and outside the therapy room* Why clinicians must break from rigid models to truly welcome all parts* How healing happens when we slow down, get real, and stop trying to do therapy “perfectly”Whether you’re a clinician seeking to be more affirming, a system navigating complex trauma, or someone longing to be reminded that healing is possible — this episode is for you.00:00 – Opening + Guest Introduction08:43 – Discovering They Were a System13:10 – Bullying, Survival, and Dissociation31:31 – Poem: Who Was Nex? ⚠️ *Content note: The poem addresses bullying, suicide, and trauma.*38:47 – Queering EMDR + Therapist Clarity49:29 – Community, Not Just Clinicians1:08:40 – Closing Reflections🔗 Connect with Karla Fleshman* Transitions Delaware* Be The One Campaign* Queering EMDR Therapy Book* “Who Was Nex?” Poem + Journal Article🛠 LGBTQ+ & Plurality ResourcesYouth Support & Education:* GLSEN* Welcoming Schools* Rainbow Book Lists* PFLAGFor LGBTQ+ Elders:* LGBT Aging CenterCrisis Lines:* Thrive Lifeline* The Trevor Project* Trans LifelineLegal, Medical, and Community Support:* Point of Pride* Trans Equality Legal Network* Transgender Law Center* FOLX Health* WPATH💥 Are you a System or Therapist looking for more?Visit HealingMyParts.org — a hub for professional consults, trainings as well as system-led groups, unapologetic blog posts, and merch with a pulse.Built by a therapist living with DID and 25+ years of experience in the field.Whether you’re a therapist seeking advanced trainings or a system craving a community — you’re welcome here. 🩷🫶💜Visit us on Substack at healingmyparts.substack.comVisit us on Instagram for bite sized healing nuggets @HealingMyParts Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

In this heartfelt and affirming episode, we sit down with the Shadow System, a guest navigating the early stages of discovering they’re a system. Just over a year and a half into their journey, they share openly about the confusion, curiosity, relief, and emotional labor that come with realizing you have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or OSDD.✨ What We Talk About* Journals, handwriting, and the clues that didn’t make sense—until they did* The “am I making this up?” spiral (and why it’s so common)* What happens when your system knows before you do* System communication through writing, art, sensation, and intuition* Why some parts step forward—and others stay hidden* The pain of not being believed by a therapist… and the power of finding one who does* How to talk to loved ones (even when they’ve only seen the media version of DID)* Taking up space, offering feedback in therapy, and building trust at your own paceThis episode is an honest, deeply relatable look at the messy, sacred beginning of system awareness. If you’re newly navigating DID or OSDD—or supporting someone who is—you won’t want to miss this one.⏱️ Timestamps * 00:50 – Meet the Shadow System + Early Clues of Multiplicity* 03:00 – Journaling, handwriting shifts, and confusing memories* 08:30 – Realizing: “Wait… this is real”* 12:00 – System denial, self-trust, and questioning your own mind* 17:00 – Journals, art, and making space for parts to speak* 22:30 – Therapy: What helped, what didn’t, and finding a safe fit* 28:00 – “Do you think I’m just bored?”: Humor + honesty in healing* 36:00 – Telling her husband she’s a system—and his loving response* 44:30 – When parts front at home + parenting through system dynamics* 50:00 – The inner world, the conference table, and communication struggles* 55:00 – Advice for newly aware systems: “Slow down, trust your parts”01:00:00 – New hope: What feels possible now📲 Follow & Connect* Follow the Shadow System on Instagram: @exploringmyshadows* Subscribe for weekly blogs, downloadables, and community support: healingmyparts.substack.com* Explore our website for free resources, support groups, consultations, and more: www.healingmyparts.org* Shop our merch for cozy, conversation-starting gear made by and for systems: healingmyparts.org/merch* Follow us on Instagram @healingmyparts for bite sized nuggets to support your healing.🛠️ Want support for your system or your clinical work?We offer consultations, workshops, and speaking engagements for both systems and professionals. Find what fits your needs at Healing My Parts Services🛑 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and support purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy or medical advice. Please take good care while listening. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

📝 Episode OverviewWhat does it really mean to live as a system in a world obsessed with being “just one person”? This week, we’re joined by psychologist, researcher, and unapologetic plural Sandi James. Together, we dive deep into the lived realities of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and plural life—unpacking treatment trauma, internal disconnect, and the everyday magic (and chaos) of showing up in a world that often doesn’t see you.Sandy shares unfiltered truths about:* Surviving—and thriving—after treatment that missed the mark* The funny and frustrating sides of dissociation (like dog-sitting for strangers!)* The real reasons systems “drop off the planet”—and why connection still matters* Practical tips for co-fronting, calendar hacks, and making therapy work for your system* How therapists and allies can better show up for pluralsWhether you’re a system, a clinician, or someone who loves and supports either—this conversation promises validation, laughter, and hope.🕰️ Episode Timestamps* 00:00 – Welcome! Meet Sandi James and today’s big questions* 01:00 – Sandi’s story: treatment-resistant research, and why labels matter* 03:15 – Deconstructing myths: “Manipulative,” “attention-seeking,” and “resistant”—what’s really going on?* 06:00 – The clinical blind spot: “I don’t remember” ≠ lying* 07:00 – Loneliness, masking, and the ache for connection in plural life* 10:30 – Getting out the door: swings, surfboards, and sensory hacks* 13:30 – Bright shoes and reclaiming the gaze: system pride in public* 16:00 – Negotiating who fronts in social settings—and building internal trust* 21:00 – System imposter syndrome: Who’s the “real” me, anyway?* 28:00 – Holding space for others, even with internal doubt* 33:30 – Calendar color-coding, alarms, and planning for plural life* 42:00 – Partners who don’t know you’re plural: navigating silence and safety* 51:00 – Friendships, “ghosting,” and parts with different social needs* 57:00 – Hope for systems who feel like “too much”* 1:04:00 – Harmony isn’t perfection: it’s persistence* 1:12:00 – “I don’t want to go back—I want to discover who I am now.”* 1:16:00 – Closing: Healing doesn’t require perfection or performance💡 Who Should Listen?* Plurals and systems seeking real talk and solidarity* Therapists, case managers, and support teams wanting deeper understanding* Friends & loved ones who want to show up better for the systems in their lives🌈 Why You’ll Love This EpisodePrepare for laughter, honesty, and a gentle reminder: you’re not too much, and you’re definitely not alone. Tune in for validation, practical tips, and hope—no matter where you are on the journey.Listen now, and re-discover what it means to be plural and becoming.💫 Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Episode OverviewWhat happens when therapy isn’t accessible—or when it just doesn’t fit? Jade Miller joins us to talk about the power of peer support for people with dissociative identities, why healing doesn't have to follow a clinical script, and how redefining recovery can lead to real transformation.This is a conversation about choice, internal trust, and the radical act of loving all your parts.💡 Key Topics🔹 Peer Coaching vs. TherapyWhat peer support is—and what it isn’t.🔹 Redefining HealingWhy integration isn’t the only (or best) outcome.🔹 Lived ExperienceHow peer work fills gaps traditional therapy can’t.🔹 Provider PitfallsWhat not to assume when working with systems.🔹 Daily Life as HealingMicro-moments, not checklists, keep systems steady.🔹 Internal ConnectionRespect among parts is foundational for healing.🔹 Jade’s DreamListen in to find out!🧰 Tools & Resources* System Synergy Workbook – 150+ pages of printable tools for systems, from check-ins to coloring pages.* Dear Little Ones – A gentle, beloved book for littles and systems everywhere.* Medical Provider Letter Template – Free download to support safe, trauma-informed care.🌐 Connect with Jade* Website: PeerSupportForMultiples.com* Instagram: @peersupportformultiples* Facebook: Peer Support for Multiples* Support Safe Harbor Peer Respite 💬 Why Listen?If you’re a system, provider, or someone who loves a system—this episode is a gentle but powerful reminder:There’s no one right way to heal. Only your way.And you’re not alone.🎧 Hit play and share with someone who needs to hear this. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

What Moved in the RoomIn this episode of Healing My Parts, we sit down with Fawnn Bryant—a plural system living with OSDD—who shares their transformative journey with EMDR therapy.Fawnn’s story begins with the search for safety: leaving an unsafe marriage, creating a home where all parts could finally exhale, and finding a therapist who truly saw them. That safety opened the door to a flood of memories, the sudden emergence of Littles and the raw reality of disorganized attachment.Together, we explore the chaos of early system discovery, the rupture-and-repair cycle in therapy, and how EMDR became a lifeline—tailored to honor each part. Over three years, Fawnn’s world shifted from constant crisis to cautious hope. As they put it, the progress is “only half-magical,” but even that marks a profound move from drowning to beginning to breathe again.This conversation is both tender and practical, offering validation for systems and insight for clinicians: healing is slow, nonlinear, and messy—but movement and connection are always possible.Moments That Moved Us* System Discovery & Safety (00:01:00–00:04:00)Leaving an unsafe relationship, creating a safe home, and the moment a gatekeeper stepped back—ushering in younger parts and sudden system awareness.* Attachment Wounds & Therapy Ruptures (00:04:30–00:07:00)The turmoil of disorganized attachment and the uphill work of rebuilding relational safety.* The Role of EMDR (00:08:20–00:13:00)Why EMDR was a game-changer for a blendy, often non-verbal system—and how one therapist adapted sessions to meet every voice.* Three Years In: Half-Magical Progress (00:18:00–00:22:00)From 30 simultaneous crises to one topic at a time—journaling, trust-building, and authentic connection.* Statistics & Soapbox (00:27:00–00:31:00)Eye-opening numbers: 12% of the population is dissociative, 48% live with insecure attachment—underscoring the need for trauma-informed training.* Consent & Modality Fit (00:44:00–00:47:00)Why systems must advocate for themselves, why CBT often falls short, and why true healing requires consent and pacing.* Emerging Into Connection (00:39:00–00:42:00)From derealization as an infant survival strategy to building real friendships in adulthood for the first time.Did This Move You,Too?If you’re part of a system considering EMDR — or a clinician wanting to better support dissociative clients — this episode brings both reality checks and grounded hope. Healing rarely unfolds in straight lines, but Fawnn’s story shows how safety, connection, and relational repair can crack open a truer sense of your system — and create space for more of your selves to be seen and supported.What moved you(s)?Resources:Healing Together Conference Annual gathering centering lived experience and professional support for dissociative systems.Dissociative Writers A growing network of writers with lived experience navigating OSDD/DID and complex trauma.Hearts Multiplied – A community for systems, offering support, connection, and collective healing.Peer Support for Multiples -Jade Miller – Peer coach and system advocate known for her accessible resources on system navigation and inner safety.Crisses – Longstanding voices in the dissociative community offering tools, classes, and foundational education for systems and supporters.Healing My Parts on Instagram – @healingmyparts — soft, sometimes sassy system-affirming content, tools, and connection.Healing My Parts on Substack – Weekly blogs, downloadables, insights and tools by a therapist with living with DID.Healing My Parts Website – Consultations for both professionals & systems, workshops, support groups, merch, and more. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Join us for a rich, unfiltered conversation with Katie Keech, LMFT—queer, neurodivergent, and plural therapist—on what system-affirming care really means. From the politics of difference to the power of parts, this one goes deep.In this episode of Healing My Parts, we sit down with therapist Katie Keech, LMFT (they/them), a queer, neurodivergent, and plural clinician whose presence is nothing short of magnetic. Together, we unpack what system-affirming care actually looks like—from bodyminds to backlash, trauma to truth—and why embracing difference is a deeply political and healing act.Whether you're a system, supporter, or a clinician walking with us, this conversation is an invitation to rethink what safety, dignity, and authenticity can look like in the therapy room and beyond.⏱️ Timestamps* 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro* Meet Katie: plural, queer, neurodivergent therapist + advocate* 02:00 – Beyond the Binary: Neurocomplexity and Bodymind* Katie shares how intersections of neurodivergence shape identity* 05:00 – System-Affirming vs Singlet-Performing* Why masking and blending aren’t signs of healing* 07:00 – The Politics of Difference* From eugenics to neurocosmopolitanism: why sameness is a control tactic* 10:30 – Scared of Consciousness?* The real reason people resist DID visibility* 12:30 – Are Parts Inherently Good?* Nuance around “evil,” groomed systems, and complexity* 14:00 – Misunderstood Parts & Therapist Misattunement* Why teen parts and risky behaviors are often mislabeled* 17:00 – Projection in the Therapy Room* Countertransference, burnout, and why “resistance” is a therapist’s issue* 20:00 – When DID Isn’t Believed (or Treated)* Katie + Monika share personal and client stories of invalidation* 23:00 – Fusion vs Choice* Performing healing to appease therapists vs honoring internal truth* 26:00 – What Burnout Really Looks Like* Autistic & system burnout as nervous system overwhelm—not depression* 31:00 – Plural Friendship & “Too Much”* What people get wrong about being friends with systems* 36:00 – Disclosure, Safety & Groomed Systems* Navigating who to tell, how to protect young parts, and relational risks* 41:00 – Endogenous vs Traumagenic* Why the binary may be a false split—and why it matters less than you think* 46:00 – Cultural Models of Plurality* A look at colonialist roots of the DSM and erasure of plural worldviews* 50:00 – The Neurodivergence Web* Autism, DID, ADHD, daydreaming, and the brilliance of the brain* 56:00 – Shame, Fixing, and System Flattening* ABA, conversion therapy, and the violence of “normalizing”* 1:01:00 – Creating Plural-Friendly Worlds* Why we need spaces where we can drop the mask, and just be* 1:04:00 – Final Reflections from Katie* A tree that splits from lightning isn’t broken—it’s adapting. So are we.Connect with Katie!Website: katiekeech.comInstagram: @katiekmft TikTok: Neuroqueer Therapist X: @keechmft Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we sit down with the incredible System of Gardens and Flowers—a French polyfragmented system of over 900 parts and a RAMCOA survivor—to explore what it really means to live, work, and heal while navigating complex dissociation and programming.Together, we explore:* How they discovered they were a system and began mapping 900+ parts (00:02:03)* The difference between “parts” and “fragments”—and how they manage internal communication (00:04:10)* What it’s like to be out at work as legal counsel while managing internal dynamics (00:16:00)* How programming shows up in everyday life (and what helps dismantle it) (00:23:00)* The real-life emotional toll of navigating therapy, memory loss, grief, and trauma (00:24:00)* Why love, compassion, and community are lifelines in recovery (00:40:00)This is a deeply human, unflinchingly honest, and profoundly hopeful conversation. Whether you're a provider, a survivor, or a fellow system, we hope you'll feel seen here.Content Warnings: This episode includes references to trauma, RAMCOA, programming, and grief. Please listen with care and take what you need.Resources Mentioned:* Hearts Multiplied Forum* Couple of Multiples Podcast* Follow System of Gardens and Flowers on Instagram: @systemofgardensandflowers * Follow Healing My Parts on Instagram@healingmyparts * Visit our website for more resourceshealingmyparts.org Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when eating disorders and dissociative disorders meet?In this deeply human conversation with Annie Goldsmith, RD, LDN, we explore how food, body, and trauma are wired together—and what healing can look like when care is somatic, polyvagal‑informed, and truly system‑aware.✨ Whether you’re a system, a clinician, or someone navigating mealtimes in a nervous system that’s been through a lot—this episode is for you.💬 We talk about:▫️ Why eating disorder care so often misses dissociation (07:00)▫️ How parts experience food differently (yes—some don’t have a body) (22:00)▫️ What it means to build safety before behavior change (57:00)▫️ Intuitive eating in systems—does it work? (44:26)▫️ Health at Every Size in the context of systems (48:50)▫️ Why healing isn’t one size fits all (1:02:45)🎧 Listen now: 💌 Let us know your thoughts—drop a comment or DM. We’d love to hear what resonates.🖤 No parts left behind. Always.👉 Annie’s Practice: Second Breakfast Nutrition#DID #OSDD #EatingDisorderRecovery #PolyvagalTheory #SomaticHealing #TraumaInformedCare #HAES #IntuitiveEating #HealingMyParts Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

If you’ve ever felt like the system wasn’t built for you… you’re not wrong.In this episode, we’re joined by Anne and Lexi from Beauty After Bruises, a nonprofit that’s reshaping how survivors of complex trauma and dissociative identity disorder (DID) are supported when the traditional paths don’t—or won’t—show up.We talk about what real care looks like when you’ve been through layers of harm. Whether you're a system trying to navigate healing, someone who loves a system and wants to understand, or a provider trying to get it right, this conversation offers practical insights, grounded validation, and real-world examples of what’s possible when advocacy is trauma-informed and action-oriented.🎧 In This Episode:* (00:49) The origin story: how Beauty After Bruises started with heartbreak and turned into healing* (03:00) Lexi shares her experience as a system—and how it shaped their mission* (12:30) Therapy boxes: what they are, who they help, and why they matter* (20:20) “Trauma-informed” isn’t the gold standard—it’s the baseline* (27:40) Why some therapists feel overwhelmed—and what systems need instead* (33:15) When there’s nowhere to refer: facing the care gap* (42:10) Designing support with survivors, not just for them* (50:05) The myth of perfection: why it’s okay to show up imperfectly* (56:30) Clinician burnout and the emotional toll of this work* (1:02:00) What collaborative, client-centered care actually looks like* (1:07:00) A reminder: healing happens when we’re not doing it alone👥 About Our Guests – Beauty After BruisesFounded by Anne and Lexi, Beauty After Bruises is a nonprofit offering practical support, crisis intervention, and community care for people living with DID and complex PTSD. With a mix of professional insight and lived experience, they meet survivors where they are—whether that’s on a waitlist, in the middle of a breakdown, or just trying to survive another day.🌐 beautyafterbruises.org📸 @beautyafterbruises💌 Support their work, apply for aid, or explore their survivor + provider resources.📚 Resources Mentioned:* Therapy Box Program* Survivor Blog + Education Hub* ISSTD (International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation)✨ Loved this episode?Subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone who wants to support a system better, or is part of one.For more system-affirming tools, grounded education, and lived experience stories, join our newsletter on Substack. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

We are so excited to welcome back the Gianu System for one of our most insightful (and joy-filled!) conversations yet. In this episode, we talk about what healing looks like across time, modalities, and parts — and what it meant for the Gianu System to experience a fusion. Together, we explore the winding, non-linear nature of trauma recovery — and how systems like ours navigate therapeutic work that meets all of us where we are.We explore the complexities of being a system in trauma therapy: trying different modalities, navigating misattunements, and learning to getting alters communicating. We talk candidly about what it’s like when therapy doesn’t work — and what happened when they finally found something that did.You’ll hear about the modalities they explored, including:* 🧠 CBT (and why it didn’t land)* 💬 IFS (what helped and what felt misaligned)* ⚡ EMDR (how it helped — and what was hard)* 🌀 Deep Brain Reorienting — the approach that finally changed everythingWe dive into:* Why screening tools like the DES and MID should be given more than once (because who’s fronting matters!)* How missing a DID diagnosis can derail trauma work* The power of self-compassion, communication, and humor in the healing process* What fusion really is (and what it’s not)Whether you're a therapist, a supporter, or part of a system yourself, this episode offers nuance, hope, clarity, connection, and so many "oh wow" moments.🔁 With all the lightbulb moments and deep valiation, this is one you’ll want to come back to again and again.Resources Mentioned:* Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) * DES II* MID Assessment * Gianu System on Instagram * Gianu System on TikTok* Gianu System Navigating DID & Relationships (with their Hubs!)Let’s Stay Connected:Follow us on IG at @healingmypartsSubscribe to our newsletter/blog at healingmyparts.substack.com Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Other Specified Dissociative Disorder 1a & 1b are very similar to DID. Prompted by an OSDD1b system reaching out to share that they initially did not think that they would find a podcast dedicated to DID to be helpful to them. They shared that they were surprised to find that not only was it helpful, but they found many similarities in what they experience reflected here. It made us all wonder how many other people living with OSDD might feel the same…and how many folks with OSDD might be seeking reflections of their experiences and haven’t fully found it in the DID literature and shared stories in online spaces and haven’t yet found it. In this episode we are joined by an OSDD1a and an OSDD1b system, who both generously share parts of their journey of system discovery and healing. ResourcesAn Infinite MindThe Rings System YouTube ChannelGeneral OSDD infoCarolyn Spring on OSDD & DIDBeauty After Bruises on Dissociative DisordersPower to The Plurals on OSDDPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

This episode brings a light hearted view to the challenges and adventures of daily system life. From discovering their system to the evolving ways of “what works for them,” this conversation will inspire, validate and intrigue you. The Curious System offers a wealth of resources for DID and OSDD systems and their providers to explore. Resources referenced in this podcast episode:The CrissesPluralKitOtter aiDID We WriteDID We Write Tildy's Little Book for LittlesThe Rabbit Listened bookThe Rabbit Listened read aloudCTAD ClinicCTAD Clinic YouTube ChannelLayering of Emotion CTAD Clinic VideoGrowing Up Again BookAlix Amar LCSWAmy Wagner LMFT, LMHCPetals of a Rose DocumentaryHealing Together ConferenceAn Infinite MindAn Infinite Mind Speaker SeriesYes Please by Amy PoehlerDissociation Made Simple by Dr. Jamie MarichInstitute for Creative MindfulnessPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is filled with so much heart and wisdom. Amanda Ball discovered they were a system later in life and that discovery turned everything upside down. Amanda shares her story of how she discovered she was a system We dive into an authentic conversation that covers topics from loss, deep grief, and real stigma to aphantasia, preventing switching, relationships and much more. We recognize that not everyone can access therapy and even those who can are often on long waitlists. We discussed many accessible resources for healing that can be found free online. You can find Amanda on Instagram. See below for their full bio!Resources:The Dissociative Disorders AllianceAn Infinite MindBeauty After BruisesTheresa https://www.dis-sos.com/about-us/Carolyn SpringThe CTAD Clinic WebsiteDr Mike LloydCTAD Clinic YouTube ChannelAdrienne & Co (Formerly Known as Dr. Adrian Fletcher)Dr Arielle SchwartzBIO: Amanda Ball (She/He/They) lives with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and collectively she and other selves are known as the ETERNITY System. Amanda had a long career and held senior posts in the Food, Drink and Agricultural industry, mainly in Strategy, Planning, Training, Marketing and Communication roles and continue to champion British Food. Whilst no longer able to pursue a career, they continue to use their skills through mentoring and volunteering work and are a future trustee of a soon to be registered charity, ‘The Dissociative Disorders Alliance’.  Their professional values are ‘Focus, Clarity, Direction’.They strive to make the complexities of living with DID accessible to others, by sharing everyday experiences through advocacy work. Notable highlights to date include planning and executing the launch of ‘The Girls Within’ a book written by debut author and retired therapist Gill Frost. The book launch provided a springboard for a live Webinar, ‘Dissociative Identity Disorder, The Hidden Condition’ and a follow up Webcast ‘Demystifying Dissociative Identity Disorder’. The recordings, hosted on Karnac Books YouTube channel, have had over 16K views to date.They also undertake public speaking and media work and have appeared as guests on BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show as well as other BBC regional stations, sharing their lived experience of DID.With their symptoms and subsequent diagnosis being relatively recently (2016), life and their identity until then was focused almost entirely on work. As a result, they are still finding their way when it comes to rest and play, however their determination and curiosity gained through work and life experience, are proving helpful characteristics in their journey through therapy.Running has become an essential part of everyday life in the Cotswolds, not just through the exercise itself but by providing social connections being a member of a local club.  They have also started to keep a growing collection of house plants alive!Podcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 15 welcomes Melissa Parker, LMHC, (they/them), a plural therapist who has expertise in working with clients who have PTSD, DID, OSDD and who live with other trauma related effects. We took a deep dive into the challenges systems face when seeking care and finding resources. Sharing anecdotes from personal and professional experiences, we connect around the need for more compassion, love, openminded perspectives and a willingness to truly individualize care. Part of willingness to treat the individual involves professionals removing hard and fast barriers such as “a diagnosis of DID is an automatic exclusion to psychedelic assisted treatment.” As you will hear, psychedelics do have a place in treatment and can be profoundly helpful for some. Given the propensity for great harm, caution also needs to be exercised. Melissa takes us through how to explore the possibility while offering concrete suggestions for safety. Many systems will feel both validated and inspired by this conversation, while professionals may glean a deeper understanding around the impact of language, mindset and perspectives when delivering care to systems. Professional Bio: Melissa enjoys working with older adolescents and adults who live with the effects of complex trauma. Melissa’s work and perspectives are rooted in anti-oppression practice, and the lenses of trauma-informed developmental, humanist, and transpersonal psychology. They take an integrative approach to therapy and utilize whole-person modalities such as EMDR, humanistic talk therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), and sensory/somatic-based interventions. Melissa also offers psychedelic integration therapy.Melissa welcomes the opportunity to connect with individuals from all walks of life and seeks to work from a place of cultural humility and respect. They hold a special interest in providing support and therapy to mental health professionals who have lived experience with mental health concerns, trauma, and dissociation. They also have an interest and experience in supporting individuals who seek to integrate profound spiritual experiences into daily life.In addition to their clinical work, Melissa draws on their experience as a trauma survivor and clinical professional living with PTSD and DID, to provide anti-ableism-based training, supervision, and consultation to therapists who are interested in deepening their work with clients who live with dissociationRESOURCESMelissa Parker LMHC MAPSDance Safe Fentanyl Test StripsMelissa Parker on Braving The Way PodcastPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Raw, poignant and real. In discussing all things system accountability, Adrienne & Co lets us into their lives and what it’s been like navigating betrayals, fusions, and integration while simultaneously beginning a new life with their soulmate who is also a system. Adrienne & Co describes how they showing up for all parts of the system with love and compassion. They share where they’ve been and why they’ve taken a step back from advocacy. This episode is full of important takeaways. Whether you’re a system or a provider who treats systems, this rich conversation is filled with examples of the work it takes for a system of parts to truly work together. Whether life is at a high or low point or anywhere in between, Adrienne & Co shows us all how to show up with a formidable combination of strength, vulnerability and compassion that ultimately moves healing forward. We hope you are as moved and inspired as we are by this conversation.Where to find Adrienne & CoAdrienne & Co on Instagram Adrienne & Co's WebsiteMentorship Group Psychology Today BlogThanks for listening to Healing My Parts Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.Podcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Many of you are already fans of today’s guest, Dr. Mike Lloyd, who is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specializing in complex trauma and dissociative disorders and Director of the CTAD Clinic and Cheshire Psychology in the UK. He is also the creator of the popular CTAD Clinic YouTube Channel where you’ll find his engaging videos break down complex concepts related to living with and treating DID & OSDD into easy to understand language and captivating visuals. Dr. Mike is a member of the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation (ESTD), having previously been on the ESTD Board and also a UK contact person. Dr. Mike also teaches on the ESTD four day foundation course ("Assessment and Treatment of Dissociative Disorders") and Liverpool University's Clinical Doctorate course. He is a lifetime member of First Person Plural, the UK's most prominent expert-by-experience organization for Dissociative Identity Disorder. He has presented in the UK, Europe and Canada. He is renovating a house in Malpas in preparation for a new clinic and rescues cats with the RSPCA (wait until you hear how many!) This episode is chock full of wisdom, passion, and compassion. Dr. Mike gives us a taste of his respectful therapeutic style underscoring the importance of the treatment environment and therapeutic alliance in collaboratively charting a course to healing. A delightful surprise for those who living with dissociative identities (DI), Dr Mike gives us a sneak peak into the mind of someone who is not multiple. Meanwhile providers and supporters gain a better understanding of what it’s like inside the mind of someone living with DI. From strategies to resources, to understanding key concepts to hope and inspiration for those diagnosed later in life, there is truly something here for everyone. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!Resources mentioned in the show:CTAD Clinic VideosYouTube: A Visual Understanding of How Alters/Parts are FormedYouTube: Denial & Recognition Later in LifeYouTube: Action Systems and Their InfluenceYouTube: Introduction to Structural DissociationYouTube: Why is my Internal Communication Not WorkingYouTube: Managing Employment, Alters & DIDYouTube: Integration in DID & OSDD -hint-it’s not necessarily final fusionYouTube: Integration & Fusion Part 2- understanding the differencesMarcella Netflix SeriesCTAD Clinic Trainings and Resources:CTAD ClinicCTAD Clinic TrainingsCTAD Clinic Resources to ExploreMore Resources:First Person PluralCarolyn SpringBlue Knot FoundationEuropean Society for Trauma and Dissociation International Society for the Study of Trauma and DissociationPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Jaime lives in Central Florida where she works as a district Pre-K special education resource teacher. She also works part-time as an in-home early interventionist for special needs children aged birth to three.In 2005, she was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) resulting from childhood trauma. Jaime searched for support only to find there were very limited resources available. Her efforts to find support for herself led her to seek out other survivors living with the disorder.As she found others living with DID, she witnessed firsthand the challenges they shared and decided to shift her focus to help others, like herself, living with DID. In July of 2007, she started one of the only peer-led DID support groups in the country, which led to the creation of An Infinite Mind in January of 2008.Her passion comes from the hope that people with DID can find the support and resources they need and will no longer fear the stigma surrounding the disorder.In this episode Jaime shares her journey of founding An Infinite Mind and all it has to offer. Jaime opens up about her own personal journey with Dissociative Identities, from diagnosis through treatment to the collaborative system she enjoys today. A truly strength’s based view, this episode will inspire and motivate you, whether you have Dissociative Identities yourself or you are a provider who treats people with DI. It’s filled with practical ideas, tips, relatable experiences, passion and compassion.AIM Resource Links:An Infinite MindAIM's Healing Together ConferenceAIM's Speaker SeriesResources for Consultation for TherapistsInstitute for Creative Mindfulness ResourcesICM EMDR Consultation Be sure to check out the many trainings they offer in EMDR and Dissociation.Consultation with Katie Keech LMFTConsultation with Adrienne & Co (Formerly Dr. Adrian FletcherConsultation with Dr. Mike Lloyd CTAD Clinic UKThe Refractory Think Tank for Plural Providers, Researchers, CoachesResources for SystemsTrailblazing The Way Community Mentorship ProgramSystem Speaks CommunityA Couple of MultiplesMultiplied By OneBeauty After BruisesThe Plural AssociationPower To The PluralsDr Jamie MarichKatie Keech LMFTBlue Knot FoundationThe CrissesKinhostPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Listen in as Jamie+ talks candidly about the topics of disclosure, functional multiplicity, how parts work together, the nuances of lived experience, sexuality, and the judgement that exists within the mental health field. They also share insights about their brand new, soon to be released memoir, You Lied To Me About God. ResourcesYou Lied To Me About God: A MemoirDissociation Made SimpleRedefine TherapyInstitute for Creative MindfulnessNavigating Self-Disclosure CourseDr Jamie on InstagramDr Jamie on TikTokKay Redfield Jamison's BooksPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Melz opens up, giving us an authentic view of their life as a system. Melz takes us through how they first discovered they were a system at the age of 13, on through the ups and downs of therapy, to learning to navigate co-occurring mental health issues and ultimately settling into thriving in functional multiplicity and so much more. Melz shares their story along with insights, tips, and resources. Their tenacity, resilience, compassion and humor will inspire and motivate you whether you are a system yourself, a supporter or a provider. Find and follow Melz at @many_melzResources:A Couple of MultiplesSystem Speaks CommunityThe Gianu SystemIndigo & Dissociationneuroqueer_therapist Katie KeechHealing Together ConferenceThe Plural AssociationDr Jamie MarichThe Institute for Creative MindfulnessBrushstrokes ImaginationCrissesKinhostMultiplicity & MeCTAD ClinicThe Blue Knot FoundationBeauty after BruisesPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

While this episode may seem to be geared only to providers, the content can also be helpful in building awareness and providing validation to those living as systems or for those who think they may be systems.The first portion of the episode is dedicated to formal assessment instruments. Because, depending on which part(s) is forward, formal instruments can still miss the presence of dissociative identities, the second portion of this episode delves into practical tips and strategies for clinicians to use to assess for DID & OSDD1 throughout therapy sessions. Links to Formal Instruments:Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES II)Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID)Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D)Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule (DDIS)YouTube Episode referenced in episodeDiscussion by Multiplicity & Me's Expert Checklist be sure to check their show notes for links to scholarly articlesOur Response to McLean Debacle for those who would like to delve into the dangers of reckless accusations of false DID. This occurred when a McLean psychologist perpetrated harm by inappropriately used creator content from Instagram and TikTok and accused them of not having DID, when in fact they were all professionally diagnosed. This article contains links to scholarly articles as well as up to date considerations for how we view multiplicity. ResourcesOrganizations:An Infinite Mind ISSTD Books:* Dissociation Made Simple Dr Jamie Marich* Finding Solid Ground Dr Bethany Brand* Coping with Trauma Related Dissociation Kathy Steele et al Take what works, leave what doesn’t. Know there are legitimate concerns regarding the Structural Dissociation model. Documentary* Petals of a RoseInstagram* @petalsofarose_themovie* @drafletcher* @healingmyparts* @indigo.and.dissociation* @mindful_therapy_practice* @beautyafterbruises* @thepluralassociation* @gianusystem* @katiekmftTikTok·        @neuroqueer_therapist Katie Keech, LMFT·        @traumatherapistrants Dr. Jamie MarichPodcasts & Blogs (by therapists w/ &w/o lived experience)·        Braving the Way with Dr. Fletch (LE)·        A Couple of Multiples (podcast & website, LE)·        Healing My Parts (podcast & Substack, LE) ·        How We Can Heal with Lisa Danylchuk (wo)·        Therapy Chat Podcast with Laura Reagan (wo)YouTube Channels:·        CTAD Clinic  ·        Multiplicity & Me ·        The Rings SystemPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 8 welcomes the Gianu System & their Hubs, the SplenDID Supporter to the podcast. The Gianu System & their Hubs gave an absolutely stellar talk at the Healing Together this past February, chock full of information you can’t find anywhere else. From finding out they were a system to their Hubs building relationships with their different alters to navigating intimacy, we cover it all here. Whether you are questioning, newly diagnosed, have been diagnosed for ages, are a supporter or friend of a system or a treatment provider, this episode has something for you. There is so much information in this episode that we surely wish we had had access to. We are honored to have been able to host this conversation and bring you information to assist you in navigating the terrain of your own unique journey.We had so much fun talking with the Gianu System & their Hubs and cannot wait to have them back for an engaging conversation on modalities and healing! So be sure to stay tuned for that!Links They’re an author so be sure to Check out their incredible books here! Follow them on Instagram: Gianu System SplenDID SupporterFollow them on TikTok Gianu SystemPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 7 Those who navigate the intersection of DID and eating disorders face unique challenges in finding care for themselves. It is challenging enough to find care for one or the other, never mind when they coexist! Given that over 90% of people with eating disorders have a trauma history and up to 40% of people with DID suffer from eating disorders, we are also not talking about a small number of people.In today’s episode, we chat with Angela Kaloudis, a compassionate, talented therapist who specializes in treating folx with DID/OSDD and eating disorders. She takes us through how she came to this specialty area, what she wishes she knew earlier, the challenges she regularly runs into and what she wishes other therapists knew, including red flags for dissociation that often get missed. Whether you are someone living with the condition or a therapist working with this population, you’ll find valuable nuggets in all that Angela graciously shares with us. About AngelaAngela Kaloudis (she/her) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with particular expertise in treating eating disorders, trauma & complex dissociation, as well as perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD).In addition to her outpatient practice, Angela is a supervisor and clinical leader at a nationally recognized eating disorder facility.  She adheres to the principles of Health At Every Size®, meaning she will support people in ALL bodies in engaging in health-promoting behaviors and living a value-oriented life. To Angela, being a genuine and authentic human and therapist is her top priority. Angela is known for her non-judgmental, caring, and compassionately firm nature, weaving in humor throughout. She makes space for all that her clients bring into the room and approaches situations with curiosity and care while challenging her clients to lean into difficult emotions. She deeply believes that therapeutic relationship is the strongest vehicle of change.When she is not working, Angela loves to spend time with her family, read, connect with her community, and be with her dog, Apollo, who is always ready for a good game of fetch.ResourcesAngela Kaloudis, LMHCThe Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association, IncMEDA's Free Recovery Community Message BoardsThe National Alliance for Eating Disorders National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline 1-866-662-1235 (M-F 9a-7p)ANAD & ANAD Helpline 1-888-375-7767Project HealAn Infinite MindTrailblazing the Way-Dr. Adrian FletcherInstitute for Creative MindfulnessDr Jamie MarichKatie Keech, LMFTPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 6: For all those who are curious about inner worlds in DID and OSDD. What are they? What are they for? What do you do if you don’t have one? What if you have aphantasia? How do they help? How do you use them?We dive into these questions, share some of our personal experiences with our own inner world and provide some tips to get you on your way with yours!Let us know what you think! We’d love to hear from you. Podcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

The Silver System is a therapist in private practice, who was diagnosed late in life with AuDHD and DID. They are passionate about raising awareness and breaking the stigma associated with being multiply neurodivergent. We covered a lot of ground in our conversation! Listen in to discover:* How the Silver System learned they are neurodivergent* The unique way they discovered they are a system* How DID/OSDD is a form of neurodivergence* Their advice to therapists who treat people with all types of neurodivergence* Their thoughts and experiences with IFS & EMDR* Their advice for systems who may have ADHD, Autism or AuDHDResources mentioned in the show:The Dissociative Experiences CardsDivergent Conversations PodcastUnmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity bookPodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

IntroWhat an inspiring conversation we had! Petals of a Rose is the most accurate, respectful portrayal of Dissociative Identity Disorder available today. Listen in to learn more about Holly and Dylan: why they created the film, their views & experiences with DID, and their current and future projects as well as how you can participate!More About Holly & DylanHolly and Dylan Crumpler are a mother-son team of passionate activists working to reduce the stigma associated with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Given that DID has historically been depicted in an inaccurate, sensationalized, and violent way in film and television, Dylan created his senior thesis film, Petals of a Rose, at Chapman University to realistically depict a day in the life of a woman with DID. He co-wrote the screenplay with his mother, Holly, who was diagnosed with DID in 2018 at the age of 51.Holly is a retired Tax Partner at Deloitte, an international public accounting firm, where she worked for 25 years consulting with corporations regarding their global compensation and benefit programs. Dylan is an independent filmmaker and 2022 graduate of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production with an emphasis in Directing and a Themed Inquiry in Leadership.Petals of a Rose has received international acclaim, with Dylan and Holly sharing the film at numerous mental health conferences and educational events. The film is being used by clinicians in training sessions, college courses, and therapeutic settings. The film’s subtitles are available in twelve languages.Following is the link where you can watch the 15 minute film and learn more about its impact: Watch Petals of a Rose HerePlease consider rating and reviewing Petals of a Rose on IMDb: Rate & Review Petals of a Rose on IMDbDylan and Holly are now developing a documentary exploring the impact of misrepresentation of DID in film and television, and also a longer film/series expanding on the story of their short film’s protagonist, Rose. Seeking to incorporate the voices and stories of those living with and treating dissociative conditions to be represented in their projects, they have put together a questionnaire to gather input and ideas. The questionnaire is applicable to people living with dissociative identities, their loved ones, and clinicians who treat them. If you're so inclined to share your feedback, following is the link to the questionnaire: LIVED EXPERIENCE QUESTIONNAIRETo stay up to date on Dylan and Holly’s projects, please follow them on social media:Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PetalsofaRoseTheMovieInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/petalsofarose_themovie/Links to Resources in the EpisodeApril 12, 2024 Event: Dissociative Identities: Co-creating the Landscape for Recovery with Trauma SurvivorsJade Miller's Letter TemplateA Couple of MultiplesBraving the Way PodcastAn Infinite Mind's Healing Together ConferenceHealing Selves Therapeutics Supporters GroupMultiplied By OnePodcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

It is challenging to find competent care for DID, given how few providers have training in it. Sometimes, even those who claim to have significant training can cause harm depending on their approach and how it impacts the specific system they are treating. There is plenty of heated discussion about talking directly to parts and whether or not therapists should or shouldn’t do so in the context of therapy sessions. The discussion is so charged at times, it often feels like no one is listening. Many of those without lived experience often assume dysfunction where there is, in fact, great function. We decided to do a more personal share in this episode to explore the topic of therapy and talking directly to parts. Illustrating in what we hope is a balanced way, the harm caused by one approach and the benefits reaped by another. This episode is for both therapists and systems alike. Through a more personal share of therapeutic experiences, therapists can better understand the need for flexibility, compassion and direct relationships with parts. Systems will see how the right training and credentials do not always translate into helpful therapeutic experiences, but will take away red flags to look for and suggestions for strategies to help their providers course correct when needed. Podcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Everyone says that internal communication is integral to the ultimate goal of system cooperation and collaboration. That sweet spot where you’re all working together like a well-oiled machine. That’s where the magic is supposed to happen, right? But what if you have no idea where to even start? This episode is full of ideas for you to play with to see what might work for you and your system. If it doesn’t work right away, don’t give up! Building relationships with our parts takes time and effort -not to mention a hefty side of patience sprinkled with compassion. It can be hard work, but you(s) are worth it! (Yep, you’re worth it, even if you don’t believe that yet!) Gentle Reminders:Every system is unique.Every system is special.Every system is valid.Every system deserves respect.Not everything will resonate with you. That's okay.Take what resonates & leave the rest. Thank you for being here!Podcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve been wanting to launch a podcast for a while now and …here it is! This episode is an introduction to us and our thoughts about what the podcast will be. We also tackle the uber common experience of denial in DID- it was one of the first things that we wrestled with. In fact, it’s so common, we haven’t met a system who hasn’t grappled with it. We share some thoughts on how to cope with denial and if you’d like to dig in a little deeper for yourselves, you can always revisit our Denial Files Blog. If you have topics you’d like us to cover, please don’t be shy and let us know. We are honored that you are joining us for this journey and we hope you enjoy this new venture of ours.Thank you for tuning in for our first episode! We should have this available on Apple and Spotify soon!Just a disclaimer, any information shared in this podcast is not a substitute for professional therapy or behavioral health care, nor does listening to the podcast constitute the therapist-client relationship.Please be sure to take extra good care of you! Until next time, keep healing and thriving!Thank you for reading Healing My Parts Substack. This post is public so feel free to share it.Podcast Legal Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area. Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe