Dissociative disorders have a rich history in medical literature, with dissociation itself once at the forefront of dynamic psychiatry. Influential figures like Pierre Janet, William James, Morton Prince, Carl Jung, and a young Sigmund Freud regarded dissociation as a crucial mechanism, reflecting a structured partitioning of the psyche. However, the focus on dissociation shifted towards other psychological forces—such as repression—and biological explanations for psychological distress. In the late 1970s, dissociation re-emerged with a broader conceptualization, bringing both new insights and some conceptual confusion. Recent frameworks have sought to address these complexities. This webinar will explore these evolving ideas in the context of modern understandings of dissociation and dissociative disorders. We will also focus on the challenges and methods of clinical assessment, and look ahead to future developments that may shape the treatment and conceptualization of dissociative disorders.
This webinar will explore key ideas from the 2023 book Dissociation and the Dissociative Disorders: Past, Present, Future, using its subtitle as a guide to structure of the presentation.
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PPT Slides: Dissociation & Dissociative Disorders: Past, Present, Future
Video: Dissociation & Dissociative Disorders: Past, Present, Future
Assessment Component: Dissociation & Dissociative Disorders: Past, Present and Fature.
Martin Dorahy, PhD, DClinPsych, is a clinical psychologist and professor in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. He has a clinical, research and theoretical interest in complex trauma, dissociative disorders and self-conscious emotions (e.g., shame). He has published peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and co-edited six books in the area of psychotraumatology, including most recently, Dissociation and the Dissociative Disorder: Past, Present, Future, 2nd Ed (with Steve Gold and John O’Neil; 2023) and Contemporary Perspectives on the Seduction Theory and Psychotherapy: Revisiting ‘The Assault on Truth’ (with Warwick Middleton). He is a member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, New Zealand Psychological Society, and the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists. He is a Fellow and Past President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). He maintains a clinical practice, focused primarily on the adult sequelae of childhood relational trauma. He enjoys snow skiing and mountain biking.
