Many therapists have had the experience of referring a dissociative or PTSD patient for hospitalization only to have the diagnosis ignored or devalued. Our own staff had experienced this in their outpatient practices. We firmly believe that it is vital to address the diagnosis in the treatment. The trauma must be addressed. Even though we may never be able to know the historical reality of a patient's trauma history, the patient's subjective experience must be respected and addressed.
Treatment happens in stages .
Pacing is vital. Containment and grounding skills must be learned before attempts are made to process trauma. The focus of therapy must be carefully matched to the patient's readiness.