Therapy in Austin, TX
Dissociation & Dissociative Identity Disorder
Living with dissociation or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) can feel confusing, isolating, and at times frightening. At Moving Parts Psychotherapy, we provide trauma-informed, system-affirming care for individuals who experience themselves not as a single “self,” but as a system with many parts, alters, or identities. Our clinicians offer a steady, safe space where every part of your system is approached with curiosity, care, and respect, using the language that feels most accurate and respectful to you.
Not everyone who struggles with dissociation has DID. Dissociation exists on a spectrum, and it’s one of the most common ways the mind protects us when something is too much to take in all at once. Whatever your experience looks like, and whether or not you have a diagnosis, you’re welcome here.
I work with people experiencing:
Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD): parts that feel distinct but may not take full control, or amnesia that comes and goes
Depersonalization and derealization: feeling detached from your body, emotions, or surroundings, as if life is happening behind glass or in a dream
Dissociative amnesia: gaps in memory, lost time, or missing pieces of your history
Complex PTSD with dissociation: shutting down, going numb, or “leaving” when something feels overwhelming
Questioning or unsure: noticing something feels off and wanting a safe place to explore it without labels or pressure
Signs you might relate to:
Feeling numb, foggy, or far away, especially under stress
Not recognizing yourself in the mirror, or feeling like an observer of your own life
Finding things you don’t remember buying, writing, or doing
Hearing inner voices or sensing parts with different feelings, ages, or preferences
Being told about conversations or events you have no memory of
How We’ll Work Together
Dissociation is protective. It helped you survive, and it deserves respect rather than force. I use a phase-oriented approach that begins with stabilization, grounding, and building communication and cooperation inside your system. Trauma processing comes later, only when your system is ready. We draw on IFS, Somatic Experiencing, and dissociation-informed EMDR, always at a pace that feels safe.
I’ve trained specifically in dissociation, including with Kathy Steele, Dolores Mosquera, and Ana Gomez. I also train other clinicians on working with dissociation in the therapy room.
You don’t have to have the words for what you experience. We can find them together.
Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Dissociative Identity Disorder develops as an adaptive response to overwhelming, often chronic trauma, typically beginning in childhood. When traumatic experiences overwhelm what the nervous system can process, dissociation allows consciousness to fragment in order to survive. These separations help protect against physical or emotional pain when no other options are available.
Parts, alters, or identities may form to hold memories, emotions, beliefs, or roles that were necessary for survival at the time. While dissociation can support functioning in some contexts, it can also lead to challenges such as:
Memory gaps or time loss
Feeling disconnected from your body or surroundings
Difficulty with relationships or work
Internal conflict or fear within the system
It’s important to understand that DID is not a failure or flaw; it is a creative, intelligent survival response.
Healing as a system
Healing with DID does not mean becoming someone else. It means creating more ease, connection, and agency within your life; whether that involves increased coordination between parts or a gradual movement toward integration.
With the help of therapy, systems experience:
Improved communication and cooperation
Reduced fear and internal conflict
Greater continuity of memory and awareness
Increased capacity for relationships and daily life
Healing is not about forcing change; it’s about building safety, communication, and trust within the system. Therapy provides a consistent, supportive place for that work to unfold.
“DID is not a weakness but rather an extremely strong desire to survive.”
Our Approach
At Moving Parts Psychotherapy, we take a system-positive approach to DID therapy. We believe that all parts exist for a reason and deserve respect. Therapy is never about erasing or silencing parts, but about supporting cooperation, safety, and choice within the system.
Your goals guide the work. Some systems seek increased communication and shared functioning, while others move toward integration. Neither path is “right” or “wrong.” What matters is what feels safest and most supportive for you.
Our therapists are trained in working with dissociation and complex trauma and continue to learn not only from clinical training, but from individuals with lived experience. Your system’s wisdom is central to the healing process.
How It Works
DID therapy is paced slowly and intentionally, with a strong emphasis on stabilization and nervous system regulation. Before engaging in trauma processing, we focus on:
Establishing safety internally and externally
Building communication and cooperation among parts
Strengthening grounding and regulation skills
Supporting daily functioning and containment
We often integrate trauma-informed modalities such as Internal Family Systems–informed parts work, somatic approaches, and attachment-based therapy, adapting each to meet the unique needs of dissociative systems.
Healing happens here.
If you’re looking for DID therapy in Texas that is trauma-informed, system-affirming, and grounded in respect for your lived experiences, click the button below to book a free consultation. We’re ready and honored to help move through this deep and meaningful work together.