ABSTRACT
Dissociation is a natural response to the experience of trauma occurring along a continuum from adaptive to maladaptive. Somatization, self-injurious behavior, pain, and eating disorders are all dissociative. Dissociation is linked to hypnosis, trance states, and metanormal experiences, and may involve enhanced self-regulation and pain control capacity. Shamanic practices also lead to dissociation, and the concept of the wounded healer has import for a transformative and spiritual approach to healing. The goal of therapy is to help the client become aware of when dissociation occurs, understand the triggers, gain (some) control over the process, and ultimately reduce “dissociativity.” Identifying the subtle cues that signal dissociation can be pivotal to treatment. When clinicians learn the basic principles of these mechanisms and directly experience these states of consciousness through personal activities that generate hypnotic and trance states, it enhances our capacity to assist our clients.
