Dissociative identity disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder, is a misunderstood and often underdiagnosed condition. Whether you are a new social worker or an experienced frontline staffer who is new to DID, Diagnosing and Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder is the resource that can help.

Clinicians are often too cautious about asking the right questions or believe the disorder is so rare that they do not accept what is being presented to them by the client. In turn, clients may mask their distinct internal identities if they sense that they will not be heard, understood, or believed. Further complicating matters, it is often newer clinicians working in underfunded community mental health centers who will encounter DID clients, many of whom have never sought treatment, have experienced unsuccessful or even harmful treatment, have learned to survive through problematic behaviors, or are experiencing co-occurring disorders such as addiction.

Using case studies, diagnostic tools, and clinician self-care, Gregory L. Nooney demonstrates how to confirm a DID diagnosis and establish a therapeutic relationship; assist the client in developing internal communication, cooperation, and co-consciousness; mitigate the risk of breaking dissociative barriers too quickly; manage the risk of rapid switching and decompensation, including suicidal risk; and lead the client from emotional rigidity and chaos to integration. Fortunately, because of the brain’s plasticity and the effectiveness of trauma-specific treatments, healing is possible even for individuals who have experienced severe childhood trauma and attachment wounds. Though the challenges of diagnosing and treating DID are vast, the rewards of helping this misunderstood and underserved population are enormous.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the significant role that attachment wounds and early childhood trauma plays in the development of mental illness in general and dissociative disorders in particular.
• Incorporate dissociative-related enquiries into initial assessments.
• Differentiate DID from other disorders in order to make an accurate diagnosis.
• Be aware of significant challenges involved in this work including the risk of compassion fatigue and countertransference.
• Understand and be prepared to utilize the eleven-step process of stabilization for clients with DID.
• Become familiar with how trauma-specific treatment modalities can be utilized with clients with DID.

• Gregory L. Nooney, LISW, LICSWBio
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Gregory L. Nooney, LISW, LICSW Bio

Greg Nooney, LISW, LCSW, has worked as a therapist in the mental health field for 40 years. During that time, he has worked with hundreds of clients with severe trauma and dissociative symptoms, including many with dissociative identity disorder. He holds a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University in Chicago and is licensed in the state of Iowa as a licensed independent social worker, and in Hawaii as a licensed clinical social worker. His book, An Introductory Clinical Guide to Dissociative Identity Disorder, was published by PESI in 2024. He also published an article titled, “Dissociative Identity Disorder” in the Encyclopedia of Social Work. He has worked as an adjunct instructor for the University of Iowa School of Social Work and Western Iowa Tech Community College. He has led numerous workshops and trainings over the years. He retired from a 10-year stint as the director of Burgess Mental Health in Onawa and continues to provide therapy and supervision on a part-time basis. He is available for workshops, trainings, and consultations and can be contacted through his website at www.gregnooney.com. He is married with four adult children and resides in Sioux City, Iowa.