Abuse Quote by Alison Miller
““I recently consulted to a therapist who felt he had accomplished something by getting his dissociative client to remain in her ANP throughout her sessions with him. His view reflects the fundamental mistake that untrained therapists tend to make with DID and DDNOS. Although his client was properly diagnosed, he assumed that the ANP should be encouraged to take charge of the other parts at all times. He also expected her to speak for them—in other words, to do their therapy. This denied the other parts the opportunity to reveal their secrets, heal their pain, or correct their childhood-based beliefs about the world. If you were doing family therapy, would it be a good idea to only meet with the father, especially if he had not talked with his children or his spouse in years? Would the other family members feel as if their experiences and feelings mattered? Would they be able to improve their relationships? You must work with the parts who are inside of the system. Directly.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “Therapeutic Approaches to DID” by Alison Miller, 2023
Therapists should engage all parts of a DID system rather than focusing solely on the dominant personality, to foster integration and healing.
In simple terms: Treat all parts, not just the main one.
Work with every system part.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Clinical supervision
- patient intake
- family therapy
- trauma-informed workshops
- case consultation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can therapists balance part autonomy with integration?
- What methods ensure each part feels heard?
Risk of overgeneralizing to all dissociative disorders.