Disorder Quote by Deborah Bray Haddock
““When a client enters therapy with a prior diagnosis, it might be difficult for the therapist to think outside of the box presented. One reason a dissociative individual might have several different diagnoses, however, is that as different parts present, they may also be presenting with diagnostic issues that are different from the host. Such differences especially make sense given the nature of DID.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Clinical Perspectives on Dissociative Identity Disorder, 2021
Therapists may be constrained by a client’s existing diagnosis, overlooking other aspects of identity that emerge, especially in DID where multiple parts can show distinct symptoms.
In simple terms: Existing labels can limit therapist’s view of a client’s full experience.
Key Takeaway
Consider all parts of a client, not just the primary diagnosis.
Themes
psychotherapy
diagnosis
identity
DID
clinical practice
Mood
reflective
analytical
empathetic
Type
clinical
educational
insightful
When to use this quote
- initial assessment
- treatment planning
- case formulation
- ongoing therapy
- multidisciplinary consultation
Key Concepts
dissociation
multiple selves
diagnostic complexity
therapeutic flexibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you regularly reassess a client’s presenting issues?
- What strategies help you stay open to new diagnostic information?
A Different Perspective
Therapists might over‑rely on initial labels, missing nuanced changes over time.
![“Interestingly, the patients who presented to me self-diagnosed [with Dissociative Identity Disorder] had tried to tell previous therapists of their plight, but had been disbelieved. These therapists had used fallacious "capricious criteria" (KIuft, 1988) to discredit the diagnosis; e.g., that the…” quote by Richard P. Kluft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0cc/richard-p-kluft-44450_capricious_interestingly-the-patients-who-presented_680376.jpg)
