Dissociation & Complex Trauma Therapy in NYC

Dissociation is an often misunderstood and overlooked phenomena in mental health. It describes the experiences of feeling out-of-body, foggy, blank, and frozen, as well as “not-me” moments. It is a process that is part of the fight/flight/freeze response, meant to protect us from overwhelming thoughts, feelings, stress, and threats.

Most commonly, dissociation is a fleeting experience, like walking into the kitchen and not remembering why or driving for 10 minutes (really in NYC, having walked 10 blocks) and having no idea how you got to where you are. Many people who have experienced complex trauma, or prolonged, chronic childhood trauma, however, experience frequent dissociative periods with far greater consequences.

Being able to identify dissociation and complex trauma are not usually taught in most mental health programs. People tend to go to therapy and can’t understand why nothing changes or why their feelings so frequently and intensely alter regarding the therapist. They tend to get accused of making things up, lying, manipulation, exaggerating, or being resistant. Why? Because therapists were never told how to deal with this stuff.

Working with complex trauma and dissociation is a long-term endeavor that requires patience, attunement, and physical interventions with the body, such as grounding exercises and movement. There also needs to be a basis of trust and an ability to work through really tough and painful feelings within the therapeutic relationship. There are a bazillion therapists in NYC, but only a fraction actually specialize in complex trauma and dissociation.

Exposure to past experiences of abuse, neglect, or other trauma may or may not be the most important part of working through these emotions and narratives at any given time. Often what is playing out in the present or even just being able to identify moments of dissociation and integrating various emotions and self-states is of primary focus. This is why it is so important for the therapist to be attuned to non-verbal emotional and physical feedback as well as what is happening between the therapist and you at any given moment.

We offer specialized dissociation therapy in NYC while also advocating for an eclectic array of alternative modalities of healing that may be in place of or in conjunction with formal therapy. These include yoga, somatic therapies, massage, Tai Chi, Qigong, EMDR, and others. If you think you might be interested in trying out therapy, give us a call.

How do I know if therapy for complex trauma is for me?

Almost anyone can benefit from therapy, in general. Trauma-specific therapy, however, is a little different. You don’t have to use the word “trauma” to define your experiences – anyone who has had difficulties in childhood (i.e., bullying in school, chronic invalidation or criticism, cultural oppression, emotional neglect, and overt abuse) and/or experienced overwhelmingly distressing events in adulthood may benefit from specialized trauma-informed treatment. Specialist in complex trauma tend to focus more on non-verbal communication, the therapy relationship itself, long-standing patterns and the roots of these patterns, pacing, nervous system regulation, attachment concerns, and what isn’t being said, rather than problem-solving or advice-giving (though there’s always a time for that too!). Basically, we try to understand that you don’t always have words for what is happening, you might be scared and distrustful of therapy and your therapist, you may not know something is bothering you until it’s too late, and that shame is always lurking below the surface. We modulate our approach and work with these factors always front of mind.

What is relational trauma therapy?

Our clinicians are trained across the spectrum of theoretical approaches, though our practice tends to operate from a relational psychodynamic perspective. This means that we are not just focused on problem-solving, changing easily identifiable habits and patterns, or telling you what’s wrong with you and trying to fix it. Rather, we are trying to understand your problems within the context of your life and relationships, namely your developmental years, to uncover and accept your cut-off desires and emotions. Basically,  want to get beneath the surface and go deep. Cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and other derivations of therapy styles are incorporated as needed. These types of therapy tend to be more short-term, skills-based, and focused on reducing symptoms rather than developing deeper, more lasting changes. We are here to help you get through crises, reduce immediate suffering, and allow you to feel safe enough to dig into the more intolerable stuff that lies at the root of most problems.

How long does therapy take?

Typically, sessions last 45-50 minutes and occur once or twice weekly. Each person is unique and so, too, is the healing process. How long therapy lasts depends on how much you’re looking to change and/or heal from. If you wanted to just learn some new coping skills or talk through a particular issue, that might be accomplished in as little as 6-10 sessions. However, long-lasting change requires alterations in neurological patterns… and this takes some time! If you’re looking to work through past trauma, heal from chronic stress and/or depression, and/or develop new interpersonal patterns like learning to trust others or be more vulnerable, therapy is more likely to be long-term.

Can I really change?

Of course! How much one can change depends on a multitude of factors, such as motivation, age, support system, and, perhaps more than anything, an openness to stick with it even when it gets really hard or uncomfortable. Our bodies and minds are made for forming and maintaining habits, not changing. With a safe relationship, trust, and time, change can and does happen! Therapy is about coming closer to your authentic self and finding meaning, purpose, and acceptance in your life. It’s not about becoming someone else, changing in such a way that your clinician thinks is best, or conforming to some arbitrary societal norm. Basically, therapy is about finding greater peace and contentment… and that is always possible for anyone.

What will therapy cost me?

Therapy too often is perceived as a luxury, rather than a fundamental part of developing a healthy lifestyle. Investing in your mental health and future is almost always well-worth it. Fortunately, we work with all insurance companies to help you pay as little as possible out of pocket, whether that means accepting in-network benefits with Aetna or helping you get the most out of your out-of-network benefits. We also accept payment without going through insurance, as many prefer the greater confidentiality and non-diagnostic approach this can offer. If you don’t have insurance, and are on a tight budget, we do offer sliding scale options on a limited basis subject to re-approval every 6 months. Standard fees range from $125 to $325, based on clinician and expertise. See our rates page for more information.

How do I get started?

You can fill out our form on the contact page or give us a call at 212-547-9853. Someone will reply to you within 1-2 business days to set up a brief 10-15 minute FREE phone consultation to get a better idea of what you’re looking for and if we might be a good fit for you. At that time, scheduling and insurance will be discussed and we’ll try to get you in as soon as possible for an intake appointment. So fill out the form or give us a call and we’ll take it from there!