Therapy for DID & Dissociation in Rockville, MD | Dissociative Disorder Therapist
Living with a dissociative disorder can feel like being disconnected from your own life. You might notice gaps in memory, moments where the world suddenly feels unreal or distant, or a sense that parts of you are acting, thinking, or feeling in ways you can’t fully control or explain. Everyday experiences, like conversations, work, relationships, etc. can become confusing when your sense of identity, time, or reality shifts unexpectedly.
Many people describe feeling like they are watching their life from the outside, losing time, or struggling to stay present in their body. These experiences often develop as a way the mind copes with overwhelming trauma, even though they can later feel frightening, isolating, or hard to put into words. With compassionate, trauma-focused therapy, it is possible to gently understand these experiences, build a sense of safety in the present, and reconnect with yourself in a way that feels more stable.
Therapy for DID and Dissociation in Maryland and Virginia
If you’re looking for help and are struggling with a dissociative disorder or dissociative identity disorder (DID), you have come to the right place.
We offer therapy for dissociative disorders and complex trauma in Rockville, Maryland and provide online therapy in Maryland and Virginia.
What is dissociation?
Dissociation is when someone feels disconnected from themselves, other people, or the world around them. Dissociation exists on a continuum and there is a level of dissociation that most humans experience. On the other end of the continuum, there are more complex forms of dissociation that may be interfering with daily life functioning or interpersonal relationships. Dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder, are forms of complex dissociation.
Symptoms of dissociation:
1. Depersonalization
Our DID Trauma Therapist:
We have a therapist on our team, Megan Samuels, MSW, LCSW-C, who specializes in assessing and treating clients struggling with dissociation and dissociative disorders. Megan has years of experience treating clients with dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID).
Megan is a skilled EMDR therapist. Megan has completed and EMDRIA approved EMDR basic training through the Trauma Specialists Training Institute, EMDRIA approved EMDR advanced trainings, and is currently pursuing certification in EMDR therapy with a special interest in developmental trauma and dissociative disorders. Additionally, Megan is currently working towards an Advanced Certificate in Dissociation Studies for EMDR Therapists through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness.
DID and Dissociation Treatment:
Megan blends EMDR therapy, DBT, mindfulness, psychoeducation, and ego state interventions when working with clients who have dissociative disorders. Megan currently works with adolescents and adults with dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID).
There is hope for individuals struggling with dissociative disorders! With ongoing therapeutic support, awareness and connection between parts of self can increase to help the system function more effectively and with less internal conflict.
Many people describe feeling like they are watching their life from the outside, losing time, or struggling to stay present in their body. These experiences often develop as a way the mind copes with overwhelming trauma, even though they can later feel frightening, isolating, or hard to put into words. With compassionate, trauma-focused therapy, it is possible to gently understand these experiences, build a sense of safety in the present, and reconnect with yourself in a way that feels more stable.
Therapy for DID and Dissociation in Maryland and Virginia
If you’re looking for help and are struggling with a dissociative disorder or dissociative identity disorder (DID), you have come to the right place.
We offer therapy for dissociative disorders and complex trauma in Rockville, Maryland and provide online therapy in Maryland and Virginia.
What is dissociation?
Dissociation is when someone feels disconnected from themselves, other people, or the world around them. Dissociation exists on a continuum and there is a level of dissociation that most humans experience. On the other end of the continuum, there are more complex forms of dissociation that may be interfering with daily life functioning or interpersonal relationships. Dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder, are forms of complex dissociation.
Symptoms of dissociation:
1. Depersonalization
- Feeling detached from oneself, as if observing from outside the body
- Descriptions like “I feel unreal,” “It’s like I’m watching myself in a movie,” or “My body doesn’t feel like mine”
- The world feels strange, foggy, or dreamlike
- People or surroundings may seem distorted, far away, or artificial
- Gaps in memory for daily events, conversations, or periods of time
- Losing track of how one got somewhere or what one was doing
- “Waking up” in a place without recalling what happened before
- Feeling like different “parts” of self take control at different times
- Sudden shifts in preferences, handwriting, speech patterns, or emotions
- Feeling uncertain about who one truly is
- Diminished or absent emotional responses
- Feeling disconnected from one’s feelings or body sensations
- Describing emotions as “flat,” “empty,” or “distant”
Our DID Trauma Therapist:
We have a therapist on our team, Megan Samuels, MSW, LCSW-C, who specializes in assessing and treating clients struggling with dissociation and dissociative disorders. Megan has years of experience treating clients with dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID).
Megan is a skilled EMDR therapist. Megan has completed and EMDRIA approved EMDR basic training through the Trauma Specialists Training Institute, EMDRIA approved EMDR advanced trainings, and is currently pursuing certification in EMDR therapy with a special interest in developmental trauma and dissociative disorders. Additionally, Megan is currently working towards an Advanced Certificate in Dissociation Studies for EMDR Therapists through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness.
DID and Dissociation Treatment:
Megan blends EMDR therapy, DBT, mindfulness, psychoeducation, and ego state interventions when working with clients who have dissociative disorders. Megan currently works with adolescents and adults with dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID).
There is hope for individuals struggling with dissociative disorders! With ongoing therapeutic support, awareness and connection between parts of self can increase to help the system function more effectively and with less internal conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of a dissociative disorder?
Common signs of a dissociative disorder include feeling detached from your body or emotions, memory gaps or “losing time,” feeling like the world is unreal or dreamlike, and confusion about identity or sense of self. Some people also experience sudden shifts in thoughts, emotions, or behaviors. If these experiences happen frequently or disrupt your daily life, trauma therapy can help you understand and manage them.
What does dissociation feel like?
Dissociation often feels like being disconnected from yourself or your surroundings. People may describe it as feeling numb, foggy, unreal, or like they are watching their life from outside their body. Others notice that time passes without remembering what happened. These experiences can be confusing or frightening, but they are often the mind’s way of coping with overwhelming stress or trauma.
Do I have a dissociative disorder or am I just zoning out?
Occasional “zoning out” or daydreaming is normal and happens to most people. Dissociative disorders typically involve more intense or frequent experiences such as memory loss, identity confusion, feeling detached from reality, or losing track of time. If dissociation is affecting your relationships, work, or daily functioning, speaking with a trauma therapist can help clarify what you’re experiencing.
What causes dissociative disorders?
Dissociative disorders are most often linked to overwhelming or repeated trauma, especially during childhood. Dissociation develops as a protective coping strategy when experiences feel too distressing to process. While it can help someone survive difficult situations, it may continue later in life and create challenges with memory, identity, and emotional connection.
Can dissociative disorders be treated with therapy?
Yes. Therapy for dissociative disorders focuses on helping people feel safer in the present, understand their dissociative experiences, and develop tools to stay grounded and connected. Trauma therapy can support healing at a pace that respects your safety and readiness.
What type of therapy helps with dissociation?
Treatment for dissociation often includes trauma-focused approaches that focus on stabilization, grounding skills, and gently processing traumatic experiences. Therapy may also help people understand different parts of their internal experience and build a stronger sense of connection.
Is dissociation related to trauma or PTSD?
Yes, dissociation is often connected to trauma and can occur alongside post-traumatic stress. When the brain experiences overwhelming stress, dissociation can act as a protective response. Over time, this coping mechanism may continue even when the original danger is no longer present.
Why do I feel disconnected from myself or reality?
Feeling disconnected from yourself or the world around you can be a form of dissociation. This may happen during periods of stress, emotional overwhelm, or when past trauma is triggered. A therapist trained in trauma and dissociation can help you understand these experiences and develop ways to stay more present and grounded.
How do I know if I should seek therapy for dissociation?
If you frequently feel detached from yourself, lose time, experience memory gaps, or feel confused about your identity or emotions, therapy may help. You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable, many people seek therapy simply to better understand what they’re experiencing.
How can I start therapy for dissociative symptoms?
Starting therapy usually begins with reaching out for a consultation by filling out the website contact form, emailing us, or calling 301-246-6856. This first conversation allows you to ask questions, share what you’ve been experiencing, and see whether the therapist feels like a good fit. Healing from dissociation is possible, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Trauma therapy for dissociative disorders in Rockville, Maryland. Serving Montgomery County and surrounding areas, including Potomac, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Olney, Chevy Chase, Severna Park, and Annapolis. Trauma therapy for dissociative disorders available across Maryland.
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