Transpersonal Aspects of the Treatment of Dissociative Identity

Hauer, C. (2003). Transpersonal Aspects of the Treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder as a Result of Ritual Abuse: A Mutual Descent into the Underworld (Doctoral dissertation, Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2003).

ABSTRACT

This phenomenological study explores transpersonal aspects of the treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) caused by Ritual Abuse (RA). Seven DID/RA survivors were asked to describe their extraordinary and remarkable experiences. In guided interviews they expressed their feelings, values, attitudes, conflicts, associations, and other psychological factors related to their personal and collective healing journeys. Literature on the topics of Dissociative Identity Disorder, Ritual Abuse and Depth Psychology, including dreams, metaphors and synchronistic experiences, was presented. Individual and collective significant and relevant meaning units were extracted from the collected data using a method described by Giorgi (1985). Finally, textural and structural individual and collective descriptions were synthesized to arrive at the essence of the phenomenon.

The study was designed to provide a safe container for DID/RA survivors, in which they can share their experiences openly and courageously. The goal of the study is to help demystify the diagnosis, to create more empathy for the survivors and support for their treating therapists, and to contribute to the individual and collective understanding of the phenomenon. It gives insight into a healing process guided by the archetypes and shares unique experiences within the client-therapist relationship.

In phenomenological research, some of the most important information may not be expressed in written or spoken language, but rather be discovered and understood within the transference between the study and the reader. Therefore, the reader is encouraged to engage in this study with an open mind, and asked to observe his or her responses to the presented material.