Ciara Chesnut

Approach: Feminist Counseling will always be my roots. That means we're going to talk about your values and experiences within the context of your identity and with the assumption that you have all the capacity you need to heal. I have additional training in Adlerian and Internal Family Systems therapy, which is to say family systems ideas on the inside and the outside. I know IFS can be kind of a dirty work in DID work. When I say IFS for DID, what I mean is that I borrow some important concepts such as "all Alters are always trying to love and support the system", "fostering cooperation and rapport between Alters is imperative", "without exception all Alters must have a seat at the table". I borrow the framework of how Alters relate to one another from IFS (and frankly from traditional family systems work). This in no way means I will forget your Alters are whole people with rich experiences and thoughts unique to them. I don't have an agenda in terms of blending or integration. That is firmly up to you because you deserve agency in your own life. want to help you increase your functioning and quality of life. I will push for compassion and acceptance within the system. It'll make your day to day so much easier. I'm trained in EMDR and I don't like to use it. I'm not saying it doesn't work, only that if it's the type of treatment you'd like, I'm not your girl.

Typical Sessions: When I start working with someone with DID, we usually spend the first part of therapy building trust and working to ensure the system accepts DID as a reality. Then we start to toggle back and forth between the needs of specific alters and developing coping tools and skills needed system wide. The most important thing is that your Alters are onboard with whatever treatment you're doing and one another. (and hopefully me because if they don't feel safe your Alters are not going to be comfortable with therapy and that's totally fair.)

Meds: If you are interested in getting a prescription (which is above my paygrade), my job is to help you decide if the whole system will allow the meds to be taken and work. I can also help you advocate for yourself with other providers. My job is not to push you one way or the other.

Self harm and Suicide Intensity: For many with DID, the fear that you are "crazy" (which has not clinical definition) can be terrifying. Due to that fear there is often a fear around be forced into a higher level of care. Here's my schtick on that: self harm is usually a coping mechanism and while it's not my favorite one, I'll take it over you being dead every single time. I know that suicidal thoughts and actions are sometimes an Alter (or several) trying to protect the system and just sharing thoughts isn't going to have me calling 9-1-1. Therapists must report IMMENENT harm. It's about can you be safe until I see you again. I will tell you if we're getting close to needing a higher level of care and we will make that decision as collaboratively as possible. There's no point in therapy you can't be honest in and I will be as transparent as I can to that end.

Trauma: We will need to address some of your trauma. It's why your system has come to be and like in PTSD sometimes Alters have a hard time with the idea that the threat has passed. Surviving crisis and living a full life are different and to that end we will do some talk therapy based trauma work at a pace that works for you.