Rae Kessler

My treatment approach for clients living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or other forms of dissociation is centered on supporting internal communication and cooperation within your system, so you can move toward the life you want. This work focuses on developing healthy internal boundaries, helping parts stay oriented to the present, increasing co-presence and co-consciousness, reducing amnesia between parts, and decreasing self-harming or self-sabotaging behaviors.

I approach dissociation as an adaptive response—your mind’s way of protecting you. The goal is not to eliminate parts, but to help them work together more effectively. I am trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS), and this framework informs my work with parts; however, my approach is not solely IFS-based and is thoughtfully adapted to meet the unique needs of DID systems. I align with a “no bad parts” perspective, understanding that all parts serve protective roles, even if their strategies are no longer helpful. Therapy becomes a space where those parts can learn safer, more supportive ways to care for you/your system.

Some of the approaches I use include parts mapping, safe place work, parts check-ins, and non-dominant hand journaling. These interventions help me better understand your system and tailor the work to your specific needs.

Once a sense of safety and stability is established, I may incorporate Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT) and Acutonics. ETT can support the release of stored emotional pain and help shift beliefs shaped by past experiences. Acutonics uses sound and vibration to support regulation and balance within the body. Together, these approaches can help process trauma in a way that feels contained and manageable, allowing the body to release tension and unresolved emotional material.