Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients

In this review of Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists the book is presented as a practical, clinically focused manual for therapists and advanced trainees as well as for patients working with dissociative symptoms. The bottom line is that this text delivers structured, evidence-informed skills and case-oriented guidance that make complex concepts about dissociation accessible and applicable in session. Readers familiar with trauma work will appreciate the clear clinical voice and the emphasis on concrete strategies for safety, grounding, and integration.

Key Features

• Clear clinical framework: Presents a structured approach to understanding and treating trauma-related dissociation that therapists can follow across sessions.
• Skills-focused content: Emphasizes concrete stabilization, grounding, and affect-regulation techniques useful for patients and clinicians alike.
• Therapist-oriented guidance: Offers practical notes on how therapists can introduce and pace interventions with dissociative patients to reduce overwhelm.
• Case examples: Includes clinical illustrations that help translate theory into practice and model therapist responses in real-world situations.
• Patient-accessible material: Contains explanations and exercises that can be adapted for patient handouts and homework.

Who It's For

This book is best suited for licensed mental health professionals, trainees in advanced trauma work, and clinicians who regularly treat complex trauma and dissociation and need a focused manual of skills they can apply in-session. It will also be valuable for multidisciplinary teams that coordinate care around safety and stabilization.

It is less appropriate as a standalone introductory textbook for someone with no clinical background or for casual readers seeking a general overview of trauma; those audiences may prefer more basic, generalist books on trauma before tackling skills training specifically aimed at therapists and patients.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical, skill-based orientation makes it easy to translate into therapy plans and patient exercises.
• Clinical examples and therapist notes clarify how to implement techniques safely with dissociative patients.
• Useful for both individual and group settings where stabilization and grounding are primary goals.

Cons

• The material assumes a clinical background, so some explanations may feel dense for nonprofessionals.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Overall, this is a valuable clinical resource for therapists who treat trauma-related dissociation, offering practical, implementable skills and helpful case material. Clinicians who need a compact, skills-focused manual will find it good value because it bridges theory and practice and supports safer, more effective treatment planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for patients to read on their own?
Some sections and exercises can be adapted for patient use, but the book assumes clinical context and is best used alongside therapist guidance.

Does it include case examples and exercises?
Yes, the book provides clinical illustrations and practical exercises intended to help therapists apply skills in-session.

Who wrote the book?
The text is authored by Suzette Boon, Kathy Steele, and Onno van der Hart Ph.D., and is part of a clinical neurobiology series.