A Couple of Multiples: The Reality of Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder
There’s never a dull moment for hosts, Drew and Garden System, who are a couple that have both been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. While they are navigating their healing journey, they continue to manage full time careers, raise four teenagers and a house full of pets. Not only do they aim to speak to people who have lived experience with DID and their supporters, but also therapists and anyone who wants to learn more. The podcast talks about Dissociative Identity Disorder in a way that someone who knows nothing about DID will be able to understand, and at the same time is designed to be a resource for therapists, while supporting and validating those with lived experience. Dissociative Identity Disorder is a highly stigmatized mental health diagnosis that has been subject to many myths and misinformation over the years. These myths, along with highly-sensationalized media portrayals, have led to many who still believe this disorder is not real and simply created by therapists who impose themselves on highly suggestible clients. The goal of the podcast is to dispel these myths and educate the world at large the truth about Dissociative Identity Disorder, and the reality of what having this diagnosis really looks like. The brain had to find a unique way to cope in order to survive the trauma people with DID faced from a very young age. Also, this condition is not rare, although many reputable sources still cite it as such. People with DID are ordinary members in your community that you might encounter in your daily life. Drew and Garden System want to shed light on the challenging symptoms people with DID face and share how they have overcome those challenges and found the gifts of joy that all of their parts bring to each other.
Episodes
Drew & Garden System have an open-hearted discussion with Rev. Karla Fleshman on her contributions to Queering EMDR Therapy, an upcoming book edited by Roshni Chabra LMFT and with a forward by Dr. Jamie Marich. They dive into Rev. Karla's battle with cancer, spirituality, how gender identity can contribute to dissociative experiences, and how one can find healing and community.
Preorder Queering EMDR Therapy here:...
Drew & Garden System engage Dr. Mike Lloyd of the CTAD clinic in the UK in an educational conversation about recognizing, diagnosing, and treating dissociative identity disorder.
Thank you to our episode sponsors:
Healing Selves Therapeutics https://www.healingselvestherapeuticspllc.com/ & To Life! Counseling https://tolifecounseling.com/
Visit our website acoupleofmultiples.com to learn more about o...
Drew and Garden System have an artistic discussion with Alix Amar, LCSW about various express arts activities and how they can be beneficial for survivors of trauma particularly those with dissociative identity disorder. Specific expressive artistic activities are explained and resources for trainings and continued exercises are provided throughout the episode.
Alix Amar, LCSW, one of our sponsor's for season 4, offers a number...
Drew & Garden System interview Monika Ostroff LICSW, CEDS-S (creator and host of Healing My Parts Podcast) and talk about treatment for eating disorders when a client also has dissociative identity disorder. In depth topics include navigating different selves, their eating behaviors and working on internal communication. They discuss the impact of trauma on the development of eating disorders, and various myths surrounding DID ...
Drew & Garden System have an insightful and informative conversation with Dr. Alison Miller, the author of Demystifying Mind Control & Ritual Abuse: A Manual for Therapists. Dr. Alison Miller shares important signs that therapists should be aware of when assessing for ritual abuse in their clients with DID and provides education on overcoming the programming of mind control.
Thank you to our amazing sponsors:
Drew & Garden System discuss in-patient/hospitalization care for people living with dissociative identity disorder with Donna Earle, LPC, CCPT. They cover important topics such as helpful tips for hospital staff, the differences between the different levels of care, and identifying potential treatment centers.
Please note that the hospitals and treatment centers listed are NOT recommended or endorsed by A Couple of Multiples/Mi...
Drew & Garden System have a candid conversation with Amy Wagner, LMFT/LMHC! Amy Wagner is an EMDRIA approved consultant and they all discuss the many dos and don'ts of using EMDR when clients live with dissociative identity disorder. They discuss the eight phases, resourcing skills, and what to do when clients dissociate or switch during session. You won't want to miss this amazing discussion!
Thank to our sponsors for...
Did you know that dissociative disorders are almost as common as mood disorders? Drew & Garden System chat with Dorinna Ruh, LCSW and cover valuable information about prevalence rates, how to recognize dissociation in yourself or in your client, ways to assess for a dissociative disorder, and a few EMDR tips as well! If you're working with complex trauma, then you're working with dissociation. You won't want to m...
Note: We highly encourage you to listen to Parts I & II before listening to this episode, as we continue to honor our truth and authenticity, which may feel more intense than the previous episodes on this subject. We would like for you to be able to determine if this episode will be something you want to listen to or pass on, so here are some details of what we share in this season 3 finale. The first thing we talk about is bei...
Drew & Garden System have a candid conversation with Garden System's two oldest children, both adults now, about what it was like growing up with a parent that has dissociative identity disorder.
Please visit acoupleofmultiples.com to see all of our current offerings!
Our amazing sponsors for Season 3:
The Institute for Creative Mindfulness, one of the largest EMDR Therapy training programs in North America is directed ...
Drew & Garden System give an off script interview of each other and share personal stories of what it is like to be a parent when you have dissociative identity disorder. They each dive into topics such as how different selves show up as a parent, interact with the children, and how they navigate the challenges that having DID brings to the role of parenthood. They also touch on the challenges of being a blended family.
Drew and Garden System talk about how in the beginning a system feels separated from each other, even feeling like enemies. There often is difficulty in listening to selves, because it is hard to learn and believe what parts hold and about trauma that occurred. They talk about how they developed relationships within their systems, navigating selves with different values, beliefs and behaviors. Drew and Garden System share personal ...
Drew & Garden System go more in depth about sex & intimacy and how it affects one's romantic relationship. They talk about sexual alters, the challenges littles bring, and how they have navigated personal experiences in the moment. They wrap up discussing shame and how they came into acceptance of their sexuality. Obvious trigger warnings apply.
Interested in attending the System Mapping workshop this Friday, ...
Drew & Garden System have a friendly conversation with Jaime Pollack, founder of An Infinite Mind and the Healing Together conference for those with dissociative disorders, their supporters, and mental health clinicians. They talk about the power of community and how finding others with DID have positively impacted their healing journey. Jaime shares pertinent information about the Healing Together conference that is held each ...
Drew & Garden System have an honest talk about sex and intimacy and how it affects one's romantic relationship. They talk about how their different selves show up in the relationship, the challenges of engaging in sex, and strategies to manage the triggers that inevitably come up. This episode definitely contains TMI and colorful language and the trigger warning should be obvious here, peoples.
If you enjoyed this...
In this incredible interview episode, Drew & Garden System dive into the therapeutic relationship with Kelly Caniglia, a Somatically focused Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in FL, a Clinical supervisor in both states as well as Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Kelly specializes in working with Dissociative Identity Disorder and the plural community. Kelly wa...
Drew & Garden System have a candid conversation about relationships when one partner has dissociative identity disorder. Gianu System & Jonathan help provide hope through their personal stories as they share how they overcame challenges navigating their successful long-term relationship.
Jenna (@gianusystem) and Jonathan (@splendid_supporter) were married for over fifteen years before they knew that Jenna wasn&apos...
True to this season's theme, Drew & Garden System have an intimate conversation with another couple of multiples, LS & Melanie Scarboro, about relationships and dissociative identity disorder. Both LS and Melanie live with DID and they share personal stories of how they navigate the daily challenges that having DID brings to maintaining an intimate relationship as well as all the amazingness that it brings to their hea...
Drew & Garden System, a couple both living with dissociative identity disorder, share personal, intimate stories about their relationship including the many benefits and the unique challenges that arise when two multiples are in a relationship with each other. They also cover important tools, such as system mapping, emotional regulation & co-regulation, to help improve awareness of self beliefs that can get in the way of es...
Drew & Garden System, a married couple who both have Dissociative Identity Disorder, welcome listeners to Season 3 which focuses on relationships and DID. Many people with Dissociative Identity Disorder were unable to form a secure attachment to a caregiver when they were a child, often due to trauma, neglect or abuse. Drew & Garden System, share personal examples of attachment wounds, and the four different attachment styl...
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