COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed for professionals who have seen between five and 15 cases of some type of dissociative disorder within the past five years, or who have no experience with these disorders and would like an update and overview of where the field is at this time. We will examine the major theory and research contributions to our understanding of the dissociative disorders in the morning session, with particular focus on trauma, resilience and attachment research. The morning session will also focus on assessment, with a review of screening as well as diagnostic instruments and ways to understand and assess the frequently-appearing comorbid disorders of borderline personality disorder (and other personality disorders), somatoform disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as issues of factitious disorder and malingering.
The afternoon session will focus on the treatment of dissociative disorders, including issues of treatment frame and boundaries, communicating with “alters,” transference/countertransference problems, use of specialized techniques such as hypnosis, EMDR, art therapies. Special problem areas that will be covered include problems with memory, treatment trajectories and integration. Risk management issues will be discussed throughout the course. |
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A. Steven Frankel, Ph.D., J.D., ABPP is a clinical psychologist (PSY3354) and an Attorney at Law (#CSB 192014). He is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology. He earned his PhD at Indiana University, and interned at the Psychiatric Institute of Columbia University. He then joined the full-time faculty of the University of Southern California, where he served for eleven years, including five years as the Chair of Clinical Psychology (Director of Clinical Training). Although he is no longer full-time, he remains a Clinical Professor of Psychology at USC.
After leaving full-time university service, Dr. Frankel entered clinical practice, with both in- and outpatient responsibilities. Beginning in 1980, his psychology practice focused increasingly on the diagnosis and treatment of the dissociative disorders. He began consulting relationships with trauma treatment programs of private psychiatric hospitals in 1990. In 1993, he joined with Walter and Linda Young in the opening of a unit for the treatment of traumatic and dissociative disorders at Del Amo Hospital in Torrance, CA and remained a consultant to the program until July of 2000. An ISSD member since 1990 and Fellow since 1998, he was elected President of the ISSD for 2001-02.
Steve began the practice of law upon graduation from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he taught as an Adjunct Professor of Law. His legal practice is in health and administrative law. He represents healthcare professionals in their dealings with agencies like licensing boards and Medicare, as well as with their miscellaneous worries.
Steve has always been committed to teaching, and has published over 50 articles and book chapters. He received the USC Award for Teaching Excellence early in his academic career. He was similarly honored by his state professional society some years later. He has continued to serve his teaching muse ever since. He has spoken at local, national and international conferences on trauma and dissociation and his full-day continuing education curriculum in law and ethics for mental health professionals (over 50 workshops/year) has earned him his latest Outstanding Teacher Award. An Adjunct Professor of Law at Golden Gate University School of Law, he has taught courses on healthcare policy, mental disorders and the law and regulation of healthcare practice.
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