Why do I work as a DID trauma consultant?

 

I am asked that question a lot.

First, so we’re on the same page, let me clarify what it is that I do.

It’s 2026, and right now, I work as a consultant / coach, with a niche area of Dissociative Disorders and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).  I consult and coach in regards to all versions of trauma, any area of abuse, any version of sexual abuse, and domestic violence (DV), and family violence.   

You probably already know that I have been working specifically with dissociative trauma survivors since 1988. 

But do you know…..  I also have decades of direct experience working with people who have been trapped or enslaved in organized trafficking abuse, extreme abuse, cult abuse, ritual abuse, etc.  I’ve done more than read a few books or attend a conference.  I’ve helped real people get out, helped them gain their safety and freedom, worked directly with them while standing right alongside them at the front lines of what’s required to help the enslaved survivor become free.

I believe it is extremely important to assist dissociative survivors who are or have been “owned”, controlled, trapped, caught, or enslaved in sex trafficking.  I believe that human trafficking is wrong, and while many people are scared to approach these highly difficult situations, I have found that helping dissociative survivors gain freedom from trafficking networks and high-control groups are the areas of work that have been the most important and the most meaningful.  Everyone should be allowed the freedom to live their lives in safety.  And I believe that those of us who are safe need to care enough to reach out and help those who need the extra support. 

Whether it’s leaving powerful networks or separating from an abusive violent family member, your safety is important, obtainable, and essential.  You don’t have to be controlled or dominated by abusive perpetrators or predators.

YOUR safety matters, and while the journey out is hard, it is possible.  Very possible.

If you read my About Me article, you’ll see that in past years, I worked as a licensed trauma therapist in various countries.  For 30+ years, I proudly carried my MSW social work license and credentialing, and I was that official “trauma therapist”.   (Notice, the permalink for this article uses that term as many articles of this long-standing blog were written during those previous time frames.)

In recent years, I’ve made changes to my approach, and now I prefer to work as a consultant / coach.  The necessary limitations for clinical therapists are valuable, and highly important for certain purposes, of course.  But other approaches add value and depth to healing as well.  And there are certain things that licensed professionals aren’t able to do.  Now, in the later years of my career with the dissociative population and trauma survivors, I want to fill in some of those empty gaps and provide new services and additional opportunities. 

I’ve also officially incorporated peer support to my approach to trauma survivors.  As a MHPS (Mental Health Peer Specialist), I agree that walking with someone, beside someone, is crucial.  The “power over / medical authority” role is no longer my preferred approach.  I would rather walk with you, share power with you, and let your expertise guide the way.  You are the expert in your life, you know the most about your history, and your expertise should to be prioritized.  I’ve learned many things in the decades I’ve worked with the dissociative, traumatized population, but my expertise is no greater than yours.

Please note: Kathy Broady is a consultant and coach. She is not a licensed professional. She therefore cannot treat, diagnose or recommend treatment or services to cure any mental or physical health disorder. She does not represent that any of her consultation or coaching services, cure, diagnose or treat any disorder.

 

Okay, now back to WHY I do what I do.

I’ve been told it would be soooo much easier and less stressful and probably more lucrative to sell shoes.  It certainly would have been a whole lot easier if I stayed in the world of music, and just played piano at weddings, churches, telethons, or accompanied vocalists, or singing groups, bands, etc.  A professional music career would have been lovely, and fun, and a heart-warming, for sure.  And while I am a talented musician, and have been given a musical gift, no doubt, I still know that there are many, many highly talented pianists out there.   

There are few people, however, who truly understand the complexities of Dissociative Identity Disorder, few people who are called “DID whisperers”, few people who truly listen to the DID population, and few people who know how to help dissociative systems.

There are even fewer people who help the dissociative population obtain their freedom from organized networks and controlling abusers.   

There is a genuine shortage of qualified, informed, educated helpers in this area of atrocity.  Sex trafficking is one of the highest money-making criminal businesses in the world.  Traffickers and high-control groups commit heinous, egregious, extremely violent crimes.  And yet… who is helping these women and children get out and live a life of safety?  

As I said, add in the complication for dissociative sex slaves, and how many helpers are helping them?

To show you some statistics of the size of these problems, Homeland Security, posts these estimations on the dhs.gov website:

According to the United Nations’ International Labour Organization, human traffickers victimize an estimated 27.6 million people worldwide.

• • 77% of all victims are in forced labor
  • 23% of all victims are in sex trafficking
  • 57% are men and boys  
  • 43% are women and girls
  • Within sex trafficking
    • 78% are women and girls and 22% are men and boys
    • 92% are adults and 8% are children
  • Within forced labor
    • 33% are women and girls and 67% men and boys
    • 73% are adults and 27% are children

Although there is no reliable estimate of human trafficking within the United States, human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, on Tribal land, and within U.S. territories.

ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducts criminal human trafficking investigations worldwide. Within the United Sates, HSI sex trafficking investigations have uncovered human traffickers operating in bars, illicit massage parlors, hotels, truck stops, apartment complexes, street prostitution, and escort services. Sex traffickers increasingly use social media and other online platforms to recruit, advertise, and exploit victims.

The criminal statutes that prohibit human trafficking – 18 U.S.C. § 1589, Forced Labor and 18 U.S.C. § 1591, Sex Trafficking of Children OR by Force, Fraud or Coercion – do not require a border crossing. In fact, many human traffickers and victims are U.S. citizens.

Okay, so…. that’s a lot of trauma, abuse, pain, suffering, and trafficking!

I dare say, many of the trafficking networks I’ve hear about are not even included in these statistics.  Some of the deeply hidden underground warehouses, compounds, and secret meeting places stay far enough out of sight to not get counted by officials. This means, that far too many dissociative women and children (and men too, of course) are still being hurt, trapped, used, abused, sold, and enslaved. 

Organized trafficking networks with twisted expertise in manipulating dissociative systems have specifically honed their abilities to exploit the inherent complexities of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), including dissociation, amnesia, splitting, dissociative walls, switching processes, intense fear, pain, shame, guilt, threats, emotional blackmail, system conflicts, internal controls, etc.  These highly skilled yet greedy and cruel networks rely on various substances, mind control techniques, torture devices, programming and other horrific methods to manage, split, forcibly control, maneuver, and manipulate dissociative individuals and their dissociative systems. Dark, dangerous high-control trafficking networks possess the knowledge to compel, demand, and create highly fragmented lives, concealed identities, and perceived compliance with their coercive and controlling methods. 

Not only do these dissociative survivors have to work through all the layered complications of being dissociative, they also have to fight against powerful criminal networks.  This is a LOT!

My thoughts about the trauma survivors.

For all those reasons, and more, I have devotedly my decades of work to be with trauma survivors and their loved ones.

Since 1984, I have come to appreciate the depth of pain, the atrocious injuries, the years of dysfunction, the heartbreaking losses, and the overwhelming grief caused solely from severe childhood abuse.

I have seen the sweet faces of abused children -– they are so tiny and innocent — yet their torture has been incomprehensible.

I have heard the heart-wrenching cries of mothers whose children were stolen –- theirs is a nightmare of deception by perpetrators.

And this purposeful destruction of children –- it leads to a sorrow beyond words.

My utmost admiration goes to the ones who have fought against these evils on the very front line. Because of your courage to defy the most vicious cruelties of this world, I dare to join you and participate in the fight against the destruction of our children.

I will continue to support and encourage such brave souls who have chosen to tell about the hidden atrocities. I absolutely admire those that refuse to continue years of destruction onto the next generation of children.

Deliberate crimes of abuse must be stopped.

Innocent lives are being destroyed.

The cost to individuals, to families, and to society is just too huge to ignore.

This war is ugly. It is even dangerous. Fighting against child abuse can leave some people beaten to death. Nonetheless, it is not in vain. I have seen many tiny sparks of tortured lives grow and blossom even from that most horrid starting place.

Yes, I have seen people move past that horrible, traumatized dying place. I have seen their flickers of life and joy flourish to become a daily reality. I have seen the most tattered souls offer beautiful bits of comfort to the shattered soul sitting beside them.

I have heard poetry and heart-filled music that makes a roomful of everyone burst into smiles. I have seen sparkling eyes and bouncy steps as children run in play-filled laughter. I have seen healing evolve even after everyone else had given up.

The journey required to heal from childhood trauma is tangled, incredible, painful, exciting, torturous, exhilarating, exhausting, and rewarding.

 

My hat goes out to anyone that chooses to heal from their trauma,

and to anyone who chooses to stand in support beside a trauma survivor.  

 

 

For all of these heroes, the healing journey is beyond difficult. It is grueling and agonizing.  Healing consumes enormous amounts of energy, time, and resources. It seems to take as much strength to survive the healing process as it did to survive the original abuse itself.

Yet these survivors, these amazing people, continually demonstrate an insatiable need to find healing, comfort, freedom, truth, and peace. Their need is so strong and so compelling, that these brave souls seem required to travel this road, whether they quickly reach their goals or not.

 

I wonder…  
HOW have they survived the sheer ugliness of the torture
and kept such precious beauty in themselves? 

 

Every single time a trauma survivor brings laughter and joy to my day, I am reminded of the strength and the pure resilience of life. I feel love in a world full of hatred. I am reminded how I believe that good can prevail.  I am reminded that there is hope.  I see their healing, their comfort, their freedom, their truth, and their peace.

Yes, dissociative trauma survivors are truly amazing people.

And, their road for healing is long, very long.

It’s often a lonely road, as most of the others in the world can’t seem to tolerate the intensity, the pain, or the confusion for very many days.

Step by step, day after day, I encourage and support each and every one of you survivors out there to stay on your journey to a safe and meaningful life.

The road does lead to healing. There is comfort. There is freedom.  There is truth, and there is peace. Your pieces may still be scattered everywhere, but your life’s puzzles can be solved on your journey.  Stick with it.

 

Life really can be beautiful.  It can be worth it.

 

 

Thank you for coming to this blog.

Thank you for reading and learning about sexual abuse and sex trafficking — a most devastating and criminal global issue.

Thank you for caring enough to learn more.

What action steps will you take next?

 

Please feel free to browse around my blog as much as you like, and if you are kind, you are welcome to come back often.

And maybe we can work together to diminish the effects of child abuse and sex trafficking.  Let’s encourage more trauma survivors to get their healing and safety.

 

I stand for the children.  I want to help dissociative people.  I choose to help the enslaved.

Do you?

 

Warmly,

Kathy 

 

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation