Hi!  Hello, hello!

My name is Kathy.   

Since 2008, I’ve been writing my articles on Discussing Dissociation as Kathy Broady, but around here, I prefer to just go by Kathy.   I don’t like getting all stiff and formal.  Let’s just get real, and be people.  I like that approach better.   

I’m no longer the young gal you see in this picture, but my work in the field of trauma and dissociation started waaay back in 1984, when I was exactly that young.  It’s been quite a journey!  I’ll share a few of the highlights with you.

My Credentialing Storyline — a path of many changes

My credentials have changed many times through the years, and my own life story has zigzagged around in all kinds of ways.  Over the decades of my career, I’ve worked in three different countries, doing a whole variety of different things.  Here’s a shortened version of that ever-changing story.

Above all, since 1984, I’ve been working in the field of trauma.  And starting in 1988, I started working full-time with dissociative trauma survivors.  As one constant, since those early days back in the 80’s, my entire career has remained focused on the fields of trauma and dissociation.  I sit with the courageous people who have survived some of the worst atrocities.  Despite many challenges, and changes, and variations in my personal career, I’ve remained dedicated to the dissociative population.  You have earned my respect, my admiration, and you, the dissociative community, are the people who I serve.

Okay, so let’s step back a bit and start earlier in my story.

My BA is in Psychology, although those years of university were also heavily by intense musical training and extensive playing and touring as the pianist / organist for a wide range of musical performances, concerts, bands, vocal groups, soloists, etc.  For my senior recital in 1984, I played an exciting loud explosion of Bach and Beethoven pieces on a local pipe organ.  Pipe organs are amazing instruments, that is for sure!   While horses and piano improvisation were my first loves, I ended up choosing to enter a career where I could help people who were hurting.

I turned my focus towards clinical social work. Two years later, I graduated, as valedictorian, with my Masters in Social Work in 1986 from the University of Kansas. 

My first years of employment with the trauma population were in Canada.  Starting in 1984, I worked with troubled teens between school semesters, then full-time, once I graduated with my MSW. These teenagers had all versions of trauma histories. It was there, in this youth facility in Canada where I met my first dissociative person — a young teenage gal, newly diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) in 1988.  This is when I began working with Dr Colin Ross on a weekly basis.  My work in Canada as a social worker did not require any licensure at that time.  I was Kathy Broady, MSW.

Starting in 1992, when I moved to in Texas, I was first licensed as an LMSW-ACP, and then later an LCSW.  I continued alongside Dr Ross for a few years before stepping out on my own. (More about that later.)  And when I started working from Australia, my credentials went back to a nice and easy MSW again. 

Different places have different ways of classifying social work credentials, but no matter where I go, or what I do, since 1986, I have a Masters in Social Work, clinical concentration, as my education.

After a whole series of painfully difficult personal/family complications and emergences, I moved rather quickly to Australia in 2011.  This was a quick jump, but oh my goodness, Australia is amazing!  I instantly fell in love with the land, the beauty, the water, the fascinating animals. Australia quickly became my haven of healing after all the rough patches in life that had been happening. 

Once I saw that my return to Texas was not likely, I let my Texas license expire. I wasn’t working from Texas, and for that matter, I wasn’t even living in the USA. Back in 2012, I was not interested in returning stateside.  I was living by the ocean, near rainforests, enjoying beautiful coastlines, and hiking through mountains. I was thoroughly enjoying the beauty of Australia.

I didn’t expect to be returning back to Texas any time soon.
Maybe never, except to visit.

I took a much needed emotional, healing break, but once I decided to return to work as a social worker as an Australian resident, I was credentialed by AASW in Australia.  Australian AASW credentialing became the standard for me to follow when Australia was my home.  This is why I used Kathy Broady MSW when I wrote during those years.

I really loved Australia. Still do, frankly. 

OH, but life stayed complicated, of course, and much to my surprise, eventually, I did get tossed back to Texas.

Then came COVID-19 — the world pandemic that suddenly, and rudely, and without permission, changed my life in a zillion ways.   

I had a pre-planned trip to arrive in Texas on March 9, 2020, a planned 3-week visit to the USA from Australia.  A few days after my arrival in March 2020, as you know, the world exploded with the coronavirus and international travel was shut down.   Despite my best efforts, I could not return to Australia, my return flight was cancelled, and no international flights to Australia were available. Not in March 2020, not for months after that, and frankly, not for a few years after that.  Australia locked down firm and hard during the pandemic.  Limited flights and required quarantines were exorbitantly expensive — far, far out of reach for thousands of stranded Aussies.

To make a long story short, after about 2 years of still being stranded in the USA, I decided that I would most likely stay again, in the USA.   I remained a credentialed social worker via AASW until 2024, until I let that go.  I still have a house in Australia, but now, I also have a house in the USA, (the decision for where to live continued for a long while….).  But, for now, it looks like Texas is winning that battle. 

2026 TEXAS Credentials

So yep, now I’m back in Texas! 

However, at this point in time, my career path changed again.  I’m here in Texas, yes, but I have no plans to regain a social work licensure in Texas.  I started talking with dissociative folks when I was 25 years old, and I’m now in my 60’s.  That’s a long time! 

I have officially retired from any official therapy roles in the USA.   

So to be very clear about that, I am no longer licensed as a social worker in the USA. 

Also, over the course of time, I’ve changed my perspectives about what is helpful, what works, and what I want to do with my remaining years of dedication to the dissociative population.

Now, (currently 2026), I am happy to continue working as a DID Consultant and Coach.  I also have my Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) certification for peer support.  I encourage everyone to get a local therapist of their own, and if you want to ask me additional questions, or talk with me, that’s okay, but please know I will respond to you only as a consultant/coach, not as a licensed therapist. 

There is a giant story behind my decision to work as consultant, coach, and MHPS. I have many creative and important reasons for making this decision, but I’ll save that long story for another day.  One thing to know for sure:  I’ve purposefully stepped away from the “therapeutic power over” approach.  I disagree with the assumption that therapists know more than dissociative clients, and therefore therapists “should have/do have” greater power and authority over the clients.  After decades in the field, I haven’t found that to be truth. 

Walking side-by-side along WITH you is a more accurate picture of this journey.

YOU are as much or more of an expert than me.  Sharing equal power WITH you — WITH the people with whom I speak — is a much healthier model. You can decide for yourself, and I’ll walk alongside you as you do.

This changes everything.  It changes what I do, and how I approach situations.

Here’s an official announcement and disclaimer, just to make sure you’re clear about my current beliefs, approach, status and role:

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.

 

As a consultant or coach, or MHPS peer support, I am happy to speak with you.

Consultations are available for therapists or professionals working in the field, for students learning about trauma and dissociation, for spouses and supportive loved ones, and of course, for DID trauma survivors themselves.  I still have over 35+ years of direct experience with the dissociative population.  My life experiences WITH the dissociative population, combined with my own personal life experiences, have created a unique combination of resources to draw upon.

Individual Intensives are also an option to consider.

If you have any questions about DID, living with DID, understanding trauma and dissociation, I’ve got a variety of resource options available for you.   Contact me  for more information.  Community forums, peer support groups, Zoom groups, and retreats for dissociative survivors are happening each year.

There’s a lot more to my story, of course, so in case you don’t know much about me, let me give you a little bit of historical background about who I am and how I got here.   You don’t have to read on, of course!  But is you need to know more, there are a few more stories and details ahead.  🙂 

How did I start working with Dissociative Disorders?

When I started Social Work grad school at the University of Kansas in 1984, I was determined to be a Family Systems therapist.  My internships were focused around family therapy, systems theory, generational influences, and I learned a lot about working with systems. 

However, I found myself with client after client struggling with sexual abuse issues. 

Trauma issues were repeatedly plopped in front of me, and after awhile, I got the point.  I turned my efforts towards working with sexual abuse survivors.

By 1984, with a BA in Psychology, I began working with troubled youth — teenagers who already experienced an enormous amount of trauma in their lives.  All areas of abuse, both historical abuse and current-day abuses, were the key focus in helping these kids get off the streets, and/or find a suitable homes.

Later, in 1988, I was handpicked to do a clinical pilot study for a government agency in Saskatchewan Canada with a severely abused young woman newly diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder (now called Dissociative Identity Disorder).  I found this area of work highly challenging and fascinating.  I had heard of DID during my graduate studies, and was rather pleased to get some first-hand experience in the field.   Not that I knew what I was getting into!

I was very fortunate to be given two years of intense, yet uninterrupted time to focus on learning about internal systems and dissociative systems.  I learned a LOT during that time — it was an incredibly steep learning curve, and I read everything I could get my hands on.  I also had weekly clinical supervision with Dr. Colin Ross and his assistant, Geri Anderson.  Their help was invaluable.  I had so many questions, and everything was new and definitely overwhelming.  I did the best I could, being new to the field, but now all these years later, I have to say I would do the work differently in those first two years if I could.

But I was well and truly invested and interested in working with dissociative issues from that time onwards.  

And yes, I have adamantly remained devoted to the fields of trauma and dissociation ever since, working with complex internal systems as well as external family systems.

At the personal invitation of Dr. Colin Ross, I moved to the Dallas Texas area in 1992 to work at a psychiatric hospital with a specialized inpatient treatment unit for Dissociative Disorders.  Charter Hospital in Plano TX, in the DDU. For several years, I led 10 inpatient groups per week, outpatient support groups and spouse support groups.  

Even after leaving the hospital setting in 1995, I continued to build my private practice as a Clinical Social Worker through the years, with a very specific focus on Dissociative Disorders and trauma disorders.  Ninety-five percent of my clients have been DID.

Adding an Online Presence

In 2002, I added online work as an option for my Social Work practice.  I believe that anyone, anywhere, at anytime should have the opportunity to learn about Dissociative Disorders, especially if there are few resources in their local area.  I already knew my time in an office was limited, and I could help only a few clients at a time.  With those limitations in mind, I decided that a specialized website, available 24/7, would be a helpful resource for anyone needing to learn about Dissociative Disorders.

I developed AbuseConsultants as an online treatment resource for trauma survivors.  That was my first website, and many of you may have found me there.  That website was around for many years.

In 2005, I began SurvivorForum, an online group support forum for trauma survivors.  Through these websites, I have had clients from around the world, and certainly learned a lot during that time.  

 

I also began this blog, Discussing. Dissociation, in 2008 as a free resource for anyone wanting to learn more about Dissociative Disorders.  This blog has grown and grown, and is viewed in countries all over the world.  There have been hundreds of thousands of visitors to Discussing Dissociation!

I worked with as many clients as I could.  I wrote as many articles as I could.  I advocated and spread encouragement for the healing process as I could.  I spoke at conferences.  I took consultation phone calls.  I worked relentlessly for years!   Years and years.

And then my life changed due to a string of personal family medical crises.

When I left Texas in 2011, the two therapy-providing websites were closed.  Big changes were happening in my life at that time, and I needed a break from the intensity of a 25-year career focused on dissociative disorders, trauma disorders, abuse and violence.  It had been a heavy load, and frankly, I got a little tired.  

Really tired.  

I needed to rest and rejuvenate myself.

I preach a lot about good self care — this is because I have to do it myself to stay in the intensity of this work.  I KNOW how exhausting it can get.

It’s hard for me, and you know… it’s even HARDER for YOU to do the work you need to do to get through your years of healing.   You’ll need good care and tenderness too!

 

I have been happy to keep  this blog,

Discussing Dissociation  

busy and active since 2008.

 

 

While I rested for awhile, and wrote occasionally……

The ever-growing readership of Discussing Dissociation has proved to me the importance of providing quality information for dissociative trauma survivors.  The fact that y’all kept reading, kept posting, kept emailing, kept coming back — that showed me, without a doubt, that this blog was important to you.

I could rest…. but I couldn’t stop.

After I moved to Australia, first I took that much needed rest and rejuvenation in some of the most beautiful places in nature. Rainforests.  Beaches.  I sat with sunsets and sunrises.  Waterfalls.  Flower gardens.  Rocky cliffs.  Teal blue water. Everything beautiful — SOOOO good for my heart and soul.

I felt good again…..

I felt rested.

In 2016,  I decided to get very serious about the services provided at this blog.  

I had to come back, and keep writing.

I was credentialed with the Australian Association of Social Workers, AASW, and I have been digging in with solid determination.   I want this blog to be a very serious resource for dissociative trauma survivors, their loved ones, and their helping support team.

Now, over the years, this blog has expanded with nearly 500 articles and over 13,000 comments from dissociative readers.  Together, we have provided an incredible wealth of information!   That’s pretty good, hey?!!

 

DiscussingDissociation offers a free eBook —

101+ Ways to See DID — Dissociative Identity Disorder Described.

 

The Saddest Little Bear Dissoci-ACTION Story Pack is available.

 

And the Discussing Dissociation Community Forum is open and ready for DID survivors who need support.

Discussing Dissociation Educational Forum (DDEF) is open — ask us about the requirements for membership.

Support for Spouses, Partners, Allies (SSPA) is open as well.

Discussing Dissociation Zoom Chats have started.

And there will be more, and more resources yet to come…   absolutely.

Oh my heavens, there is an ever growing need for more and more and more information about trauma, abuse, dissociation, DID, and DID healing. 

I’m dedicated to making as many helpful, healing resources as I possibly can.

You are welcome to participate with any of them.   

 

Did you hear about the P4 DID Conference 2020 in Phoenix. Arizona?   

Well… it happened again!   

P4²  DID Conference was held in Chicago, Oct 22-24, 2021.   

 

 

 

Did you hear about the P4 DID Retreats?

P4 DID Conference
https://p4didconference.com

A highly unique, creative event specifically designed for dissociative trauma survivors.

 

We met in Montana in 2022.
Montana 2022.

We met in North Carolina in 2023.
NC ’23.

Both were amazing experiences!

And now….

Bring on P4 ’24 ! 

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~

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And in 2024, the big P4 ’24 Retreat will be in TEXAS!

P4 Retreat: TEXAS 2024

October 14-24, 2024

Plans are already being made.

Our location has already been decided.  

More information coming soon.   

Contact us, and soon, more information will be available at the P4 DID Conference website.

 

 

As you see, as per usual, I keep busy! 

There’s always something new developing here.

I continue to be interested in expanding my efforts to include focus on sexual abuse prevention for children, and offering support for non-offending parents, and for supportive loved ones of dissociative trauma survivors.  

I am also a strong believer in the power of healing with music and the healing benefits of animals.  Music therapy and pet-assisted therapy are areas of great interest to me.   In fact, my two dogs, Pinky and JoeJoe have accompanied me to the retreats.

 

Thank you for joining me in this journey.    

 

There’s soooo much more to do.  There are soooo many trauma survivors who need help.  Sooooo many therapists who need to learn how to help.  There is lots to do.

And we can do it.

I look forward to reading your latest comments and hearing your thoughts as well.

Please stay safe!!

 

I wish you the very best in your healing journey.

 

Warmly,

Kathy

 

 

Related Articles about Kathy’s Life Story:

 

• My First Introduction to Dissociative Identity Disorder, then called Multiple Personality Disorder

• Kathy, Why do You Work as a DID Trauma Consultant?

• Kathy, Where Have You Been These Past 5 Years?

• Remembering Annemaria

• Podcast Interview with Kathy from Discussing Dissociation

 

 

To learn more about Dissociative Identity Disorder, please watch my video playlist on YouTube, Discussing Dissociation Blog:

 

 

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation