DID Email Consultations with Kathy from Discussing Dissociation

Are you a dissociative trauma survivor struggling alone,

exhausted and confused by the painful complexities of DID,

without a DID expert in your area?

Being DID can be painful. Years of trauma hurt then, and probably still hurt now. On top of all the hurt, your life may be filled with layers of problems and difficulties that you don’t know how to solve. You might not know how to meet or manage your system. Without a doubt, the whole healing process for DID can feel extremely confusing, upsetting, and overwhelming, especially without sufficient guidance.

Would you like some answers from a DID specialist?

Do you prefer writing emails instead of talking on the phone?

Are you too scared to speak on the phone, but you’d love to get the opinion of a DID expert?

If you like to write more than you like to speak, I have fantastic news for you.

You know, back when I started this blog in 2008, I wondered if anyone would ever find it. But you have found it! In fact, thousands of DID survivors and their loved ones, and their therapists have found it. The response has been truly amazing. Thank you!

Having a busy blog means that I have the privilege of receiving oodles of online communication from the readers here at this blog, especially the dissociative readers. I welcome that, and it is good to hear from you. I truly am very happy to hear from anyone who has DID. Hundreds of emails come through this site — many with kind and appreciative comments and many with really big and important questions. Like really big and important questions. You might have sent in a few of those Big Question Emails yourself.

I understand why we get so many emails here. Discussing Dissociation is a specialized resource, and experienced DID specialists are hard to find. You are absolutely right to check with someone who truly understands the complications of DID. It most certainly makes sense to have more validation or guidance about what you’re going through. You’re taking an active stance in your healing, you’re learning more about your system, you’re learning more about DID, and I think that’s wonderful!

Unfortunately, emailing a blog comment will not get your big and important questions answered very quickly. There is a very loooong queue waiting for responses from blog comments. Again, this is great news — I’m thrilled to hear from you — but waiting a long time for a response is not helpful if you need an expert answer sooner than later.

I completely agree, that at some point in time or another, most DID survivors need the guidance and understanding that only comes from a DID specialist. You need some answers from someone who is an expert in DID.

And DID experts are hard to find. No doubt about that.

So here’s the good news.

You’ve been fortunate to find a site with a DID specialist. How cool is that?

And now that you know you’re in the right place, let’s talk about some of the hard stuff.

Have you ever suffered from any of these situations?

Have you ever had too much going on in your head, and needed to put all the words out in writing?

Have you felt alone and wished someone could see and understand exactly what you’re going through?

Have you ever experienced a lack of privacy in your home, so that speaking out loud feels too risky?

Do you ever get tangled up in your thoughts and words when you speak out loud, and does writing help you feel more focused?

Is there too much fighting or conflict or fear or confusion or busy-ness within your DID system that the people who need to talk can’t get enough time or clarity to talk out loud?

Do you have parts of your system who are mute or unable to speak out loud?

Is talking out loud with the voice still against the rules for certain people in your system?

Have you or your system ever needed a little extra encouragement, or healthy support to help you manage the troubles you’re experiencing?

Have you been too afraid or too insecure to speak to someone, but you still desperately need a little bit of help?

Have you ever forgotten what was said in that really important conversation with your therapist?

Or worse yet, has your amnesia been so intense that you didn’t even know there was a conversation?

Have you ever felt like you wasted money on a therapy session that you couldn’t remember?

Have you wished you could remember what your therapist said, even if you were present in the session?

Have any of your “night time parts” had questions or concerns, but not enough safety or freedom to speak out loud with a daytime therapist during the bright light of day?

Do you need answers for some complicated questions about DID and your local resources can’t answer your questions?

Ouch!

All this stuff is part of what makes living with DID

so painful and frustrating.

DID trauma survivors often have all those struggles.

I’ve had online websites for DID since 2003 — I’ve certainly heard and seen these concerns from dissociative trauma survivors hundreds and hundreds of times.

I’ve been the therapist who needed to provide the recall and summaries of what we talked about in session. I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve needed to tell my DID clients in great detail, even repeatedly in great detail, what we did in their sessions. (Sending out another reminder to keep working on internal communication!)

I’ve heard the frustration of the quiet ones in the system who get left behind or ignored by the more vocal ones in the system, and who feel left out, never really getting their turn because they can’t speak up.

I’ve watched survivors struggle to find the right words to explain how they feel.

I’ve waited and waited and waited for certain insiders to gather the courage to speak, only to be shut down by someone else louder from deeper inside.

Some of these insiders have to wait, and wait, and wait, and wait some more for their turn to talk. There are often too many people who want to talk, and just not nearly enough time.

I’ve seen different parts truly agonise over breaking the “no talk” rules.

I’ve seen DID survivors struggle with floods of information, and writing helped to slow down the chaos.

Even in regular face-to-face sessions, there are situations where writing on paper is the only way to communicate.

What if talking isn’t possible for you right now?

Sometimes, talking isn’t the most reliable option for addressing problems. Of course, talking about your problems is helpful, but sometimes, using your voice feels just too big. Or too scary. Or too threatening. Or too real.

Sometimes people need to write.

Or type.

I’ve seen writing become an amazing resource to help move past an impasse in therapy sessions. And with that knowledge, I have to assume, and believe, that writing can have the same helpful magic with online therapeutic resources — as in, there are times when writing an email is more effective than speaking on the phone.

There is hope!

Through the years, you may have wondered if I could or would offer Email Consultations from Discussing Dissociation. I’m very pleased to be able to finally say “YES! I found a way to do exactly that.”

Now you can have the opportunity to email a DID specialist and get a professional response from someone who truly knows and understands trauma, dissociation, and DID.

You and / or your DID system insiders can write a detailed email, and get an equally detailed response from a DID specialist.

And you know what else?

You won’t have to forget what your DID specialist says to you or to your system. Your consultation reply will be right there for you read as many times as you need to read it. That d’amnesia won’t get to sneak your info away this time!

First-Ever DID Expert EMAIL CONSULTATIONS

from Discussing Dissociation

Why would you want an Email Consultation?

Since you’re here on this page, you’ve probably already been reading this blog, and hopefully it’s been very helpful for you. Discussing Dissociation is a big blog — hundreds of articles, thousands of comments by other readers, and tons of information about Dissociative Disorders and related topics.

Even with all that great information, you might still need to personalize your search for answers. You might still have questions that pertain exactly and specifically to you and your system. You might not know how to do what I’m talking about in all those blog articles. You might need additional explanations.

And maybe you’ve been searching and waiting and searching and waiting for answers for a very very very very long time.

Would you like to get some expert DID answers in just a week or two?

I can help you with that!

How?

Let me tell you.

How I can help you

During your DID Systems Email Consultation, I will help you figure out some of the hard stuff. I will have some ideas about things to try that specifically match the situation you present to me.

Normally, I’ll have your response ready within 5 – 10 business days (this depends, in large part, on the length and complexity of your question). You’ll know that you have a guaranteed response coming your way soon.

You won’t have to explain or justify your dissociation to me. I will understand right from the beginning. I know that DID is a “real thing”, and have no doubts whatsoever that it exists. I’ll be able to “get it” because I know and understand what you are talking about.

I know there is hope for DID survivors and I know you can feel better than you do today. I know your system can learn to cooperate together. I know your system can function as a friendly team. I know healing is possible.

I understand that it is not your fault you were hurt and shattered. I know it is not your fault that you are dissociative and split. I know that you do not have to live your whole life suffering. I know that your life can become easier, less painful, and much more fun.

Benefits of requesting a DID Expert Email Consultation with me:

• You will consult with an experienced trauma consultant who understands a great deal about dissociative systems.

• You can learn how to apply what you are learning in the Discussing Dissociation blog articles.

• You will receive guidance on how to improve your system communication even if you feel stuck, isolated, or separated from your insiders.

• You can get information about working around the blocks and walls you feel inside, learning new skills for your system.

• You will learn new approaches to working with your system instead of wasting more time doing the same thing with minimal results.

• You will get reassurance or a second opinion about whether or not you are approaching your system issues in an effective way.

• You can get answers quickly to a private question that you do not want to discuss in the public blog comment areas.

• You can get some expert assistance on how to work with particularly difficult insiders who may be creating trouble in your everyday life.

• You and your system peeps can get to know Kathy as a genuine, real person.

• You and your system can learn more about the concepts we teach at Discussing Dissociation by having a legitimate, tangible connection and relationship with a DID expert. I will write directly to you and your people while explaining helpful ways of accomplishing system communication and cooperation, etc.

• You and your system will be able to apply more of what you are learning about DID system work once you have experienced and practiced a tangible demonstration of the internal communication process by relating it to your specific situation.

• You and your system will have a DID expert available for you while your regular therapist is away, on vacation, out of town, or unavailable for an uncomfortable amount of time.

• Therapists, counselors, or mental health professionals can request consultation and guidance about how to work with dissociative clients.

• Spouses or loved ones of dissociative trauma survivors can get much needed support or education about how to manage life with someone who is DID.

• You can learn more about DID system work and developing internal communication for any reason not already mentioned.

It is important that you and your system are stable enough, safe enough, and strong enough to manage an Email Consultation with me. Know that I will discuss genuine issues with you.

Because Email Consultations are NOT a Crisis Service, you will need to have your own resources, coping skills, and additional support available to you should you feel upset or unsafe, or triggered during any part of the Consultation process.

Please note: If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency or acute struggles with self-injury, this Email Consultation option will not allow for a quick enough response to meet your needs adequately.

Please call your local therapist or local emergency options for more immediate assistance.

Also, if your local therapist is opposed to your having a Consultation with me, please resolve that conflict to the best of your ability before scheduling a Consultation via Discussing Dissociation. Your local therapist comes first, and they are your primary contact. Discussing Dissociation is not interested in undermining your therapy process.

I am coming from the perspective of being a helpful team player, an adjunct DID Systems Specialist, and an additional DID Consultation Resource. I am certainly not taking over the lead of your therapy process nor am I willing to create friction between you and your regular therapist.

Oh! And I promise you, without a doubt, I am going to give you some questions to think about. I will challenge you, I will encourage you to work together, and I will ask you to think or talk together as a system.

What do you think about all that?

Are you ready to write an email to me?

Do you have any questions about DID?

Do you have any concerns about your internal system?

Do you want answers?

Will you discuss your dissociation with me?

What are you waiting for?

Let’s get your questions answered!

Requesting your DID Expert Email Consultation

After you make your PayPal payment, you will be able to click through to the Email Consultation Form.

With Email Consultations, there is no need to coordinate your time zone with our time zone. You may send in your Email Consultation at any time of day or night, any day of the week. You pick whenever it is easiest for you to write — any time of the day or night.

The important piece to remember is that I will write and respond to your email during regular business hours, Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm, Central Time, excluding public holidays.

If your email arrives on Friday evening, CT, the earliest time for me to see your email is Monday morning, CT, and then I will need sufficient writing time to create an excellent response for you.

My window for a 5-10 business day response begins on Monday at 10am, CT, unless that Monday is a public holiday.

Yes, yes, yes, of course, your waiting time will be a little longer if your Consultation arrived over the weekend or during a public holiday. Sorry about that, but I will need a day off to practice that good self-care we go on and on about around here.

But have no fear — I will respond! And of course, your patience is appreciated.

Please allow extra time to hear from me considering the potentially vast time zone differences between us. Your days of the week may not be the same — it all depends on your time zone.

Oh, and YES! You and your insiders will be allowed to write, and yes, of course, even your kiddos can say “hi” — if or when you feel safe enough to allow that. I will most certainly say “Hi!” back to them. Insiders are definitely welcome to participate. No doubt about that!

Price information

Get our First-Ever DID Expert Email Consultations! Offer*

(time limited*)

Short, 300-word email consultation, $79 USD

300-word question, and a 300-word reply from Kathy

Medium, 500-word email consultation, $149 USD

500-word question, and a 500-word reply from Kathy

Long, 700-word email consultation, $179 USD

700-word question, and a 700-word reply from Kathy

To see how long these emails can be, click here.

All payments will be processed through PayPal, using USD currency (American dollars).

All payments will need to be finalized and paid through PayPal before your Consultation will be emailed to you.

If you do not yet have a free PayPal account, you can sign up at www.paypal.com.

*Please Note: These rates are subject to change. The prices quoted on this page are for the “First-Ever DID Expert Email Consultations!” offer.

Steps in the process

Select the size of DID Expert Email Consultation you prefer.
Read the Terms of Service.
Make your PayPal payment.
Click to see the Email Consultation Form.
Complete the Consultation Form.
Click Send when you are finished typing.
Wait patiently, with confidence in knowing you will be getting your questions answered soon.

I will return my DID Expert Email Consultation response to you within 5 – 10 business days, between Mon-Friday, 10am – 4pm, Central Time.

What’s up with word limits?

Word limits are a necessary limitation, just like office appointments have a time limit. There is always more to be talked about, that’s for sure. Believe me, I understand that. It still needs to come out bit by bit, in safe and manageable amounts.

We’ve designed a Consultation Form that allows you to write about a lot of stuff, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming for you or me.

You might not know how much typing is 300 words or 500 words. You might not know how to compare 500 words with 700 words. We can help you with that.

To see an example showing the three different email sizes, please click here.

Also, a little character counter will show you how many typing characters you have left in your email. You can use up every single one of them! And be sure to edit out anything that is an unnecessary use of those valuable little characters.

Just like in your therapy sessions, in order for me to give proper attention to the issues you write about, there is only so much that can be addressed in each Email.

You probably need to do some system work to see who gets to type and who gets to say what. And just like in therapy, y’all might have to take turns writing to me!

Please know this — for me, writing expert Consultation replies is not a quick or flippant job. I will put much time and effort into understanding the depth of your questions and concerns. You will NOT get a five-second, copy-pasted, pre-written response. You will get your very own individualized, 100% personalized Consultation addressing in detail the request that YOU sent in. It will be for you, and only for you. No one else will ever get the same reply that you received.

Yes, I will respond to your system, acknowledging those who write to me. You will immediately recognize my expertise in Dissociative Disorders by the way I speak to DID systems. You will get a well-thought-out reply, packed full of helpful information.

Are you ready to write to me?

Start by picking the Consultation size that feels most comfortable for you and your system.

And then, if you need to write more, please feel free to request another Consultation at a time convenient for you.

What’s on the Email Consultation Form?

To help maximize the effectiveness of your preferred word limit, I have designed a Consultation Form with a dozen additional questions. These questions allow you to describe your basic situation and give some history without having to use up your word limit. This extra information gives me more context for understanding your questions and gives you the freedom to write about the problems you are experiencing in more depth.

The additional questions ask you to describe:

Diagnoses
Significant medical history
Current level of therapeutic support
Your home environment
Your work or school responsibilities

These questions are an opportunity to describe your life and to give supporting information of the troubles you are experiencing. They are designed to give me a much better picture of you and your current situation.

After you request an email consultation with me, you will get your DID Expert Email Consultation response within 5 – 10 business days.

That means:

There are no additional charges.
There is no need to travel to an office or leave your home.
There is no need to schedule an appointment.
You can read your response over and over, instead of forgetting or not hearing what was said.
You can read your Consultation immediately from the privacy and safety of your own home. OR you can wait to read your Consultation Reply from the comfort and safety of your therapist’s office.
Your therapist is most certainly welcome to read the Consultation you receive.
You and any of your insiders can feel heard and understood.
You and your DID system will receive some answers, be shown ideas to try, and given new questions to think about. The purpose is about growth and healing for you and your system.
You can put my wisdom into action!

THANK YOU for trusting Discussing Dissociation and for your willingness to have an Email Consultation.

Remember, I believe there is hope.

I KNOW you can feel better than you do today. I KNOW your system can learn to cooperate together. I KNOW your system can function as a friendly team. I KNOW healing is possible.

I have seen dissociative trauma survivors reach a place of genuine peace and contentment in their lives. They found safety. They stopped the internal fights. They ended their self-destructive ways. They began to enjoy living. It became okay to be alive. Life even feels good to them.

I believe that can happen for you too.

You CAN make a beautiful life for yourself, even from such rough beginnings. You CAN feel better. You CAN find moments of peace, gentleness, kindness, and happiness. You CAN get respite, relief, and release from your pain.

You do not have to live your whole life suffering.

It can get better than this!

Yes, I know ways to help you and your entire internal system to get there. No doubt about it!

How long are you going to wait before you talk to someone who actually understands DID and believes DID is real?

How many wasted hours are you going to spend with doctors and therapists who don’t understand DID?

How long are you going to suffer within your system because you don’t know how to build internal communication?

How long are you going to be a danger to yourself because you don’t know how to effectively meet the needs of your inside people?

How much money are you going to waste on “help” that is not helpful?

Will you still be struggling with this problem next month? Next year? Five years from now?

How long are you going to live a life filled with pain and trauma instead of finding the goodness in being multiple?

Haven’t you suffered alone long enough?

Being DID doesn’t have to be a life sentence of pain. Let an experienced, and intelligent DID expert help you find a way out of that darkness.

Remember, in just one or two weeks,

you can have your very own DID expert Email Consultation. You will get some answers to those difficult and painful and complex DID questions that have been nagging at you for soooo long.

And…. I dare say, you can learn much, much more from one DID Expert Consultation than you can from hours and hours of non-specialized therapies.

Save yourself time, money, and resources by writing with a DID expert today.

I am looking forward to Discussing your Dissociation with you.

Write soon!

Warmly,

Kathy

PS: It only takes $79 to get started with Expert guidance for your DID system. You could easily spend more than $79 on a night out on the town! Entertainment is great, don’t get me wrong. But creating long-standing peace of mind, system cohesion, and internal communication is priceless. These DID life-skills are crucial!

Don’t ever ever underestimate the importance of a beautiful life, inside and out. Your healing matters — for you and for all your system people.

You know I know that your inside people have already survived the worst horrors in the world. Don’t you think they deserve the best possible help available?!