How Do I Know If a Therapist is Qualified to Treat DID or OSDD?

There is no recognized professional certification specifically for DID and OSDD, which makes it more challenging to identify therapists you might want to work with. Perhaps the closest thing to that would be to look for a therapist who is a member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation https://www.isst-d.org/ . The ISSTD website has a directory of members located around the world. Many knowledgeable therapists may not be members of the ISSTD, however, so asking about credentials and trainings for treating trauma can also give you information.

I want to add that every therapist who specializes in working with dissociative disorders started with their first DID or OSDD client at some point. No therapist starts as an expert. What matters the most, in my opinion, is that the therapist believes in DID and OSDD as real conditions, that they will listen to and learn from you, and that they are motivated to educate themselves through clinical reading and professional training seminars. Ideally, they have a therapist experienced in dissociative disorders they can consult with when needed, as well.

This page is part of the Therapy and Finding Safe, Supportive Healing section of the CommuniDID site, which explains how to evaluate therapists, recognize trauma-informed care, and understand what safe, phase-based DID treatment should look like.

Explore more:

• Questions about therapy and DID
• Is Your Therapy Really Trauma-Informed? What to Look For

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