If you have reason to believe you have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and your therapist does not believe it is real, it may be time to look for a different therapist. You may also want to consider this if a therapist does not openly dismiss DID but believes it is so rare that they are unlikely to encounter it.
A therapist who does not believe in DID is denying the reality of your experiences. It would be difficult to receive effective care in this situation, and there is a possibility that some members of your system could be harmed by having their experiences dismissed.
You are not obligated to educate your therapist. Professionals are expected to educate themselves when they encounter areas outside their expertise or to provide referrals to someone who has that expertise. You are also not obligated to remain with a therapist for any reason. You have the right to seek a therapist who understands dissociation and dissociative disorders.
Your well-being is the most important issue. You do not need to worry about hurting a therapist’s feelings if you decide to leave. A good therapist will want you to receive the care you need, even if that care comes from someone else.
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.
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