We are so excited to welcome back the Gianu System for one of our most insightful (and joy-filled!) conversations yet. In this episode, we talk about what healing looks like across time, modalities, and parts — and what it meant for the Gianu System to experience a fusion.

Together, we explore the winding, non-linear nature of trauma recovery — and how systems like ours navigate therapeutic work that meets all of us where we are.

We explore the complexities of being a system in trauma therapy: trying different modalities, navigating misattunements, and learning to getting alters communicating. We talk candidly about what it’s like when therapy doesn’t work — and what happened when they finally found something that did.

You’ll hear about the modalities they explored, including:

* 🧠 CBT (and why it didn’t land)

* 💬 IFS (what helped and what felt misaligned)

* ⚡ EMDR (how it helped — and what was hard)

* 🌀 Deep Brain Reorienting — the approach that finally changed everything

We dive into:

* Why screening tools like the DES and MID should be given more than once (because who’s fronting matters!)

* How missing a DID diagnosis can derail trauma work

* The power of self-compassion, communication, and humor in the healing process

* What fusion really is (and what it’s not)

Whether you're a therapist, a supporter, or part of a system yourself, this episode offers nuance, hope, clarity, connection, and so many "oh wow" moments.

🔁 With all the lightbulb moments and deep valiation, this is one you’ll want to come back to again and again.

Resources Mentioned:

* Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)

* DES II

* MID Assessment

* Gianu System on Instagram

* Gianu System on TikTok

* Gianu System Navigating DID & Relationships (with their Hubs!)

Let’s Stay Connected:Follow us on IG at @healingmypartsSubscribe to our newsletter/blog at healingmyparts.substack.com

Kathy Broady is BACK with Part 2 of our incredible discussion about her powerful work at Discussing Dissociation!

In this episode, we dive deeper into:

* What the forums are like

* What happens during retreats

* What small group intensives are all about

Kathy shares how people can make rapid progress in understanding their system by participating in group work with other systems. There's something deeply healing about sharing space with others who have similar experiences.

This episode is full of valuable insights for both systems and providers, offering new perspectives on the healing journey and what certain parts might need along the way.

🎧 Tune in now and don’t miss out on this wisdom-packed conversation!

And be sure to check out Kathy’s amazing resources at www.discussingdissociation.com

Let’s keep learning, growing, and healing together! 💜✨

This is PART ONE of an incredible conversation with Kathy Broady, MSW, the powerhouse behind Discussing Dissociation.

Kathy’s deep knowledge and strength-focused approach bring validation and clarity for those navigating life as a system—and powerful insights for providers who work with them, too.

Here’s a taste of what we dive into:

* Building relationships with parts

* Amnesia and how it shows up in DID

* Switches and how to notice them

* The goal of communication with parts

* The deeply meaningful relationships within systems

Kathy makes complex topics approachable, all while delivering so much heart. 💙

We had so much to talk about, this conversation needed TWO parts! 🙌 Part 2 drops next week, but for now, don’t sleep on Part One.

LISTEN IN NOW. And check out Kathy’s work at

www.discussingdissociation.com

Other Specified Dissociative Disorder 1a & 1b are very similar to DID. Prompted by an OSDD1b system reaching out to share that they initially did not think that they would find a podcast dedicated to DID to be helpful to them. They shared that they were surprised to find that not only was it helpful, but they found many similarities in what they experience reflected here. It made us all wonder how many other people living with OSDD might feel the same…and how many folks with OSDD might be seeking reflections of their experiences and haven’t fully found it in the DID literature and shared stories in online spaces and haven’t yet found it. In this episode we are joined by an OSDD1a and an OSDD1b system, who both generously share parts of their journey of system discovery and healing.

Resources

An Infinite Mind

The Rings System YouTube Channel

General OSDD info

Carolyn Spring on OSDD & DID

Beauty After Bruises on Dissociative Disorders

Power to The Plurals on OSDD

Podcast Legal Disclaimer

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area.

This episode brings a light hearted view to the challenges and adventures of daily system life. From discovering their system to the evolving ways of “what works for them,” this conversation will inspire, validate and intrigue you. The Curious System offers a wealth of resources for DID and OSDD systems and their providers to explore.

Resources referenced in this podcast episode:

The Crisses

PluralKit

Otter ai

DID We Write

DID We Write Tildy's Little Book for Littles

The Rabbit Listened book

The Rabbit Listened read aloud

CTAD Clinic

CTAD Clinic YouTube Channel

Layering of Emotion CTAD Clinic Video

Growing Up Again Book

Alix Amar LCSW

Amy Wagner LMFT, LMHC

Petals of a Rose Documentary

Healing Together Conference

An Infinite Mind

An Infinite Mind Speaker Series

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Dissociation Made Simple by Dr. Jamie Marich

Institute for Creative Mindfulness

Podcast Legal Disclaimer

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area.

This episode is filled with so much heart and wisdom. Amanda Ball discovered they were a system later in life and that discovery turned everything upside down. Amanda shares her story of how she discovered she was a system We dive into an authentic conversation that covers topics from loss, deep grief, and real stigma to aphantasia, preventing switching, relationships and much more. We recognize that not everyone can access therapy and even those who can are often on long waitlists. We discussed many accessible resources for healing that can be found free online.

You can find Amanda on Instagram. See below for their full bio!

Resources:

The Dissociative Disorders Alliance

An Infinite Mind

Beauty After Bruises

Theresa https://www.dis-sos.com/about-us/

Carolyn Spring

The CTAD Clinic Website

Dr Mike Lloyd

CTAD Clinic YouTube Channel

Adrienne & Co (Formerly Known as Dr. Adrian Fletcher)

Dr Arielle Schwartz

BIO: Amanda Ball (She/He/They) lives with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and collectively she and other selves are known as the ETERNITY System. 

Amanda had a long career and held senior posts in the Food, Drink and Agricultural industry, mainly in Strategy, Planning, Training, Marketing and Communication roles and continue to champion British Food. Whilst no longer able to pursue a career, they continue to use their skills through mentoring and volunteering work and are a future trustee of a soon to be registered charity, ‘The Dissociative Disorders Alliance’.  Their professional values are ‘Focus, Clarity, Direction’.

They strive to make the complexities of living with DID accessible to others, by sharing everyday experiences through advocacy work. Notable highlights to date include planning and executing the launch of ‘The Girls Within’ a book written by debut author and retired therapist Gill Frost. The book launch provided a springboard for a live Webinar, ‘Dissociative Identity Disorder, The Hidden Condition’ and a follow up Webcast ‘Demystifying Dissociative Identity Disorder’. The recordings, hosted on Karnac Books YouTube channel, have had over 16K views to date.

They also undertake public speaking and media work and have appeared as guests on BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show as well as other BBC regional stations, sharing their lived experience of DID.

With their symptoms and subsequent diagnosis being relatively recently (2016), life and their identity until then was focused almost entirely on work. As a result, they are still finding their way when it comes to rest and play, however their determination and curiosity gained through work and life experience, are proving helpful characteristics in their journey through therapy.

Running has become an essential part of everyday life in the Cotswolds, not just through the exercise itself but by providing social connections being a member of a local club.  They have also started to keep a growing collection of house plants alive!

Podcast Legal Disclaimer

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area.

Episode 15 welcomes Melissa Parker, LMHC, (they/them), a plural therapist who has expertise in working with clients who have PTSD, DID, OSDD and who live with other trauma related effects. We took a deep dive into the challenges systems face when seeking care and finding resources. Sharing anecdotes from personal and professional experiences, we connect around the need for more compassion, love, openminded perspectives and a willingness to truly individualize care. Part of willingness to treat the individual involves professionals removing hard and fast barriers such as “a diagnosis of DID is an automatic exclusion to psychedelic assisted treatment.” As you will hear, psychedelics do have a place in treatment and can be profoundly helpful for some. Given the propensity for great harm, caution also needs to be exercised. Melissa takes us through how to explore the possibility while offering concrete suggestions for safety.

Many systems will feel both validated and inspired by this conversation, while professionals may glean a deeper understanding around the impact of language, mindset and perspectives when delivering care to systems.

Professional Bio:

Melissa enjoys working with older adolescents and adults who live with the effects of complex trauma. Melissa’s work and perspectives are rooted in anti-oppression practice, and the lenses of trauma-informed developmental, humanist, and transpersonal psychology. They take an integrative approach to therapy and utilize whole-person modalities such as EMDR, humanistic talk therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), and sensory/somatic-based interventions. Melissa also offers psychedelic integration therapy.

Melissa welcomes the opportunity to connect with individuals from all walks of life and seeks to work from a place of cultural humility and respect. They hold a special interest in providing support and therapy to mental health professionals who have lived experience with mental health concerns, trauma, and dissociation. They also have an interest and experience in supporting individuals who seek to integrate profound spiritual experiences into daily life.

In addition to their clinical work, Melissa draws on their experience as a trauma survivor and clinical professional living with PTSD and DID, to provide anti-ableism-based training, supervision, and consultation to therapists who are interested in deepening their work with clients who live with dissociation

RESOURCES

Melissa Parker LMHC

MAPS

Dance Safe Fentanyl Test Strips

Melissa Parker on Braving The Way Podcast

Podcast Legal Disclaimer

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area.

Raw, poignant and real. In discussing all things system accountability, Adrienne & Co lets us into their lives and what it’s been like navigating betrayals, fusions, and integration while simultaneously beginning a new life with their soulmate who is also a system. Adrienne & Co describes how they showing up for all parts of the system with love and compassion. They share where they’ve been and why they’ve taken a step back from advocacy.

This episode is full of important takeaways. Whether you’re a system or a provider who treats systems, this rich conversation is filled with examples of the work it takes for a system of parts to truly work together. Whether life is at a high or low point or anywhere in between, Adrienne & Co shows us all how to show up with a formidable combination of strength, vulnerability and compassion that ultimately moves healing forward.

We hope you are as moved and inspired as we are by this conversation.

Where to find Adrienne & Co

Adrienne & Co on Instagram

Adrienne & Co's Website

Mentorship Group

Psychology Today Blog

Thanks for listening to Healing My Parts Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Podcast Legal Disclaimer

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area.

Many of you are already fans of today’s guest, Dr. Mike Lloyd, who is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specializing in complex trauma and dissociative disorders and Director of the CTAD Clinic and Cheshire Psychology in the UK. He is also the creator of the popular CTAD Clinic YouTube Channel where you’ll find his engaging videos break down complex concepts related to living with and treating DID & OSDD into easy to understand language and captivating visuals.

Dr. Mike is a member of the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation (ESTD), having previously been on the ESTD Board and also a UK contact person. Dr. Mike also teaches on the ESTD four day foundation course ("Assessment and Treatment of Dissociative Disorders") and Liverpool University's Clinical Doctorate course. He is a lifetime member of First Person Plural, the UK's most prominent expert-by-experience organization for Dissociative Identity Disorder. He has presented in the UK, Europe and Canada. He is renovating a house in Malpas in preparation for a new clinic and rescues cats with the RSPCA (wait until you hear how many!)

This episode is chock full of wisdom, passion, and compassion. Dr. Mike gives us a taste of his respectful therapeutic style underscoring the importance of the treatment environment and therapeutic alliance in collaboratively charting a course to healing. A delightful surprise for those who living with dissociative identities (DI), Dr Mike gives us a sneak peak into the mind of someone who is not multiple. Meanwhile providers and supporters gain a better understanding of what it’s like inside the mind of someone living with DI. From strategies to resources, to understanding key concepts to hope and inspiration for those diagnosed later in life, there is truly something here for everyone. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!

Resources mentioned in the show:

CTAD Clinic Videos

YouTube: A Visual Understanding of How Alters/Parts are Formed

YouTube: Denial & Recognition Later in Life

YouTube: Action Systems and Their Influence

YouTube: Introduction to Structural Dissociation

YouTube: Why is my Internal Communication Not Working

YouTube: Managing Employment, Alters & DID

YouTube: Integration in DID & OSDD -hint-it’s not necessarily final fusion

YouTube: Integration & Fusion Part 2- understanding the differences

Marcella Netflix Series

CTAD Clinic Trainings and Resources:

CTAD Clinic

CTAD Clinic Trainings

CTAD Clinic Resources to Explore

More Resources:

First Person Plural

Carolyn Spring

Blue Knot Foundation

European Society for Trauma and Dissociation

International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation

Podcast Legal Disclaimer

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area.

Jaime lives in Central Florida where she works as a district Pre-K special education resource teacher. She also works part-time as an in-home early interventionist for special needs children aged birth to three.

In 2005, she was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) resulting from childhood trauma. Jaime searched for support only to find there were very limited resources available. Her efforts to find support for herself led her to seek out other survivors living with the disorder.

As she found others living with DID, she witnessed firsthand the challenges they shared and decided to shift her focus to help others, like herself, living with DID. In July of 2007, she started one of the only peer-led DID support groups in the country, which led to the creation of An Infinite Mind in January of 2008.

Her passion comes from the hope that people with DID can find the support and resources they need and will no longer fear the stigma surrounding the disorder.

In this episode Jaime shares her journey of founding An Infinite Mind and all it has to offer. Jaime opens up about her own personal journey with Dissociative Identities, from diagnosis through treatment to the collaborative system she enjoys today. A truly strength’s based view, this episode will inspire and motivate you, whether you have Dissociative Identities yourself or you are a provider who treats people with DI. It’s filled with practical ideas, tips, relatable experiences, passion and compassion.

AIM Resource Links:

An Infinite Mind

AIM's Healing Together Conference

AIM's Speaker Series

Resources for Consultation for Therapists

Institute for Creative Mindfulness Resources

ICM EMDR Consultation Be sure to check out the many trainings they offer in EMDR and Dissociation.

Consultation with Katie Keech LMFT

Consultation with Adrienne & Co (Formerly Dr. Adrian Fletcher

Consultation with Dr. Mike Lloyd CTAD Clinic UK

The Refractory Think Tank for Plural Providers, Researchers, Coaches

Resources for Systems

Trailblazing The Way Community Mentorship Program

System Speaks Community

A Couple of Multiples

Multiplied By One

Beauty After Bruises

The Plural Association

Power To The Plurals

Dr Jamie Marich

Katie Keech LMFT

Blue Knot Foundation

The Crisses

Kinhost

Podcast Legal Disclaimer

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between the listener and the host. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your mental health or medical condition. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate support, please contact a licensed mental health provider or emergency services in your area.