First Steps in Building a Therapy for Youth Dissociation: the DisCS study

This project was the first step toward developing a new talking therapy specifically for young people experiencing dissociation.

We wanted to begin testing the cognitive-behavioural model of dissociation developed by Dr Emma Černis — a translational model, which means it was designed from the outset to help bridge the gap between scientific theory and real-world therapy.

We also wanted to know whether it was possible to directly change the psychological processes that the model suggests are important in maintaining dissociative experiences.

Nine young people took part in three small experimental studies, where they received four pilot sessions of CBT designed to target one of three processes:

• negative thoughts and fears about dissociation

• perseverative thinking (worrying or ruminating)

• having a difficult relationship with your emotions

We found encouraging early signs that some of these processes can be shifted through therapy — supporting the model and helping us shape the next stage of treatment development.

Participants told us that they valued the intervention, but wanted a fuller therapy — not just isolated techniques. That’s exactly what we’re building next.

Thank you to all the young people who took part, and the NHS staff who referred them, for helping shape the pathway to a new psychological treatment for youth dissociation.