Parts in Partnership - Relational Skills for DID Systems and Their Families

A Foundational Online Course for Survivors of Dissociative Identity Disorder—and the Therapists Who Support Them.
  • Teacher
    Dr. Athena Phillips
  • Study time
    3.5 hours
  • Cost
    $39
About This Course
What’s Inside
Our Approach
Instructor

About This Course

Healing from dissociation does not occur in isolation; it is deeply rooted in the quality of our relationships. This foundational course, launching April 15th, recognizes that the way survivors and their loved ones interact is pivotal in building trust, reducing overwhelm, and facilitating long-term recovery. Designed for survivors, family members, partners, friends, and therapists, this program provides a trauma-informed bridge to better understanding. By offering practical tools for respectful interaction and emphasizing the necessity of caregiver well-being, the course creates a sustainable path for both the survivor’s internal system and their external support network to grow together.

What's Inside

This course blends accessible psychoeducation, guided reflections, and actionable relational strategies to equip caregivers and survivors with the tools they need to connect safely.
  • Understanding Dissociation: Gain a clear, compassionate, and stigma-free perspective on what dissociation is and how it functions as a survival mechanism.
  • The Relational Roots of Healing: Explore how past and present relationships shape dissociative experiences and why consistent, safe connections are the primary catalyst for long-term recovery.
  • Relating to the System: Learn practical techniques for interacting with all parts of a survivor’s system in a way that honors internal boundaries, builds mutual trust, and minimizes misunderstandings.
  • Caregiver Longevity: Recognizing that support is a marathon, this section teaches caregivers how to protect their own health, set essential boundaries, and remain grounded, ensuring they can offer stable and consistent support without burnout.

Our Approach

Self-Paced & Reflective

Move at your own speed with exercises specifically crafted to deepen your journey.


Trauma-Informed

Designed for safety, validation, and choice


Accessible

Designed for both survivors and therapists to learn together or separately.


Instructor

Dr. Athena Phillips
Dr. Phillips has worked in social services for over 33 years, with the past 17 focused on trauma, dissociation, and complex mental health. She is the founder of Integrative Trauma Treatment Center (ITTC)in Portland, Oregon—an outpatient clinic specializing in trauma-informed care. Her approach is rooted in her early work with developmentally disabled children and adults, where she learned to lead with curiosity, respect, and the belief in every person’s inherent strength.

Athena holds a bachelors and master’s degree in social work and a doctorate in Psychology. She’s certified in EMDR, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, and has completed Level I & II of Internal Family Systems training.

In addition to clinical work, Athena is a global trainer and advocate. She developed and led the Multicultural Trauma Training in Kigali, Rwanda and presents internationally on trauma, dissociation, and global mental health. One of her current projects, The Orenda Project, is a trauma coach certification course created to expand trauma-informed support in under-resourced communities worldwide.

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FAQs

Who are these courses for?

These courses are designed for both people living with dissociative disorders and the therapists who support them. The goal is to create a shared understanding of key concepts, language, and treatment tools so that therapy work can be more collaborative and effective

Do I need to be in therapy to take the courses?

The courses are intended to support ongoing therapy, not replace it. While individuals can take them independently, the material is most helpful when used alongside therapy so that insights and tools from the course can be explored and integrated in sessions.

How are the courses structured?

The series includes five on-demand courses that build on one another. Each course focuses on practical concepts and tools drawn from evidence-based approaches to dissociation, helping participants develop skills that support stabilization, understanding of dissociative experiences, and progress in treatment. The fifth course was created for friends, family, and loved ones of people living with structural dissociation.

How do the courses support therapy between sessions?

The courses provide clear explanations, structured frameworks, and practical tools that help people continue practicing and reflecting between therapy sessions. This can make therapy time more focused and help reinforce the treatment process over time.