Soothing the Storm - Trauma Symptom Management for Dissociative Systems

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

About This Course

The Mission: Living with dissociation can sometimes feel like navigating shifting skies—moments of calm followed by sudden storms. This course is designed to help you, and those who support you, find steadier ground. Whether you are a survivor wanting to understand and manage your symptoms, or a therapist seeking deeper, trauma-informed skills, this program guides you through the "what" and the "why" of dissociative experiences, empowering you to respond with compassion and confidence.

Why Choose This Path? When you soothe the storm inside, you make space for connection, safety, and growth. Join the journey toward more grounded, compassionate living—one skill at a time.

Key Goals:
Education: Move from confusion to clarity.
Compassion: Shift from judgment to understanding.
Cohesion: Cultivate a safer, more connected internal system.

What's Inside

A Gentle, Powerful Learning Path
You’ll move through a learning path that combines education, creativity, and reflection. Each module offers opportunities to learn, pause, and cultivate internal cohesion at your own pace.
  • Symptom Literacy: Learn to name and recognize the symptoms of trauma and dissociation, turning mystery into a clear map for navigation.
  • The "Why" Behind the "What": Understand the protective function of your symptoms. This is about honoring their history while finding new, adaptive ways forward.
  • System Management: Gain practical, compassionate strategies for calming internal storms, reducing overwhelm, and restoring safety—both inside and out.
  • Selves Care: Discover ways to support all parts of yourself, meeting each internal perspective with understanding, creativity, and kindness.

Our Approach

Creative & Reflective

Access activities and prompts that help you connect with your inner world in ways that go beyond traditional words.


Selves-Paced

Learn on your own schedule, free from pressure.


Inclusive Design

Content is intentionally crafted to be equally meaningful for survivors living with dissociation and for the therapists dedicated to supporting them.


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.