Workshop Description
Dissociation is a frequently misunderstood and often under-recognized clinical phenomenon that can significantly shape clients’ presenting concerns, treatment engagement, and therapeutic outcomes. Rooted in adaptive responses to overwhelming stress, trauma, and disruptions in attachment, dissociation exists along a broad continuum—from subtle shifts in awareness to more complex, parts-based experiences and dissociative disorders. When unrecognized, dissociation can interfere with insight-oriented, exposure-based, and relationally focused interventions, leading to stalled progress or inadvertent destabilization.
This workshop will focus on deepening clinicians' conceptual, diagnostic, and clinical skills in working with dissociation across the spectrum—from transient dissociative responses to dissociative disorders. Participants will explore contemporary models of dissociation grounded in trauma theory, attachment theory, and neurobiological perspectives. The training emphasizes clinical recognition of dissociative processes, differential diagnosis, and the impact of dissociation on the therapeutic relationship.
Objectives
Clinicians will be able to define dissociation and describe its function as an adaptive response to trauma, stress, and attachment disruptions.
Clinicians will be able to differentiate between types and levels of dissociation, including depersonalization, derealization, dissociative amnesia, parts-based experiences, and dissociative disorders.
Clinicians will increase their abilities to recognize clinical signs of dissociation in session, including subtle and overt presentations, and understand how dissociation may interfere with insight-oriented or exposure-based work.
Clinicians will gain an understanding of an overall stage-oriented approach to treatment to address clients’ presenting concerns that is both safe and effective, including a focus on therapeutic alliance, skills building, resolution of trauma symptoms, and working toward clients’ goals for healthy functioning.
Audience
Professional Counselors
Social Workers
Substance Use Counselors
Marriage and Family Therapists
Psychologists
Date and Time
Friday, March 13th, 2026, at 10am-1pm CDT
Location
This workshop will be held virtually via Zoom. Registration link will be sent out to participants the week of training.
Presenter
Dr. Janna Henning J.D., Psy.D., FT (she/her)
Dr. Janna Henning is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has been providing mental health services for adults with complex trauma, PTSD, dissociative disorders, chronic/life-threatening illness, and grief/loss-related concerns for over 20 years. She provides education, training, and clinical consultation for professionals who work with survivors of trauma and loss. She is a Professor in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology Program at Adler University in Chicago and the creator and coordinator of its Traumatic Stress Psychology Emphasis, which provides training in effective, research-informed approaches for clients coping with traumatic stress, death and dying, life-threatening illness, bereavement, and loss. She is a Fellow in Thanatology (Death, Dying and Bereavement) through the Association for Death Education and Counseling, a Faculty Member for the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, as well as a past president of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. She brings her passionate interest in trauma education and training to her work as the Co-Chair of the Div. 56 Task Force on a Trauma Psychology Specialty, and as the former Co-Chair/Chair of its Education and Training Committee.
Continuing Education Hours
This program is recognized as providing 3.0 CE Hours for (Emerge Psychology Group in collaboration with Soleil Psychotherapy)
LPC/LCPC (IDFPR license # 197.000360)
LSW/LCSW (IDFPR license # 159.001584)
Licensed Psychologist (IDFPR license # 268.000146)