Photo of Dr. Dorothy Gail Monteith, Counselor in 19335, PA
Dr. Dorothy Gail Monteith
Counselor, LPC, EdD, MHS
Verified Verified
Downingtown, PA 19335
I work well with clients that want to add to their own improvement and are motivated to change. I want to help with this need, or their want to improve. I want to help how you feel, and make you feel more positive. I am a positive, caring, compassionate person and i I listen carefully, and want to help.
I work well with clients that want to add to their own improvement and are motivated to change. I want to help with this need, or their want to improve. I want to help how you feel, and make you feel more positive. I am a positive, caring, compassionate person and i I listen carefully, and want to help.
(610) 347-5704 View (610) 347-5704
Photo of Shelby Riley, LMFT and Associates, Marriage & Family Therapist in 19335, PA
Shelby Riley, LMFT and Associates
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
11 Endorsed
Downingtown, PA 19335
Are you feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed? Are your intimate relationships not what you hoped they would be? Are you worried about your children's behavior or social skills? There are times in everyone's life when help from a professional can make all the difference. Therapy starts with an effort to get to know you and your concerns. We then work together to create clear goals and form a plan that fits for you.
Are you feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed? Are your intimate relationships not what you hoped they would be? Are you worried about your children's behavior or social skills? There are times in everyone's life when help from a professional can make all the difference. Therapy starts with an effort to get to know you and your concerns. We then work together to create clear goals and form a plan that fits for you.
(484) 257-9600 View (484) 257-9600
Dissociative Disorders (DID) Therapists

How does therapy for dissociative disorders work?

Dissociation may be triggered by stress or other upsetting circumstances, and therapy can address the traumatic events at the core of an individual’s dissociation. Understanding why a person may dissociate can help the therapist and the individual come up with alternative methods of coping. A person with a dissociative disorder may get stuck on negative thinking, for example, and treatment like Cognitive behavioral therapy is a gold standard for breaking such thinking. And dialectical behavior therapy, for example, can help a person manage their anguish through better emotion regulation.

Which therapies are best for dissociative disorders?

Specific approaches used by professionals include cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, psychodynamic, schema therapies, among others. Cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapies are two widely used therapies that can help individuals with painful memories and past traumas. These therapies work to integrate an individual's different identities into one person.

Are there specific medications for dissociation?

There are no specific medications prescribed for dissociative disorders. However, psychosis, depression, anxiety, and/or panic often co-occur in dissociative disorders. A psychiatrist may prescribe medications for any accompanying symptom—which may include antipsychotics like aripiprazole, antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines.

How often and how long are therapy sessions?

Like any type of therapy, sessions depend on the individual. Patients may see improvement within 15 to 20 sessions, at an average of 50 minutes per session, others may opt for 20 to 30 sessions over, perhaps, a six-month period. There are still other patients, especially those who have co-occurring conditions like depression and anxiety, who may need to continue sessions for up to 12 to 18 months.