Clinical Psychologist and Consultant Healing ~ Growth ~ Empowerment Upland, California, United States
Abstract: Fraser’s Dissociative Table Technique (1991, 2003) has been a foundational tool for accessing and working with ego states and dissociative parts in individuals with complex trauma and dissociative identity phenomena. Clinicians utilizing the technique assist their clients in developing a structured internal imaginal space where parts of self can get to know each other, share the burdens they carry, and work through internal dynamics. This method supports treatment goals of stabilization, distancing overwhelming emotions, increasing affect management, and adding helpful resources. Creativity is traditionally offered by the provider’s expertise, knowledge, and experience. A primary limitation of this approach is its dependence upon clinician-generated communication and therapeutic resources, which may also limit the personal power, agency, and choices of the client.
Psychological treatment innovations over the past 10 – 15 years have added strong elements of the interpersonal neurobiology present in the therapeutic dyad and the importance of trusting the inherent healing capacity of the client. These concepts foster right-brain to right-brain interpersonal resonance. Brain- and body-based treatments, like Brainspotting, highlight the organic emergence of healing and transformation within the client and within the relationship.
The purpose of this presentation is to introduce an expanded embodied adaptation of the Dissociative Table Technique that incorporates neurophysiological and relational components. This updated approach shifts the role of the therapist from the expert to a resonating, embodied guide who supports the client’s inherent healing capacity. The application of Brainspotting principles enhances the attunement capacity of the therapist, which is resourcing and healing in itself. This relational component deepens the reparative work of attachment, developmental, and traumatic wounding. The neuroexperiential model invites the client to find the somatic interoception felt sense within the body. In addition, finding a relevant eye position supports the focused mindful processing within the neural networks of the client’s brain, nervous system, and body.
The key components of this embodied updated model of the Dissociative Table Technique include the following:
A dual-attunement frame which trusts in the inherent healing capacity of the client.
The provider’s attuned nonjudgmental, accepting, curious, and open presence.
Right-brain to right-brain resonance, embodied resourcing support for the client
Coregulation and cocreation of the healing relationship space which includes both the client and the therapist.
Receiving and holding the entire self-system of the client, including intergenerational, historical, current life situation, and cultural identities
Subcortical focused mindfulness processing, which assists the client from dysregulation to regulation.
The expansion of personal power, agency, and choice within the client
The presentation will include didactic information teaching the use of the embodied techniques and how to expand the clinician role within the dyadic interpersonal neurobiological relationship. Experiential exercises will provide firsthand embodied practice of the updated techniques for application with clients, as well as for personal growth
Citation 1: Brand, B. L., Schielke, H. J., Putnam, K., Pierorazio, N. A., Nester, M. S., Robertson, J.,
Myrick, A. C., Loewenstein, R. J., Putnam, F. W., Steele, K., Boon, S., & Lanius,
R. A. (2025). A randomized controlled trial assists individuals with complex trauma and dissociation in Finding Solid Ground. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0001871
Citation 2 : D’Antoni, F., Matiz, A., Fabbro, F., & Crescentini, C. (2022). Psychotherapeutic techniques for distressing memories: A comparative study of EMDR, Brainspotting, and body scan meditation. International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health, 19(3), Article 1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031142
Citation 3 : Harricharan, S., McKinnon, M. C., & Lanius, R. A. (2021). How processing of sensory information from the internal and external worlds shapes the perception and engagement with the world in the aftermath of trauma: Implications for PTSD. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.625490
Citation 4: Hildebrand, A., Grand, D., & Stemmler, M. (2017). Brainspotting: The efficacy of a new therapy approach for PTSD in comparison to EMDR. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/2017.5.1376
Citation 5 : Kearney, B. E., Corrigan, F. M., Frewen, P. A., Nevill, S., Harricharan, S., Andrews, K., Jetly, R., McKinnon, M. C., & Lanius, R. A. (2023). A randomized controlled trial of Deep Brain Reorienting: a neuroscientifically guided treatment for post- traumatic stress disorder. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2240691
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to:
Describe traditional uses and limitations of the dissociative table technique for purposes of accessing inner parts and ego states while fostering their communication and collaboration
Identify how brain- and body-based treatment modalities deepen the right-brain to right-brain therapeutic resonance and the embodied interpersonal neurobiological support for the client experiencing complex trauma and structural dissociation
Apply Brainspotting principles of the neuroexperiential model; including uncertainty, dual attunement, and trusting the inherent healing capacity of the client; to assist subcortical focused mindful processing
Utilize embodied techniques of the somatic felt-sense and the relevant eye position to enhance communication, collaboration, and processing internal dynamics
Implement strategies to support the client’s self-system to safely engage parts, ego states, and dissociated insiders with the development of personal power, agency, and choice
