The Power of Process in Healing Trauma & Dissociation (Homestudy)

Presented by Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-500

Course Description

In many trauma-focused modalities, including EMDR therapy, a great deal of fear still abounds on working with various manifestations of dissociation. This course seeks to debunk the myths and provide a practical and sensitive orientation to how the dissociative mind works. Participants are challenged to expand their internal knowledge of conceptualizing and healing dissociation within a trauma-focused lens for clinical practice. In this distance learning course, participants are given a primer on working with grounding skills in stabilization and preparation phases of trauma work. Special attention is given to working with expressive arts and mindfulness-focused strategies. Participants will receive thorough instruction on the theory of structural dissociation through by exploring their own dissociative profile and internal system of parts. Strategies are given for translating this knowledge to practice settings and making the best clinical decisions possible, particularly in treatment planning/case conceptualization and working with abreactions.

Course Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

  1. define dissociation in a trauma-focused manner and explain the multi-faceted, prismatic manner in which signs of dissociation may manifest
  2. list 5 common myths about working with dissociative clients (For EMDR therapists only: List these myths specific to EMDR therapy)
  3. explain the theory of structural dissociation and utilize at least two metaphors to explain it to a client
  4. describe one’s own dissociative profile as an individual and translate this learning about the self into better understanding the internal world of a dissociative client
  5. implement at least 2-3 strategies from expressive arts therapy and mindfulness-informed approaches into early phases (Stabilization/Preparation), particularly for grounding and building awareness, and in later phases (Closure) for safely concluding and linking sessions
  6. apply at least 2-3 strategies learned through the previous objectives for enhancing case conceptualization and managing abreactions (For EMDR therapists only: Objective will be met specific to EMDR therapy through breakout components)
  7. decrease overall fear and increase personal confidence in working with dissociative clients in professional settings

About the Instructor

ICM Founder & Director Jamie Marich

Dr. Jamie Marich (she/they) describes herself as a facilitator of transformative experiences. A clinical trauma specialist, expressive artist, writer, yogini, performer, short filmmaker, Reiki master, TEDx speaker, and recovery advocate, she unites all of these elements in her mission to inspire healing in others. She began her career as a humanitarian aid worker in Bosnia-Hercegovina from 2000-2003, primarily teaching English and music while freelancing with other projects. Jamie travels internationally teaching on topics related to trauma, EMDR therapy, expressive arts, mindfulness, and yoga, while maintaining a private practice and online education operations in her home base of Warren, OH. Jamie is the author of numerous books on trauma recovery and healing, with many more projects in the works. Marich is the founder of The Institute for Creative Mindfulness. Her bibliography currently includes: EMDR Made Simple (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps (2012), Creative Mindfulness (2013), Trauma Made Simple (2014), Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015), EMDR Therapy & Mindfulness for Trauma Focused Care (2018, with Dr. Stephen Dansiger), and Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery (2019). She has also written guest chapters and contributions for several other published collections. North Atlantic Books released a revised and expanded edition of Trauma and the 12 Steps, in the Summer of 2020. Jamie’s own company, Creative Mindfulness Media, published two supplemental resources, a daily meditations and reflections reader and a trauma-responsive step workbook in the Autumn of 2020 to accompany. Her newest release with Dr. Stephen Dansiger, Healing Addiction with EMDR Therapy: A Trauma-Focused Guide is coming out in the Fall of 2021 with Springer Publishing Company. NALGAP: The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies awarded Jamie with their prestigious President’s Award in 2015 for LGBT advocacy in her writing and training. In 2019, the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) granted Jamie their EMDR Advocacy Award for using her public platform in media and in the addiction field to advance the cause of EMDR therapy and to reduce the stigma around mental health and addiction. Jamie currently sits on the Clinical Work Group Committee of EMDRIA’s prestigious Council of Scholars and on the editorial board of the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. Jamie also serves on the Wisdom Council of the internationally known expressive arts ministry Abbey of the Arts, and is an advisory board member of HealingTREE Non-Profit. For her full biography, please go to www.drjamiemarich.com

This course meets the requirements for 6 Continuing Education credit hours by the CE approval bodies listed below:

The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is approved by the following organizations to offer 6 continuing education (CE) credit hours for this course:


State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board

The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is an approved provider of continuing education by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for counselors, social workers, and marriage/family therapists. Approval: #RCS091306

EMDR International Association

The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is an approved provider of continuing education in EMDR Therapy by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) Approval: #10002. The program "Healing Addiction with EMDR Therapy" is approved for 6 EMDRIA credits (#10002-DL82).

American Psychological Association

The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is approved by American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Creative Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

National Board for Certified Counselors

The Institute for Creative Mindfulness has been approved by National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6998. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Institute for Creative Mindfulness is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.


Association of Social Worker Boards

Institute for Creative Mindfulness, #1735, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Institute for Creative Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 03/16/2021 – 03/16/2024. Social workers completing this course receive 21 continuing education credits.

A General Note About Approvals

Please also note that APA-approved sponsors are accepted by many state boards, such as California BBS and major licensure boards within the state of Pennsylvania. In both of these cases, separate paperwork does not need to be filled out. Many state boards also accept out-of-state providers, which is why our Ohio approvals appear on every training. In some states, pre- or post-program approval forms must be sent, and you are responsible for checking into the rules of the licensure board in your state as to what is required. Please let the Institute for Creative Mindfulness know if you need support documentation in any way for these pre or post-program approval applications.


This is a hybrid, self-paced distance learning course, comprised of reading material and video content. This is an intermediate level course. Completion of all modules, a course evaluation, and post-test is required to receive CE Certificate. Course evaluations are administered after completing all course modules. The post-test is comprised of true/false and multiple choice questions and requires a passing mark of 75%, and is administered after completion of the course evaluation. Upon passing the post-test, participants are able to download their CE certificates.

This course was first published July 27, 2020.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns at support@instituteforcreativemindfulness.com.