ART THERAPY AND THE
USE OF PARTS WORK IN
TREATMENT OF
TRAUMA-RELATED
DISSOCIATION: A
CURRICULUM
GWENDOLYN M. TINAJERO

PURPOSE OF STATEMENT

The purpose of this research is to create an art therapybased curriculum for the treatment of trauma-related
dissociation.

JUSTIFICATION

 Collective traumatic experiences
 Exposure to violence
 Physical and Sexual Abuse

Left untreated, PTSD and dissociation can lead
to continued experiences of trauma-related symptomology.

TERMS
 Complex Trauma
 Ego States
 Parts
 Structural Dissociation
 Trauma-Related Dissociation

LITERATURE REVIEW- PARTS WORK

 Ego State Therapy
 Caregiver’s voice
 Traumatic Experiences
 Developed for the good intentions of the

system
 Reduce inner conflicts

 Structural Dissociation of the

Personality
 Apparently normal part of the personality

(ANP)
 Emotional part of the personality (EP)
 The Adult Self

LITERATURE REVIEW-TRAUMA & COMPLEX TRAUMA
 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
 Treatment: trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, prolonged exposure, and eye-movement

desensitization and reprocessing

 Complex Trauma
 Impact child’s development and interfere with interpersonal skills
 Phase-oriented treatment
 Boundaries in treatment
 Reduce inner conflict

LITERATURE REVIEW- ART THERAPY & TRAUMA

 Using art for phase-oriented treatment
 Trauma Narrative
 The Clay Field, therapeutic doll making, bottom-up approaches

 Secrecy during traumatic experiences
 Dissociation
 Distancing

CURRICULUM INTRO
 Target Audience
 Curricular Structure
 Seek training from the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) for

further guidance with the treatment of complex trauma and dissociation
The purpose of this curriculum is not to achieve integration but rather to explore internal parts of self
and decrease dissociative phobias/internal conflict.

EXPRESSIVE THERAPIES CONTINUUM

PHASE 1- STABILIZATION

BUILDING THE
PEACEFUL PLACE
The purpose of this
intervention is to create
an imaginary place that
the client can use after a
difficult session, when
they feel dysregulated, or
for parts to go and
experience security.
(Shapiro, 2018)

CONTAINER
The purpose of this
intervention is to create a
container where
unprocessed material can be
“stored” until the appropriate
time to revisit it.

WINDOW OF
TOLERANCE
The purpose of this
intervention is to provide
psychoeducation on what
is the Window of Tolerance
and explore the client’s
own Window of Tolerance
through art making.

COMPANIONSTEAM OF HELPERS
The purpose of this
intervention is to create
companions to use in
moments of activation. The
team of helpers may consist
of nurturers, wise figures,
and protective figures.
(Parnell, 2008)

PHASE 2-EXPLORATION

INTRODUCING
PARTS

INTRODUCING PARTS

INTRODUCING
PARTS
The purpose of this
intervention is to
introduce the concept of
parts. The intention of this
intervention is to
normalize that we all have
parts. The goal is to begin
befriending parts and to
begin expressing curiosity.

THE MEETING
PLACE

The purpose of this
intervention is to create a
meeting place for parts to
come and dialogue.

(Fraser, 1991; Paulsen, 2009)

SHARING THE
NARRATIVE THROUGH
STORY CLOTHS

Many survivors of trauma were
told to keep their abuse a secret
or else there would be serious
consequences. The goal of this
intervention is to give the
wounded parts the opportunity
to voice the impact the trauma
had on them.
(Garlock, 2016)

EXPLORING
DEFENSES/PROTECTORS

The intention of this
intervention is to begin
exploring defenses and
protectors through
curiosity. One of the first
steps of trauma
treatment is to engage
with the defenses in
order to go deeper into
the work.

INNER CRYSTALS
The intention of this
intervention is to have the
client represent what they
have learned about
themselves because of
the trauma processing.

(Gomez, 2021)

QUILT: ALL OF ME
The intention of this intervention is
to put everything together. We are
creating a quilt to represent that we
are not getting rid of any parts and
the intention is to celebrate the
work they have done for us.

I HAVE ME NOW
The intention of this
intervention is to help parts
inside know that there is an
Adult Part that can care for
and nurture them if they
become activated.

PHASE 3-REACHING YOUR DESTINATION

THE HOMECOMING
The intention with this
intervention is to represent what
it is like to be connected insideto be back home with oneself.
At the beginning of treatment,
the client was most likely
fragmented and through the
exploration of parts, the client
has been able to navigate what it
is like to be home again.

LIMITATIONS

 Lack of research
 Curriculum has not been pilot tested
 Structure of the curriculum

AREAS OF FUTURE EXPLORATION/RESEARCH

 Group setting
 Children and adolescents
 Different types of trauma
 Use of materials
 Integration with other treatment modalities such as Internal Family Systems

FINAL THOUGHTS

It is important to me to create a curriculum that will honor the parts inside and
depathologize dissociative disorders. This is particularly important to me because
dissociative disorders have been misrepresented in the media and there are not
enough therapists trained in the treatment of dissociative disorders. The goal of this
curriculum is to honor the experiences and the stories in a way that will not cause
the client to reexperience the traumatic events.

REFERENCES
Fraser, G. A. (1991). The dissociative table technique: A strategy for working with ego states in dissociative disorders and ego-state therapy. Journal of
Trauma & Dissociation, 4(4), 205-213.

10.1300/J229v04n04_02

Garlock, L. R. (2016). Stories in the cloth: Art therapy and narrative textiles. Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 33(2), 58-66.
10.1080/07421656.2016.1164004
Gomez, A. (2021, June 2-4). Developmentally appropriate ways of using EMDR therapy with children and adolescents: Part 1-3 [Conference
presentation]. Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Virtual.
Parnell, L. (2008). Tapping in: A step-by-step guide to activating your healing resources through bilateral stimulation. Sounds True.
Paulsen, S. (2009). Looking through the eyes of trauma and dissociation: An illustrated guide for EMDR therapist and clients. BookSurge Publishing.
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR): Basic principles, protocols, and procedures. The Guilford Press.

QUESTIONS