Holding multiplicity: narrative and trauma-informed couples therapy for dissociative identity disorder

Couples therapy involving a couple with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) promotes the incorporation of relational treatment modalities that have historically been regarded as adjunctive in DID care. Through narrative therapy, trauma-informed practice, and a neurodiversity-affirming framework, the case study addresses individual dissociative experiences and relational dynamics while centering client strengths, agency, and meaning-making. In contrast to integration, the therapy respected and honored multiplicity, supporting partners in constructing empowering narratives about their experiences and shared futures. The findings emphasize the need for therapists to master complex therapeutic interventions that enable co-constructed healing for misunderstood populations. Policy and clinical implications promote couples therapy for those with or systems impacted by DID, the enhancement of trauma training for relational therapists, and the encouragement of treatment methodologies that elucidate intimate partnerships as avenues of healing. This case contributes to emerging discourse positioning couples therapy as essential rather than ancillary in comprehensive DID treatment.