I survived a psychopathic father, ritual abuse, and trauma that led to DID. Now I'm a psychologist using my voice to educate and drive systemic change.
Stigma and systemic failures continue to harm survivors. He trafficked me. He subjected me to ritual abuse and mind control from a young age. It’s difficult to write those words—even now—as a licensed psychologist, a speaker, a writer, and someone who is nationally recognized for my work in the field of dissociative disorders.
But I share them because they are the truth. And because for decades, I was forced to live in silence. In 2018, when my mother died, the dam finally broke. That loss triggered the surfacing of memories that had long been held by other parts of me—parts I didn’t yet fully know or understand. It was then I came to realize I had DissociativeDisorder . Not because I had been misdiagnosed , not because of a label, but because my system had kept me alive through something the mind should not have to bear.. It’s not a character flaw. It’s not rare. It is rarely recognized—especially by clinicians who are under-trained and misinformed. And it is not the sensationalized, dangerous caricature that Hollywood continues to promote. Each part of me—of my system—holds pieces of our story. Our strength. Our survival. DID is not chaos; it is order in the face of terror. It is theThe path from there to here has been long. Treatment has been complex, nonlinear, and life-saving. And even now, as a psychologist and trauma specialist, speaking about my story in public spaces comes with emotional cost. There is risk in telling the truth when the world still struggles to believe survivors. But I also know the cost of silence. So I speak—not only for myself, but for the many others who cannot, who are still in hiding, who are still being harmed by disbelief, byI have gone from silenced to stage. From a hidden, shattered inner world to a nationally recognized voice in trauma and dissociation. I’ve presented at conferences, trained clinicians across the country, and written for organizations I once only dreamed of. And yet, I am still often met with skepticism, stigma, and discomfort—especially when I name the realities of trafficking, ritual abuse, or DID. We need to do better. Mental health professionals must be educated about complex trauma and dissociation—not just in theory, but in practice. Survivors need clinicians who can recognize the signs, who won’t pathologize their adaptations, and who will believe them.Today, I remember my father not as family, but as the architect of my early trauma. But I also remember the parts of me who carried that pain and kept us going. I remember the strength it took to begin speaking. I honor the courage of survivors everywhere, especially those still waiting to be heard.To those reading—especially clinicians—I ask you to listen differently. To educate yourself. To hold space for truths that may challenge your training. And to recognize that healing doesn’t begin with intervention. It begins with belief.Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.
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