Dr Colette Lord: Trauma Therapist

04/10/2026

If you are looking for a mentorship approach to Basic EMDR training check out Precision EMDR Academy.

Our next training series begins in late June. Link in bio.

04/09/2026

Searching for EMDR Consultation?

I’m a Certified EMDR Therapist & Consultant.

I’m a facilitator with Precision EMDR Academy which is dedicated to preparing EMDR clinicians to do this important work with the developmental and complex traumatization we actually see in our practices. Our next virtual EMDR Basic training starts in June.

I believe in supporting clinicians to become strong EMDR therapists.

I want to support you in knowing your stuff backward and forward so that you know why you are doing what you’re doing. Then, if you choose to deviate from standard protocol you have a solid reason for doing so.

I want to ensure that clinicians are prepared to screen for and recognize signs of dissociation with every client.

At the core of efficient and effective EMDR therapy is case conceptualization and treatment planning through purposeful sequencing of targets for reprocessing. This is something I am dedicated to helping clinicians to learn.

I believe in preparing clinicians for the reality of complex clients & dealing with the limitations of the real world.

I encourage a focus on an intersectional understanding of who our clients are, and the importance of identity factors in understanding their experiences.

These identity factors may show up in their trauma histories as well as in their positive resources and connections.

My areas of specialization & experience are using EMDR therapy with adults who have:

Complex trauma
Attachment wounds
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Multiple complex mental health & physical health issues
Trans & non-binary folks (whether or not this is a focus of treatment)

04/08/2026

Myth: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) & Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) are extremely rare.
Fact: Worldwide, about 1.1% of people meet criteria for DID. According to the DSM 5, the prevalence of DID is higher than OCD.

Myth: DID is made up by clients or therapists who convince clients they have DID/OSDD.
Fact: Neuroimaging techniques such as fMRIs of the brain can differentiate between ‘normal’ brains & those diagnosed with DID.


Myth: DID is quite obvious, as are switches between parts.
Fact: Dissociation is overwhelmingly internal & subjective, not external and observable. DID is meant to help the person fly under the radar.

Myth: DID is just like in the movies & those with DID/OSDD are scary & violent.
Fact: Dissociation looks different for everyone, it rarely looks like it does in the media. Those with DID/OSDD are no more likely to be violent than anyone else.

Myth: DID/OSDD is a primarily a young, white, cisgender female disorder found in the US.
Fact: DID/OSDD is found among all genders, ages, and races. DID has been researched in countries & continents around the globe.

Myth: DID is evidence of a broken mind or an inherent defect.
Fact: DID/OSDD minds are incredibly sophisticated, creative & resilient. They are result of a brain determined to survive.

Myth: Those with DID/OSDD are very sick, low functioning & never heal.
Fact: Those with DID/OSDD vary in how functional they are, just like those with any other disorder. Health, healing & having a fulfilling life are possible with DID/OSDD.

Myth: Those with DID/OSDD should never be treated with EMDR therapy.
Fact: EMDR therapy can be a powerful tool for helping heal the trauma those with DID carry, IF the therapist is properly trained & can make the needed modifications.

Are you an EMDR trained clinician wanting to learn how to identify and treat DID/OSDD?
If so I’ve created a course just for you!

Introduction to Working with Dissociative Identity Disorder: Understanding Through an EMDR Lens

Link in my bio

04/07/2026

People with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID or OSDD) often go through years of treatment without getting properly diagnosed.

According to research, it takes 6-12 years in the mental health system before someone is diagnosed correctly with DID.

This is because of the lack of knowledge and education for both therapists and clients about dissociation.

I also recognize that there are many barriers faced by different groups in getting properly diagnosed that are based on structural inequities, lack of access and various form of discrimination.

This is why I think having information out there on social media about dissociative disorders is incredibly important and can absolutely lead to folx self-diagnosing.

When it comes to representations of folx who report having DID/OSDD it is important to always take these representations with a grain of salt as there is always the danger of misinformation

In addition, it’s important to recognize there is not one right way that someone may experience DID/OSDD. So just because someone is presenting a certain way doesn’t mean it has to be that way for everyone, nor does it mean that your experience is wrong simply because you are not seeing it represented in media.

If the mental health field in general was doing its job then people would not be left to self-diagnose by something they found in social media. It is up to us to be educating ourselves and our clients and ensuring correct information is available for folx.

So if you are an EMDR clinician looking to learn more about assessing for and working with Dissociative Disorders, I have created a training for you:

Introduction to Working with Dissociative Identity Disorder: Understanding Through an EMDR Lens

Link in my bio

04/06/2026

People with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID or OSDD) often go through years of treatment without getting properly diagnosed.

According to research, it takes 6-12 years in the mental health system before someone is diagnosed correctly with DID.

This is because of the lack of knowledge and education for both therapists and clients about dissociation.

I also recognize that there are many barriers faced by different groups in getting properly diagnosed that are based on structural inequities, lack of access and various form of discrimination.

This is why I think having information out there on social media about dissociative disorders is incredibly important and can absolutely lead to folx self-diagnosing.

When it comes to representations of folx who report having DID/OSDD it is important to always take these representations with a grain of salt as there is always the danger of misinformation

In addition, it’s important to recognize there is not one right way that someone may experience DID/OSDD. So just because someone is presenting a certain way doesn’t mean it has to be that way for everyone, nor does it mean that your experience is wrong simply because you are not seeing it represented in media.

If the mental health field in general was doing its job then people would not be left to self-diagnose by something they found in social media. It is up to us to be educating ourselves and our clients and ensuring correct information is available for folx.

So if you are an EMDR clinician looking to learn more about assessing for and working with Dissociative Disorders, I have created a training for you:

Introduction to Working with Dissociative Identity Disorder: Understanding Through an EMDR Lens

Link in my bio

04/06/2026

When the world gets overwhelmed or everything feels like it’s too much I do what I can to ground and regulate.

I got to the backyard and touch grass and listen to the birds.

And of course I play with Sadie, who never fails to make me feel a bit better. Petting her is a micro joy to help me through macro hellscape.

What do you do?

DogOfTheDa Cavi

04/05/2026

My name is Dr. Colette Lord and I’m a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Del Mar.

I’ve been an EMDR therapist since 2014 and having been working with complex trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder since I first got trained. I found that I love working with clients with complex issues and that it is something I am skilled at.

I’ve been a EMDR Consultant and working with Precision EMDR Academy as a facilitator for Basic EMDR trainings since 2020.

My experiences have made me passionate about providing education around dissociation with clients and clinicians alike.

I am available for individual consultation for providers working with dissociation and EMDR clinicians, whether working towards certification or simply to expand their knowledge.

I’ve also created a training for EMDR therapists on working with DID. It’s available for 8 CEs and is approved by APA and EMDRIA.

See the link in my bio for more information.

04/04/2026

Dissociation is not a bad word nor an inherently bad coping strategy.

The fact that you or your client continue to dissociate during therapy or as you are healing does not mean you are failing.

It simply means that dissociation remains a powerful and available strategy for coping.

Dissociation of the personality into parts is an incredibly sophisticated survival strategy.

I know there tends to be a lot of shame around this, but the dissociative brain deserves so much appreciation for how it helps people get through things no one should have to get through.

If you are an EMDR therapist and are unsure how to work with dissociation and Dissociative Identity Disorder in particular I’ve created a course that gives you a foundation to start this very important work. Link in bio.

Depersonalization

04/02/2026

“He (Alfred Adler) also believed from his studies of children, that our beliefs about ourselves and our belongingness become firmly established by the time we turn five years old. This can be a problem for human beings because, as Adler pointed out, children are very good observers, but they are very poor interpreters.”

What this means is that a caretaker can easily teach a child that they are unloved without ever saying the words. When caretakers routinely ignore a child’s needs or treats them as though they are a burden, this clearly sends a message to a child about their needs and their value.

Children tend to interpret harmful or painful experiences with others as their fault. This is what Adler meant by children being poor interpreters.

This is why it can be really hard for people coming into therapy with developmental trauma to be able to point to a specific reason for their symptoms of complex traumatization.

It’s our job as therapists to help them excavate and identify the memories that seem like ‘evidence’ for their negative beliefs. Then as EMDR therapist we help them to desensitize these memories and come to new, healthier and more adaptive conclusions from those memories.

If you feel like you don’t know how to help clients identify traumatic memories and then organize a treatment plan based on those memories then you may benefit from training through Precision EMDR Academy. Our focus is on preparing EMDR therapist to work with complex and developmental trauma in a strategic and efficient manner. Link in bio for our next up-coming EMDR training.

I apologize for not citing my source, as I am not sure where I found this quote, if you know please feel free to share it with me!

03/31/2026

March 31st is Trans Day of Visibility
Visibility without protection is dangerous.

Trans folks have been much more visible in the recent past due to the ways they have been targeted by the government.

Allies: listen & uplift trans voices, disrupt transphobia when you hear or see it, support & hire trans folks.
For trans/non-binary folx....

In need of a letter for gender affirming healthcare?

For adults in California: I provide evaluations & letters of support for gender affirming medical care (hormones and/or surgery).

I charge a one-time fee or accept San Diego Medi-Cal to cover this service.

Here’s my process
Step 1: We schedule to meet (by video) for the one-hour evaluation, although we often don’t use all that time.

Step 2: You’ll set up an account through my Therapy Portal, which is where I’ll share all documents to complete.

I’ll ask you to complete a few symptom surveys. It’s ok to be honest about how you’re doing.
Having mental health symptoms or a mental health diagnosis will not keep me from writing you a letter.
Just because you have symptoms or a diagnosis does not disqualify you from receiving the care you are seeking.

Step 3: We meet for the evaluation. It’s my job to verify you are a generally competent adult who’s able to make an informed decisions for yourself & that you are in contact with reality.
If I have no concerns, then I will draft a letter for you within a week of our meeting.

If I do have concerns, we’ll talk about them and discuss if there are any steps that can be taken to address these concerns so you can get your letter.
I have yet to have this be necessary.

Step 4: I’ll send you the draft letter, asking you to review it so that you know what’s in it & to verify there are no inaccuracies.
Once any needed corrections are made, I will send you a signed, PDF version of the finalized letter.

Per insurance carriers’ policy, this letter will remain good for one year.
If you need minor, clerical adjustments, such as changing the name of the surgeon these can be accomplished via emailing me and will not require another meeting or additional fee.

03/30/2026

02/23/2026

Sometimes trying to get yourself out of survival mode can become an unintentional stressor.