"It feels like a safe container": Experiences of finding solid ground groups for adults with dissociative disorders

Dissociative disorders (DDs) are trauma-related conditions marked by disruptions in memory, identity, and consciousness. Despite high prevalence, DDs are underdiagnosed and undertreated. This study explores the experiences of adults with DD participating in a 31-week Finding Solid Ground psychoeducational group.

Participants (N = 72) were mostly women (81%) who experienced a DD or posttraumatic stress disorder dissociative subtype, along with multiple mental health comorbidities. Eight groups (seven virtual, one in-person) completed 31 weekly 90-min sessions based on the Finding Solid Ground curriculum as adjunctive to individual psychotherapy. Thematic qualitative analysis was used to analyze participants' hopes, challenges, helpful and unhelpful aspects, and perceived changes in self during group participation.

Participants noted improved self-awareness, internal system communication, self-compassion, emotion regulation, hope, and overall functioning, as well as reductions in isolation, shame and self-blame, dissociative symptoms, and trauma symptoms.

These findings emphasize the potential benefits of Finding Solid Ground and suggest that trauma-informed group interventions should be further researched, as they could be a scalable method of providing treatment for this underserved population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).