Bridging Clinical Expertise with Lived Experience, Informed by the Voices We Serve
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💡 Bridging Clinical Expertise & Lived Plurality
📅 Launched in March 2023 | Virtual & Online
👥 Over 100 Clinicians, Coaches & Researchers United
🤲 Founded by Katie Keech & The Plural Association
🔌 Powered by The Plural Association
👩💻 Work Group & Community for Plural Empowerment
📘 Transforming Mental Health Education for DID & OSDD
🤝 Creating Collaborative Spaces for Innovation & Support
🎓 Pursuing CE Credits for Inclusive Mental Health Training
💖 Support Our Mission – Donate Below
Introduction
We are thrilled to announce the launch of The Refractory, a collaborative volunteer project founded between The Plural Association (TPA) and Katie Keech, aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by the plural community, including those with dissociative identity disorder (DID) and other specified dissociative disorders (OSDD).
With a dedicated team of over 100 Plural clinicians, coaches, peers, researchers, medical professionals and mental health students ready to work together, The Refractory seeks to transform mental health education and support for plurals, DID, and OSDD individuals. Our initiatives go beyond offering Continuing Education (CE) credits to mental health professionals; we are committed to fostering a collaborative space where experts can develop innovative solutions, share knowledge, and advance the understanding of plurality. In this blog post, we will share more about our mission, the current situation in the mental health landscape, and how you can support our efforts to make a meaningful impact.
The plural community, including those with dissociative identity disorder (DID) and other specified dissociative disorders (OSDD), has long faced unique challenges in the mental health landscape. Many individuals within this community have encountered stigma, misinformation, and discrimination when seeking appropriate care and support.
As a response to the growing need for accurate, inclusive, and respectful mental health resources, The Plural Association, together with Katie Keech established the Refractory!
Member Directory
Our Mission
The Refractory’s mission is to create an innovative and collaborative think tank space for practitioners, clinicians, therapists, life coaches, peer support workers, researchers, and adult students with lived experience in plurality, DID, and OSDD. Our aim is to empower these professionals to come together to collectively develop new research, strategies, guidelines, educational materials, and best practices that will transform the field of mental health, advance the understanding and treatment of plurality, DID, and OSDD, and improve the lives of those living with these conditions. Additionally, we aim to establish a peer review board consisting of individuals with lived experience who are not clinicians or practitioners but community activists and advocates, ensuring diverse perspectives are represented in our work.
The Current Situation
As many of you may know, recent events involving the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) and McLean Hospital have raised concerns within the plural community. Despite widespread calls for accountability and change, including a petition with nearly 3000 signatures, both organizations have failed to address these concerns or implement meaningful reforms. Instead, they have continued to perpetuate harmful narratives and practices that undermine the dignity, rights, and mental well-being of the plural community.
The Refractory's Role
In the face of these ongoing challenges, the Refractory has emerged as a beacon of hope, guidance, and solidarity for plurals worldwide and has invited over 100 members, all Plural clinicians, coaches, peers, researchers, medical professionals and mental health students with lived experience. We are grateful for the team(s) created and the work this allows us to do together. We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive, private and invite only – space where clinicians (etc) with DID and other forms of plurality can access resources, connect with peers, and foster understanding and acceptance. Through our wide range of initiatives, we aim to challenge stigma, dispel misconceptions, create educational resources for clinicians and Plurals, and promote a more accurate and empathetic understanding of plurality.
Joining The Refractory: Eligibility & Sign-up Process
We welcome practitioners, clinicians, therapists, life coaches, licensed peer support workers, researchers, and adult students with lived experience in plurality, DID, and OSDD to join The Refractory. Our aim is to create a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment for professionals to connect, share knowledge, and develop innovative solutions.
To sign up for The Refractory, you need to complete a two-step process. First, send an email to contact@thepluralassociation.org with a brief introduction of yourself and your reasons for wanting to join. This initial email helps us ensure that only eligible professionals and individuals with genuine intentions become part of our community.
Once your email is reviewed, and if you are eligible, we will provide you with a form to fill out. This form will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and will help us better understand your background, expertise, and areas of interest. This information will enable us to tailor our offerings and facilitate meaningful connections within The Refractory community. Together, we can transform mental health care and education for the plural community. We look forward to having you on board!
Our Next Steps
Continuing Education (CE) Credits
Understanding and Offering Continuing Education (CE) Credits:
As part of our ongoing efforts to advance mental health education and support for the plural community, we have set an ambitious goal: to obtain the ability to offer Continuing Education (CE) credits. Before we delve further into this goal, let us first clarify what CE credits are, why therapists need them, and the difference between offering regular events and educational resources like courses, versus offering courses and events with CE credits.
What are CE Credits and Why Therapists Need Them:
Continuing Education (CE) credits, also known as Continuing Education Units (CEUs), are a measure used to quantify the time and effort mental health professionals, like therapists, invest in their professional development. Mental health professionals need to accrue a certain number of CE credits within a specified time frame to maintain their licensure, certification, or membership in professional organizations. By attending courses, workshops, and seminars that offer CE credits, therapists can stay up-to-date with the latest developments, evidence-based practices, and ethical guidelines in their field.
The Difference Between Regular Events and CE-accredited Events:
While we currently offer regular events and educational resources such as courses, these events do not provide CE credits for the attendees. Offering CE-accredited events and courses would help us attract a larger audience of mental health professionals, as they would receive professional development credits for attending our programs. This, in turn, would help to ensure that the plural community receives the care, respect, and understanding they deserve from a broader range of well-informed mental health professionals.
The Cost of Applying for CE Eligibility
Applying for eligibility to offer CE credits can be a costly process, involving various fees and compliance with specific criteria and accreditation standards.
Here is a breakdown of the initial costs associated with the process:
- One-time sign-up fee: $680
- Application fee: $440-$490 (per conference or session)
- Total initial cost: $1120-$1170 (not including any additional costs for drafting, editing, or other necessary expenses)
After the initial sign-up, the annual costs would be as follows:
- Annual fee: $550
- Application fee: $440-$490 (per conference or session)
- Total annual cost: $990-$1040 (not including any additional costs for drafting, editing, or other necessary expenses)
That is why we are reaching out to our network of supporters, allies, and advocates to help us raise the necessary funds to achieve this vital goal. With your support, we can expand the reach of our educational programs, ensuring that more mental health professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to support the plural community effectively and compassionately.
Fundraising for The Refractory:
We believe that the current situation with the ISSTD and McLean Hospital highlights the urgent need for alternative, inclusive, and respectful mental health education and resources. By sharing our story and the importance of our mission, we hope to inspire those within and outside the plural community to support our efforts to obtain the eligibility to offer CE credits.
How You Can Help:
- Donate to our crowdfunding campaign: We have created a crowdfunding campaign specifically to raise funds for obtaining CE eligibility. Your contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in our ability to achieve this goal.
- Share our story: Help us spread the word about the Refractory and our mission by sharing our blog post, crowdfunding campaign, and social media updates with your network.
- Attend our events: Join us at our upcoming webinars, workshops, or seminars, which will not only provide valuable information and support but also help raise funds for our cause.
- Partner with us: If you are part of a mental health organization or professional group that shares our values and goals, consider partnering with us to co-host events.
We understand that achieving our goal of offering Continuing Education credits is a collective effort. Your support and involvement are invaluable to us, and we are grateful for each and every one of you who have joined us on this journey. By working together, we can transform the mental health landscape for plurals, DID, and OSDD individuals, ensuring they receive the care and understanding they deserve. Thank you for standing with us.
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