Clients' Experiences of the Finding Solid Ground Program: Highlighting Clients’ Voices

Abstract
Clients’ experiences of psychotherapeutic treatment can support our understanding of significant aspects of treatment, as well as treatment process and outcome. Client experiences of treatment as understood from their voices, however, have been marginalized in the field of trauma and dissociation and in the wider mental health field. Qualitative research that highlights client experiences of dissociation-specific treatment is now budding, highlighting and honoring client preferences, values, and characteristics, consistent with evidence-based practice. In this presentation, we highlight clients’ voices about their experiences of the Finding Solid Ground program. Using framework analysis, Pierorazio and colleagues (2024) explored client experiences of participation in the Treatment of Patients with Dissociative Disorders (TOP DD) Network study, which was an open treatment study of the psychoeducational program that served as a foundation for the ongoing Finding Solid Ground Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). Pierorazio and colleagues (2024) found that clients experienced TOP DD Network program components (i.e., content, structure), change-facilitating processes (i.e., heightened human connection, receiving external empathy and compassion, contributing to something bigger, improved therapeutic work and relationship), and outcomes (i.e., insight, increased hope, self-compassion, increased safety and functioning) as helpful. We review this study in this presentation, and detail a novel qualitative analysis of client experiences in the Finding Solid Ground program based on the framework built by Pierorazio and colleagues (2024).

The Finding Solid Ground program, a trauma- and dissociation-specific psychoeducational program based on the TOP DD Network study, is building its evidence base. It is currently undergoing a web-based randomized controlled trial (RCT). In this presentation, we share what clients who completed the Finding Solid Ground RCT reported they found helpful and/or useful. These responses were analyzed using Pierorazio and colleagues’ (2024) framework as a general guide to understand whether there would be any new themes given the Finding Solid Ground program’s revised structure and new context (e.g., a different study, different participants, different time). Clients continued to emphasize the helpfulness of program components, change-facilitating processes, and outcomes. In this presentation, we provide client quotes to illustrate their complex experiences in the Finding Solid Ground study and program. Based on these findings and client voices, we provide conclusions including recommendations for clinicians implementing the program to honor their dissociative clients and facilitate healing change processes toward positive outcomes. Therapists should understand that they can flexibly apply these principles to treating dissociative clients.