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Joyanna Silberg, Ph.D., formerly a consulting psychologist at Sheppard Pratt Health System, is an international expert on dissociation in children and adolescents, and past president of the International Society on the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.

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New edition Now available. Order here >

 

The Child Survivor

Healing Developmental Trauma and Dissociation

In the second edition of Joyanna Silberg’s classic The Child Survivor, practitioners who treat dissociative children will find practical tools that are backed up by recent advances in clinical research. Chapters are filled with examples of clinical dilemmas that can challenge even the most expert child trauma clinicians, and Silberg shows how to handle these dilemmas with creativity, attunement, and sensitivity to the adaptive nature of even the most complex dissociative symptoms. The new edition addresses the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children and provides tips for working with traumatized children in telehealth. A new chapter on organized abuse explains how children victimized by even the most sadistic crimes can respond well to therapy. Clinicians on the front lines of treatment will come away from the book with an arsenal of therapeutic techniques that they can put into practice right away, limiting the need for restrictive hospitalizations or out-of-home placements for their young clients.

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Allen v. Farrow Panel Series

Episode 1: Grooming & Child Protection (Thurs. Sept. 23, 2021)

The four-part documentary series Allen v. Farrow, from award-winning investigative filmmakers Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering and Amy Herdy, goes behind the years of sensational headlines to reveal the private story of one of Hollywood's most notorious and public scandals: the accusation of sexual abuse against Woody Allen involving Dylan, his then 7-year-old daughter with Mia Farrow; their subsequent custody trial; the revelation of Allen’s relationship with Farrow’s daughter, Soon-Yi; and the controversial aftermath in the years that followed.

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Allen v. Farrow Podcast (episode 4; 52:06)| HBO

Special Guest: Joyanna Silberg, PhD

Award-winning filmmakers Amy Ziering, Kirby Dick and Amy Herdy go deeper inside Part Four of the HBO Original documentary series Allen v. Farrow, discussing more of what they uncovered about the new allegations of abuse that rocked the Farrow family in the 2010s, sharing never-before-heard audio clips from family members Quincy Farrow, Sascha Previn, and Ronan Farrow. Later, Forensic Psychologist Dr. Joyanna Silberg joins to talk about the burden of disbelief confronting parents who report incest, and Heather Drevna, VP of Communications at RAINN, discusses what’s strikingly unique about incest crimes. 

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Roadmap to Resilience (episode 5; 38:16)

Special Guest: Joyanna Silberg, PhD

This is Roadmap to Resilience, a podcast series for professionals and families who are supporting children experiencing stress and trauma. Whether you work with children or you have children of your own, this podcast is for you. LISTEN NOW >>​

System Speak: Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder)

Special Guest: Joyanna Silberg, PhD

Our guest on the podcast this morning is Joyanna Silberg, Past President of ISSTD, and expert on dissociation in children and adolescents. She shares with us about her work with children and trauma. She talks about the capacity of dissociation as a gift to yourself.  She speaks to the impact of screen time on families, and she also shares about her work with trafficking victims. Trigger warning for short and simple examples of abuse and trafficking in passing (not discussed in depth). Listen on Apple Podcasts by clicking the link below. 

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The Kathleen Dunn Show

Special Guest: Joyanna Silberg, PhD

Troubled Family Courts and Child Sexual Abuse

 

Dylan Farrow recently wrote an open letter to The New York Times detailing alleged abuse by Woody Allen when she was 7-year-old. Allen fired back in an open letter of his own this weekend. The circumstances in their public family drama isn't new to many. Kathleen spends the hour with two experts on family law and child sexual abuse discussing the troubled system that is supposed to protect victims. 

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VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness ​

Special Guest: Joyanna Silberg, PhD

Inspired Journeys: When Love Turns to Hate: Managing Divorce While Keeping Kids Out of the Middle

 

In this show, Dr. Silberg will explain how some people who are domestic abusers can use the children in a form of domestic violence by proxy, hoping to hurt their ex, by physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing the children.  Many domestic violence perpetrators threaten their spouses by using their children as pawns, convincing their partners that they will never see their children again if they leave the marriage. As we explore this dynamic, Dr. Silberg will explain how courts sometimes misunderstand the way that battered women present in court. We will process the difference between the normal badmouthing that occurs in any divorce situation and the lethal emotional abuse found in "dv by proxy." The notion of parental alienation will be dissected and explained, and we will talk about "high conflict" divorce and why that is often a misnomer. We will also identify where parents can get help when their children are subjected to this form of trauma.

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VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness ​

Special Guest: Joyanna Silberg, PhD

Inspired Journeys: Understanding and Working with Childhood Dissociation

 

Join Lisa Ferentz and Dr. Joyanna Silberg as they define and explain the dissociative process, and distinguish it from other confusing or perplexing childhood behaviors.  They will explore the emotional, cognitive and physical symptoms that parents, teachers, and mental health professionals are likely to see in kids and adolescents who use this coping strategy. Their guest will explain why kids dissociate, helping listeners understand the connection between dissociation and a variety of traumatic experiences. They will also look at the impact that dissociation has on kids' functioning in school, at home, and with peers. They will identify the manifestations of dissociation across different developmental stages.  Listeners will learn about the ways in which adult responses can either mitigate or further add to a child's dissociative state.  They will explore the fundamental goals of treatment when working with dissociation and share positive examples of kids who have been able to live more fully integrated and healed lives.  

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