Excerpted from the May 2008 NESTTD Newsletter
It was the winter of 2000, packed into a room at McLean Hospital, attending a half-day conference on Dissociative Disorders – thus began my introduction to NESTTD. The energy of the audience was strong. I remember having a different feeling than I would often find at other conferences or professional meetings. There was an enthusiasm and curiosity among the audience, a passion to learn more about dissociation and trauma and a feeling that one had come to the right place to find it.
The room at McLean became more and more inadequate to hold the number of people wishing to attend. Extra chairs would be brought in. People would be standing in the doorway. It was clear it was time to move to a bigger space as membership only continued to grow. I came onto the Board at this point of transition. Bentley College became our new home and offered the space needed to hold the expanding membership. It has been a great experience being a part of the organization during a time of growth.
As I reflect on my years as a member with NESTTD I am amazed by the expansion of clinical understanding of trauma and dissociation during this time. The development and understanding of the neurobiological impact of trauma and the role it plays has opened up a wealth of new perspectives. As new research, clinical approaches, and theory have developed, NESTTD continues the long-established mission to provide current information and education. National and international presenters have helped us integrate a neurobiological understanding and approach to our work, such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems.
In the course of the expansion of membership, clinical developments, and pursuit of the NESTTD mission of providing current training and education, the Community Education Outreach Committee (CEO) was developed. The committee objective has been to bring together information on trauma and dissociation into a training manual that can be used to train community clinics and agencies around New England. NESTTD achievements have not gone unnoticed outside New England. It has been an honor to represent NESTTD to our parent organization ISSTD. They look upon us with high regard, recognizing the organization for having the largest membership and continuous schedule of conference meetings of all component societies.
My term as President ends this June as the organization approaches its 25th anniversary of incorporation. I recently corresponded with Jim Chu, founder of the organization, to confirm the anniversary year. He described the excitement he experienced attending the 1984 ISSD conference in Chicago. Jim went on to say he developed NESMPD (New England Study of Multiple Personality Disorder) to maintain his enthusiasm and build a community working with trauma and dissociation. He was thrilled to hear NESTTD continues to grow and develop.
Imagine 25 years from now. What shape and form will clinical work with trauma and dissociation look like? What do we need to do to keep the mission of NESTTD strong and thriving? The road ahead presents many opportunities and challenges. In 25 years, not only will there be new developments but there will also be a whole new generation carrying them out. It is essential that NESTTD continue the organization’s mission and its empahasis on the importance of community that began with in 1984.
I’d like to put forth the following initiatives, to begin now, to ensure the organization’s continued success: First, I propose each member of NESTTD brings at least two new members to the organization. Approach colleagues, clinics, schools, consultation groups, and affiliated professional organizations. Discuss upcoming conferences and membership information. Second, I propose previous Boards of Directors and long-time members come together to form a Board of Advocates. A Board of Advocates’ responsibility is to continue to build a community foundation, attending quarterly meetings, and holding the vision of the organization’s mission to pass on to a new generation of members.
Thank you for the opportunity to be President of an extraordinary organization. I look forward to sharing a role with all members as visionaries for the organization and its future.
Yours truly,
Norah Lewis, LICSW
NESTTD President