Gender, Autism and Social Media: The ‘New Wave’ of DID

September 27, 2025

Abstract
In this workshop, Dr Mike Lloyd will be discussing the clinical presentation of the ‘new wave’ of dissociative conditions in two parts. To begin with, there is the ever-increasing popularity of sharing mental health experiences on social media (TikTok, Twitter/X, Instagram) and how this may be directly influencing young people to adopt the language traditionally associated with severe conditions such as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Such presentations will be looked at in accordance with clinical interviews for dissociative disorders (the SCID-D and the TADS-I) to see how the traditional diagnostic criteria may not entirely fit this ‘new wave’. In addition, Mike will speak from direct clinical experience of assessing and diagnosing dissociative disorders in the UK via a national referral centre in independent practice (in partnership with the NHS) as well as hosting an educational channel on YouTube for complex trauma and dissociation. Through this clinic, Mike has been referred and assessed many people who have dissociation co-morbid with autism and gender identity issues, either in the process of transition or describing confusion about gender identity. Mike discusses how autism and gender dysphoria may be combining with a different form of complex trauma to potentially generate a ’new triad’ - DID, autism and gender identity. This ‘triad’ may lead to difficulty for practitioners not experienced with the autistic and gender-based elements of this. The workshop will include a discussion regarding how to manage such referrals through the assessment process and whether standardized treatment protocols for DID, for example, can be applied or altered. As social media becomes ever more popular, the role of influencers in combination with suggestible and vulnerable groups such as autistic adolescents and young people need to be taken into account when assessing for and treating dissociation.

Potential to Distress: No

Target Audience

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to:

  • Discuss how the presentation of conditions such as Dissociative Identity Disorder  (DID) may present very differently in social media influenced young people
  • Work through presentations that do not have obvious childhood trauma and to determine what diagnostic criteria can be applied
  • Discuss the importance of a full and in-depth understanding of both autism and gender identity in order to provide the best possible assessment and treatment services to the population being described
  • List examples from clinical practice to demonstrate the evidence needed to build a conclusion to this form or presentation
  • Describe how the mixed presentation based on research evidence demonstrates the role of autism and how to take this into account when assessing and diagnosing
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
07/01/2025
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
Event starts: 
09/27/2025 - 10:00am EDT
Event ends: 
09/27/2025 - 11:30am EDT
Part of: 
Minding the Gaps: Listening for the Unspoken and Seeing the Unseen - Day One
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Mike Lloyd, PhD
Mike Lloyd, PhD is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, qualified in 2005 and am registered with both The British Psychological Society and The Health Professions Council. He is also a member, UK contact and previous Board Member of The European Society for Trauma and Dissociation.  Following leaving the NHS in the UK, where he worked child and adult community mental settings for 15 years, IMike ormed the CTAD Clinic, a specialist tertiary referral centre for complex trauma and dissociation. Within the CTAD Clinic, Mike works with a team of psychologists and therapists who assess and treat a number of mental health conditions including complex trauma. He also trains professional groups in the assessment and treatment of dissociative disorders, as well as publishing in the field of trauma and dissociation. Mike run an educational YouTube Channel about all things dissociative, currently at over 20,000 subscribers.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
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Early registration ends August 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM US Eastern Time. Prices will increase for emerging professional and professional/retired rates at that time by $50. 

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ISSTD defines a student as those enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. 
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Available Discounts

  • These prices are for Tier I countries. For a list of countries by Tier click here. If you are located in a country that falls into Tier II-VI please contact ISSTD at [email protected] to receive the appropriate discount code. 
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Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be received in writing via email or fax. A processing fee of $45 will be charged for cancellations received on or before Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM US Eastern Time. No refunds will be issued for no-shows. Refund requests will not be accepted after August 31, 2025. Not all requests will be granted. Substitutions for attendees are accepted until August 23, 2025.

Grievance Policy
ISSTD is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformation with the APA and ASWB grievance procedures.

During this conference, conference organizers, presenters and staff will address any concerns that arise. Every effort will be made to address the concerns during the conference when possible. If these individuals are unable to address the participant’s concerns, the complaints and grievances shall be presented in writing to ISSTD Headquarters at [email protected]. These will be forwarded on for review by the Virtual and Regional Conference Committee.

Social Workers: Should social workers have a specific grievance, these grievances will be addressed by D. Michael Coy, LICSW. In situations where the social worker would have a conflict of interest, then, Christine Forner, MSW will review the grievance.

ISSTD strives to resolve grievances in a manner that is in the best interest of the participant. All complaints and grievances are reviewed within 5 working days. Formal grievances are required to be written and emailed as directed above and will be responded to within 15 business days.

Disability Policy (ADA)
We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs. Please contact ISSTD Headquarters via email at [email protected] or via phone at 844.994.7783 for assistance.

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Phone: 844.994.7783
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