Christine Forner helps the most wounded recover their sense of safety and aliveness.
Christine Forner, B.A, B.S.W., M.S.W., R.SW. is a trauma therapist and leading expert in the areas of dissociation and mindfulness. She is a protector of the vulnerable.
“We’re only supposed to be highly alarmed a few times in our lifetime, for a short period of time. But in reality, this alarmed state is the norm. ‘Securefulness’ is desperately needed.”
—Christine Forner
Christine Forner…
Teaching
Christine has taught locally and internationally on the topics of dissociation, mindfulness, and complex trauma.
Writing
Christine is a published author and contributor to international trauma journals.
In Conversation
Christine’s interviews can be found on You Tube.
DISSOCIATION
Dissociation is when a person experiences a disconnection from their memories, feelings, actions, thoughts, body, and/or identity.
Dissociative Disorders are characterized by a disruption of and/or discontinuity in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behaviour. Dissociative symptoms can potentially disrupt every area of psychological functioning. (DSM-5-TR)
Dissociative experiences exist for 11% of the general population. These are not an undiscovered or unique group of individuals. They frequently include those with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental illnesses.
THE MINDFUL BRAIN
There are nine basic brain functions that are dominant in those who meditate, and are securely attached.
These nine brain functions are quite remarkable. Consider that they seem to be designed for the sole purpose of understanding, regulating, co-regulating, and gaining deep compassion via empathy and attunement to our fellow humans (especially our very young humans).
SECUREFULNESS
Though trauma, attachment, and mindfulness are often viewed as distinct, they share significant commonalities worth acknowledging, comprehensively. To date, no single term in the English language accomplishes that. This gap inspired four women to coin the phrase: “Securefulness.”
This new term recognizes the connection between the biopsychosocial process of attachment and the impacts of mindfulness (neurological, psychological, and social).
ABOUT
CHRISTINE FORNER
Christine Forner (BA, BSW, MSW, RSW) is a clinician, speaker, and author based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Recognized as one of the world's foremost experts in the intersection of dissociation, trauma, and coercive control, Christine's wealth of knowledge spans over 35 years of clinical practice.
Her unique approach has achieved remarkable success in working with the most severely affected and treatment-resistant individuals. Whether dealing with trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Dissociation, Developmental Trauma, or Dissociative Disorders, Christine is dedicated to ensuring every profoundly stressed individual receives the healing they deserve.
“Dissociation is invisible. It’s not talked about, people are unaware of it, and they don’t know how to treat it. You could walk into a hospital with an epileptic seizure and somebody would know what to do. Try walking into the same hospital in a dissociated state. See what happens.”
— Christine Forner
Christine Forner’s book, Dissociation, Mindfulness, and Creative Meditations: Trauma-Informed Practices to Facilitate Growth, explores the potential of mindfulness and explains why this level of developmental human achievement is so precarious within traumatic stress, especially traumatic dissociation. Chapters discuss the connection and disconnection between mindfulness and dissociative disorders, and highlight the importance of gently creating a mindfulness practice for traumatized individuals. Readers will learn how to exercise the part of the brain that is responsible for mindfulness and how to regulate the part that is responsible for dissociation, and they’ll come away from the book with tips that will help even the most dissociative client to reap the benefits of mindfulness practices.
Praise for Dissociation, Mindfulness, and Creative Meditations
Written by an experienced and gifted clinician who has dedicated her professional life to treating those with dissociative disorders, this ambitious volume skillfully clarifies the complex relationship between mindfulness and dissociation. Full of fascinating ancecdotes, illustrations, allegories, and therapeutic exercises. Dissociation, Mindfulness, and Creative Meditations brings together brain, body, and treatment in a way that is accessible and rewarding to the reader—a brilliant contribution to the field of traumatology and a must read for trauma therapists and their clients.
Pat Ogden, PhD, founder, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
Christine Forner has crafted a book that is highly practical, theoretically grounded, and innovative despite its theoretical and technical sophistication. Dissociation, Mindfulness, and Creative Meditations integrates many aspects of mindfulness, neurobiology, dissociation theory, and meditation practices in simple language, using apt metaphors and illustrative examples. Clinicians, researchers, and educators will all find treasures in this book.
Martin J. Dorahay, PhD, professor of clinical psychology, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
In this book, Forner depicts beautifully the importance of mindfulness in the recovery of the traumatized self and its relationship with others. This text will be an important resource for clinicians and trauma survivors alike.
Ruth A. Lanius, MD, PhD, Harris-Woodman Chair, professor of psychiatry, Western University of Canada
UPCOMING COURSES
Dissociation and Mindfulness:
The Rosetta Stone to Healing the Deep Wounds of Detachment, Harm, and Abuse
with Christine Forner
june 14, 2024, 9 AM - 4:30 PM, MDT
Get to the biggest underlying reason for blocked healing, so you can have more confidence and better results in your practice.
DISSOCIATION 101: A Practical Clinical Overview
September 20, 2024, 9 AM - 4:30 PM, MDT
Step into the world of dissociation and trauma with Christine Forner, where sparse and outdated knowledge are a thing of the past.
In just ONE DAY … you can gain confidence in more effective and ethical therapeutic outcomes for your clients.