Olivia Djouadi

Trauma is the area I work in whether that is DID, dissociation, polyfragmented DID or dealing with unexpected feelings that came from changes in life. I work with what each client brings rather than the same way with everyone as we are all individuals so need varied care. Growing up I changed countries, schools and universities so understand the effects that can leave. I also grew up with daily injections for type 1 diabetes since 1973 as well as adverse childhood experiences. As a result I dedicated my career on finding ways to assist those that also experienced harm or help supervisees with these type of clients. Care and empathy are what I find helps the supervisory relationship. I have worked online as a supervisor since 2014 and before then helped run online support groups for those that have had trauma. I have worked with trauma since 2001 as I assisted in programmes for homelessness and refugees who had survived awful ordeals so gained multicultural awareness there. The year I began training in 2006 I interviewed the Clinic of Dissociative Studies in London as I knew this was the area I wanted to work; I am now a clinician attached to that clinic. I also am qualified to give the SCID-D to diagnose dissociation that I was given permission from those that taught me I can do this online. In my work before and after I became a psychotherapist and supervisor the relationship has always been important as well as encourage supervisees to take steps so they can progress forward in their career. Covid is still in many peoples thinking so it helps to be able to talk about that if it is affecting you and or your practice. I am also a tutor of online counselling and supervision with OLT Online Training for Therapists and presently training to tutor other subjects online. I am a mother to two premature children who have reached adulthood so understand the aspects that might occur in parenting SEN children. I also worked in a SEN (special educational needs) nursery for 10 years and also helped parents cope with the unexpected. I am also someone who has self-care time because if I encourage my supervisees to do this then it helps to see it is possible even in a busy life. Having type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis means life can’t move at a hundred miles an hour so I work less hours to be 100% for those that I do see. I do also see supervisees with chronic conditions as well. I have worked with supervisees as far afield as New Zealand, Africa and Asia as well as in war zones so can work with those that may have returned home from these experiences. I also am a befriender with the RAF and can also work with other service-people. I mention these as you may have clients that work in these areas.