Addiction as Dissociation Model: Core Foundational Models and Research

Dedicating ourselves to the advancement of recovery-focused, dissociation-informed care, and are presenting a comprehensive overview of the programs and services offered by the Wounded Healers Institute (WHI), drawing extensively from the foundational research, methodologies, and training materials detailed in the sources.

The Wounded Healers Institute (WHI) offers a unique, experientially-based dissociative learning program aimed at teaching healers how to improve their efforts and reeducating citizens on matters of citizenry and moral development. The core philosophy posits that the deadly condition dominating human existence is addiction, which the establishment has failed to operationalize. WHI’s work is dedicated to redefining this condition, guiding individuals to know what cannot be known, become what they could not imagine, and believe the opposite of what they once believed.

The Addiction as Dissociation Model (ADM)

The ADM, developed through phenomenological investigation, posits that addiction is not fundamentally a brain disease but a response to unresolved trauma.

• Definition: Addiction is the relationship created between unresolved trauma and the continued progression of dissociative responses. It is a normal, adaptive response to an overwhelming experience (trauma or stress).

• Implication: Addiction is transdiagnostic. Since dissociation is seen as the “disease” of addiction, healing must focus on resolving the underlying traumatic memories (including drug use memories) through processes like Memory Reconsolidation (MR).

• Universal Addictions: We advocate for the clinical recognition of perfectionism, altruism, and ambition as addictions, as they are fueled by the same trauma-related dissociative processes but are currently overlooked by established diagnostic categories.

Core Foundational Models and Research

The entirety of WHI’s programming is predicated on advanced theoretical and philosophical orientations rooted in doctoral research.

1. The Addiction as Dissociation Model (ADM)

The ADM serves as the scientific cornerstone for WHI’s paradigm shift.

Reconceptualizing Addiction: ADM scientifically defines addiction as a trauma response, specifically the relationship created between unresolved trauma and the continued and unchecked progression of dissociative responses. This model reframes addiction from a moral failing or chronic disease into a predictable, adaptive survival strategy.
Dissociation as the Underlying Process: The core assertion is that addiction is a manifestation of trauma-related dissociation. Dissociation is seen not as pathology, but as an intelligent, adaptive survival strategy used when faced with inescapable threat. The “disease” of addiction is pathological dissociation stemming from dissociation-in-trauma.
Transtheoretical and Transdiagnostic Scope: ADM positions trauma, dissociation, and addiction as inseparable, transdiagnostic experiences that underpin all clinical presentations, including personality disorders, OCD, ADHD, depression, and anxiety. This comprehensive framework is essential for clinical understanding and accurate screening.
Physiological Basis: The ADM integrates neurochemical understandings, highlighting the role of the endogenous opiate and endocannabinoid systems in addiction and dissociation. The conditioning of the endogenous opiate system explains how one becomes addicted to trauma.

2. The Profession of the Healer and Moral-Ethics

WHI advocates for the re-establishment of the Healer as a distinct profession, separate from the limitations of traditional, industrialized models of care.

Authority from Lived Experience: A Healer embodies the “Wounded Healer” archetype, drawing authority not primarily from academic credentials or licensure, but from the moral weight of their own recovery and lived experience, particularly having survived a near-death experience (NDE) (literal or existential).
Guiding Principle: Moral-Ethics: Healers adhere to Moral-Ethics (“Do what is right”), contrasting sharply with the Legal-Ethics of traditional therapy professions (“Do no harm, follow the law”). The Healer’s work is an advocation—a moral calling—not merely a job.
The Body as the Unconscious: WHI operates on the radical premise that the physical body is the psychological unconscious. Healing involves communicating with this unconscious realm and obtaining Unconscious Informed Consent (UIC) prior to intervention.

WHI Programs and Training

The core offering of the Wounded Healers Institute is the Path of the Wounded Healer (PWH), a structured, dissociation-focused transtheoretical wellness phase model of care.

1. The Path of the Wounded Healer (PWH) Training Program

The PWH curriculum is designed for personal and professional transformation, supporting the ongoing healing of normative and pathological ranges of trauma, dissociation, and addiction. It integrates the Consensus Model of Trauma Phase Model of Care and the Stages of Change.

PWH Phase	Focus	Consensus Model Equivalent	Stages of Change Equivalent
PWH 1 (Regulation)	Foundational knowledge, Mindful Dissociation, Neurobio-Dynamic Neutrality, MASA	Stabilization	Pre/Contemplation/Preparation
PWH 2 (Memory Reconsolidation)	Memory work, developmental/attachment trauma, toxic shame, parts work, recovering from normative/universal addictions	Memory Resolution	Action
PWH 3 (Maintenance/Advanced Memory Work)	Advanced memory work, integrating PTG/Dissociative Lands, resolving addictive memory networks	Posttraumatic Growth	Maintenance
PWH 4 (Professional Enhancement)	Professional development, 2Q-Research, Enhanced Bracketing Techniques, community action (the Rabbit Hole)	Professional Transformation	N/A

Certification Requirements: Certification is granted by WHI upon successful completion of PWH 1-3, demonstration of ADM tenets, adherence to the WHI Moral-Ethics code, completion of consultation hours, 200 hours of client session time, and a capstone project.
Psychedelic Integration: PWH trainings offer the option of using cannabis products (for those 21+ or 18+ with a medical license) as part of the learning process to facilitate self-healing and conscious navigation of altered states of consciousness (ASC), which are viewed as grounded healing states.

2. Meeting Area Screening and Assessment (MASA)

MASA is WHI’s primary tool for screening and assessment, available for providers and clients alike.

Purpose: MASA is a scripted approach used to gauge a person’s level of conscious awareness, unconscious access, moral development, range of dissociation, and stage of universal addiction and recovery. It helps obtain unconscious informed consent before administering any treatment or medicine.
Methodology: MASA utilizes the concept of the “Meeting Area” (akin to the dissociative table found in other trauma models) to understand unconscious processes and provide feedback to lower treatment resistance.

3. Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) Gym and Spa

The PTG Gym and Spa is WHI’s innovative maintenance program, designed to support ongoing health, build resiliency, and promote posttraumatic growth.

Services: PTG utilizes Biofeedback and Neurofeedback (NFB) regulation training, performance enhancement techniques, body-mind practices (including cannabis products of your choice), coaching, and mentoring.
Focus: It addresses normative addictions that are typically not diagnosable by DSM standards (e.g., drama, sex, hoarding, shopping, work, digital/technology, perfectionism, altruism, and ambition).

Specialized Programming

WHI offers specialized re-education and training manuals to address specific manifestations of universal addictions and dissociation:

Path of the Wounded Healers for Thrivers: This manual addresses and provides an addiction recovery-based program for perfectionism, altruism, and ambition addictions. These addictions are seen as hidden, underlying dissociative rational subsets that can manifest in various populations, including Abusers, Activists, Batterers, Bullies, Enablers, Narcissists, Parents, Perpetrators, and Warriors.
Anger and Batterer Management Program (Cannabis-based): WHI created a certified program utilizing cannabis-based theoretical approaches specifically for those identifying with unresolved trauma related to perfectionism, altruism, and ambition addictions. This contrasts with standard models by addressing anger itself as an addicting phenomenon.
Psychedelic Care/Integration: WHI provides expertise in preparing people for and integrating psychedelic experiences. This Recovery-Based Psychedelic Care (RBPC) approach treats psychedelics as spiritual medicines, utilizing them to induce dual attention states, which facilitates memory reconsolidation (MR)—the neurobiological process necessary for healing trauma.

Professional Services and Advocacy

WHI is structured as an independent academic research institute focused on training, consultation, advocacy, coaching, and research.

Consultation and Coaching: WHI offers case conceptualizations and expertise in memory reconsolidation, somatic awareness, psychedelic care, and meditation for licensed clinicians and professionals. Coaching focuses on personal or professional goal attainment, supporting posttraumatic growth, recovery, and performance enhancement.
Research and Advocacy: WHI conducts research on the ADM and its subsequent findings, challenging existing quantitative bias and supporting the legalization of all psychedelic medicines for all citizens. The institute actively advocates for higher levels of ethical and moral reasoning in professional practice.
Re-Education Programming: This aims to heal the world by correcting significant errors in the fields of psychology and medicine regarding addiction, dissociation, trauma, and mental health, favoring common-sense principles that support universal healing and developmental milestones.

The full details of programs, application procedures, fees, and ongoing resources—including the dissertation and supplementary manuals—are available through the Wounded Healers Institute website at woundedhealersinstitute.org

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References

O’Brien, A. (2023a). Addiction as Trauma-Related Dissociation: A Phenomenological Investigation of the Addictive State. International University of Graduate Studies. (Dissertation). Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/courses/addiction-as-dissociation-model-course/

O’Brien, A. (2023b). Memory Reconsolidation in Psychedelics Therapy. In Path of the Wounded Healer: A Dissociative-Focused Phase Model for Normative and Pathological States of Consciousness: Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/courses/addiction-as-dissociation-model-course/

O’Brien, A. (2023c). Path of the Wounded Healer: A Dissociative-Focused Phase Model for Normative and Pathological States of Consciousness: Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

O’Brien, A. (2024a). Healer and Healing: The re-education of the healer and healing professions as an advocation. Re-educational and Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

O’Brien, A. (2024e). Path of the Wounded Healers for Thrivers: Perfectionism, Altruism, and Ambition Addictions; Re-education and training manual for Abusers, Activists, Batterers, Bullies, Enablers, Killers, Narcissists, Offenders, Parents, Perpetrators, and Warriors. Re-Education and Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

O’Brien, A. (2025). American Made Addiction Recovery: a healer’s journey through professional recovery. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/

*This is for informational and educational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.