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I’m a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Ordained in 1975, my current assignment is as Consulting Chaplain with the Office of Chaplaincies of the Archdiocese.
My work with MPD patients began as part of my assignment to Harper Hospital. Working with Dr. Elliot Luby, then Chief of Psychiatry, we sought to open up additional resources and options for those with MPD. Dr. Luby established a "track" or treatment plan for those admitted with MPD, and I’ve been actively involved in providing MPD-specific treatment for in-patients. Dr. Luby made himself available for consults and assistance for patients and their out-patient therapists, as I have. Based on our experience, in 1990 I began a support group for MPD patients under Chaplaincy, called "The Rainbow." In 1992 some of those patients formed a non-profit organization called "Rainbow House" and opened a facility in November, 1992. Rainbow House is the first of its kind as an MPD "clubhouse" totally run and directed by members. I was active with Rainbow House as an advisor. Since then, other facilities have opened based on the "Rainbow House Model." Sadly, after several years Rainbow House had to close when the building it occupied was sold.
I have done work toward the development of a "Dissociative Disorders Medical Intervention Team" to assist medical staff, nursing, and patients when major physical illness requires hospitalization. The goal was to help the patient’s medical care to be effective, appropriate, and as non-traumatic as possible by working with both the staff and the patient. To the best of my knowledge, that effort is also unique.
I’ve been asked at times why I’m interested in these patients and their welfare. That’s a fair question. At first, it was because I realized that there were few referral resources. A choice was made to work with MPD patients, with Dr. Luby providing close professional supervision. The learning and growth he encouraged was invaluable. Everything that’s followed has been a pastoral response in a situation where discrimination, alienation, and societal denial has made recovery for these patients much harder and more of a problem than it needs to be.
On a deeper level there is a simpler response. I hate chains, and I would like to help those struggling to remove the chains that others have placed in their heart and soul.
I’ve also been asked whether I was abused as a child. I was not. I admit, however, that I’ve had additional help in understanding the processes of dissociation in my own life experience. Without going into detail, for most of my life I’ve had to deal with periodic intense physical pain. As a child that pain was minimized and ignored by doctors, leading to spontaneous autohypnosis to cope. That encounter with dissociation has served as a bridge, helping me in understanding the dissociative processes present for those who have been severely traumatized.
In going through that pain, I’ve always had family and friends around who cared about what I was going through. I’ve also heard a lifetime of dismissing, ignorant, and unprofessional comments from those who should know better. What would life have been like if support was not present? If the pain was a result of abuse? If I hadn’t been able to at least tell others about the pain?