The patient may also discuss with the therapist alternate courses of action. (Kluft, R.P. 1999, p.291+).
The second stage is remembrance and mourning. Preliminary interventions are used in order to enhance the patient's current level of functioning. These include efforts made to strengthen the patient as a whole and across alter. Coping skills are established to facilitate the therapy. The therapist tries to access as many alters as possible, making an alliance with them. An agreement is made with the alters so they will not interrupt therapy, cause self harm, commit suicide, and other dysfunctional behaviors. Hypnotic techniques are used in this stage. Although they are not used for uncovering, rather they are used as "temporizing techniques." These temporizing techniques are aimed to target harmful materials and affects, in order to aide mastery and coping with these materials and affects. This is done to prevent decompensation (The inability to maintain defense mechanisms in response to stress, resulting in personality disturbance or psychological imbalance). Eventually, the patient learns to use these skills between sessions, giving them a sense of self-efficacy and power towards life events. (Kluft, R.P.1999; p.291+).
The last stage of this model is reconnection. In this stage the therapist begins to learn as much as possible about the origins, concerns, and relationships of as many alters as possible. The therapist learns how each alter may react in stressful situations. Utilizing this knowledge, and the tools established in the first two stages, the therapist may address issues experienced by alters and encourage cooperation and collaboration among the alters. Interventions are also used to access and process overwhelming experiences. This is useful because it reminds the patient that experiences will be addressed in the interest of recovery. It also reminds the patient that the feelings associated with these experiences or the sense of relief once they have been address is not evidence of historical accuracy.
