Putting words to experiences that are hard to describe.
Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES)
Some people notice moments when they feel cut off from themselves or from the world around them, lose track of time, or cannot recall parts of their day. These experiences can be linked with difficult life events, and they can also happen with stress, tiredness, or deep absorption. The DES is a questionnaire that helps your psychologist understand how often you have these experiences and whether a closer look would help. It is used alongside a conversation with you.
What the questionnaire looks at.
Feeling disconnected from yourself
Experiences such as feeling detached from your body or your thoughts, or watching yourself from outside. Psychologists call this dissociation, which can happen when the mind steps back from something overwhelming.
Feeling that the world is not quite real
Feeling as if other people, objects, or your surroundings seem strange, flat, or unreal.
Gaps in memory
Finding that you cannot recall parts of a conversation, a journey, a stretch of time, or coming across things you do not remember doing or buying.
Getting absorbed
Becoming so involved in a daydream, a book, or a film that you lose track of what is going on around you. This is common, and your psychologist considers it along with your other experiences.
How much of the time
For each experience, you mark how much of the time it happens to you. Your psychologist assesses which ones are occasional and which are frequent.
How it affects you now
Your psychologist asks how these experiences show up in your sleep, mood, relationships, work, or study, and what has helped you cope so far.
Looking after yourself
Thinking about difficult experiences can bring up strong feelings. You can pause or stop at any time, and your psychologist will check in with you.
Note: Are you unsure whether this is the right assessment? A short conversation with our team is a good place to start. We will recommend the right option for your situation.
Why this assessment may be recommended
You sometimes feel disconnected from yourself or your surroundings.
You find gaps in your memory that you cannot explain.
You have been through difficult experiences, as a child or as an adult, and want to understand how they may still be affecting you.
Strong reactions or feeling on edge seem to have no clear cause.
Your therapist or doctor has suggested looking more closely at these experiences.
You would like a clearer picture before choosing a kind of therapy.
How the assessment works.
- 1Step 1
A conversation first
You meet a psychologist to talk about what has brought you here. You can share as much or as little as you wish, and nobody expects a detailed account of difficult events.
- 2Step 2
The questionnaire
You complete the questionnaire about experiences such as feeling disconnected or losing track of time. Your psychologist is available if you would like to talk through any statement.
- 3Step 3
Review
Your psychologist considers your answers along with your history and what you shared in conversation.
- 4Step 4
The rest of the assessment and feedback
The complete Trauma Assessment also includes a questionnaire about early life experiences. You then have a complimentary feedback session of about 30 minutes where your report is explained in plain language and next steps are discussed.
Confidential and clinically guided
Your assessment is carried out with professionalism, dignity, and confidentiality. Your psychologist explains what they find in plain language, and you can ask questions at any point.
Please note: The DES is a screening tool. It helps your psychologist decide what to look at more closely. It cannot diagnose on its own. A higher score does not mean something is wrong with you. Many things can lead to higher scores, including stress, tiredness, and deep absorption. A diagnosis is a clinical decision made after looking at the full picture.
Things people ask
No. You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. This assessment does not depend on a detailed account of difficult events.
Some people find the questions bring up strong feelings. You can pause or stop at any time, and your psychologist will check in with you.
Dissociation is a range of experiences in which a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, body, memories, or surroundings. Mild forms such as getting lost in a daydream are common. It can also happen when the mind steps back from something overwhelming.
No. The DES is a screening tool. A higher score means a closer look may help, and your psychologist considers it together with your history and a conversation.
The DES cannot diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on its own. If your psychologist thinks a closer look at PTSD or related difficulties would help, they talk with you about what comes next.
Yes. The Trauma Assessment is available to adults and adolescents. Our care coordinator can tell you how it works for adolescents, including who is in the room and what is shared with parents or caregivers.
Your psychologist talks through your report with you. Depending on what the assessment shows, they may suggest therapy that works with difficult experiences or other support. Our care coordinator can help you arrange next steps.
Your results are kept confidential with the standard exceptions required by law, such as a risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else. We talk with you about who will receive them before anything is shared.
Want to arrange an assessment, or just ask a question?
Our care coordinator will talk you through what to expect confidentially.
If you need urgent help: Are you in immediate distress? Please call iCall 9152987821 for immediate support.