What is Finding Solid Ground?

Finding Solid Ground (FSG) is a program co-developed by Bethany Brand, Ruth Lanius, and Hygge Schielke, and stands as the first research-backed program for trauma-related dissociative disorders.​​​​

Unlike trauma treatments that focus solely on narrative or exposure-based work, FSG begins by helping clients build the foundational skills needed for emotional and relational safety.

Based on findings from a randomized controlled trial, the program critically emphasizes grounding as the initial, necessary step before clients can successfully continue with the rest of the program.

The FSG program teaches 4 crucial skills:

1. Grounding

2. Separating past from present

3. Healthy ways of regulating emotions

4. Getting healthy needs met safely

The book and workbook guide therapists and clients through the program, providing an evidence-informed, practical, and accessible approach for the stabilization and treatment of patients with complex trauma and dissociation. You can learn more about the book and workbook on our Books page.

Who is the program designed to help?

FSG is a program for people experiencing complex trauma symptoms and/or dissociative disorders.

Complex trauma refers to repeated and prolonged exposure to traumatic events, often during childhood, and at the hands of parents and/or other early attachment figures.

Dissociative disorders, including the dissociative subtype of PTSD, involve feelings of significant disconnection from ones’s body, emotions, memories, surroundings, and even their personal identity.

Dissociation is a survival response. This disconnection typically begins as a way to endure terrifying events when physical escape is not possible—for example, during physical abuse, military combat, or a horrific car accident. While it helps someone survive horrible experiences, the response can become automatic and difficult to "turn off" even after the person is safe.

Dissociation can severely disrupt people’s lives by interfering with their ability to:

• Emotionally connect with family and friends.

• Notice sensations in their own body (hunger, pain, etc.).

• Know who they are and what they want.

• Navigate their environment.

For this reason, finding an effective treatment for dissociative disorders is essential.

How and why was the program developed?

The question is, how can complex trauma and dissociation be treated most effectively? There are some good approaches out there, but the order and pacing of these approaches are very important.

The authors of FSG contributed to the Treatment of Patients with Dissociative Disorders (TOP DD) studies, which represent the largest prospective treatment outcome studies to date for dissociative disorders. These studies provided empirical evidence supporting the value and efficacy of specialist, trauma- and dissociation-focused treatment for this population, showing reductions in symptoms, hospitalizations, and self-harm.

Based on the study findings, a team of trauma and dissociation experts created a web-based program that provided education about trauma and dissociation, along with skill-building instruction. After input from early participants, this program developed into the FSG program.

FSG is intended to be used in addition to trauma-informed psychotherapy with a person’s own therapist.

If you’re interested in learning more about article assessing dissociation, you can download our recently published article for free. This article covers practical, clinician-friendly guidance for understanding and evaluating dissociative symptoms, an essential component of effective treatment for complex trauma.

How can I support your work?

We very much appreciate your interest in supporting our work. Dissociative disorders (DDs) are associated with significant suffering, and there is a great need for evidence-supported effective treatments for this population. If you would like to donate to the work we do, we would greatly appreciate your support.

Making a Donation

You can make a donation to our work through Towson University’s giving website. This accepts contributions to offset expenses related to conducting the TOP DD Studies through the Towson University Foundation, Inc. All funds donated go directly to benefit the TOP DD Studies.

• Gifts to the Foundation qualify as charitable contributions to an IRC Section 501(c) (3) public charity for federal income, estate and gift tax purposes.

• The Foundation does not retain fees for administrative costs.

To make a gift using your MasterCard, VISA or Discover card that will go toward the TOP DD Study, visit TU’s giving website for the study. We greatly appreciate gifts of all sizes.

Donations will be directed towards the operational costs of the Treatment of Patients with Dissociative Disorders (TOP DD) studies, including:

• Technology costs

• Materials

• Research assistant funding

Thank you for supporting the TOP DD studies and Finding Solid Ground!