What is one of the major goals of therapy when developing a care plan for a client with dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

One of the major goals of therapy when developing a care plan for a client with dissociative identity disorder (DID) is to help the client integrate or combine the personalities. Integration refers to the therapeutic process of merging the distinct identities or personality states of a person with DID into a cohesive sense of self. This is believed to lead to improved functioning and stability in the individual's life.

Integration helps clients process traumatic experiences that led to the formation of separate identities and encourages a unified identity that is better able to cope with stress and relationships. By creating a safe therapeutic environment, the therapist can facilitate discussions between the various identities, promoting understanding and healing, rather than keeping them separated.

Other goals such as crisis management or teaching coping skills may assist the client but do not address the root cause of DID or the path towards a more functional and integrated self. Thus, while individual skill-building is important, the ultimate aim is the integration of the various identities to foster a more coherent and stable sense of self.