#77: Understanding Depersonalisation and Derealisation with Dr Claudia Hallett

Experiencing a feeling of things being unreal or feeling detached rom 'real life' and not sure what to do? This episode can help.

This week, I am talking to Dr Claudia Hallett, Clinical Psychologist and lead of the UK’s only specialist depersonalisation and derealisation service at the Maudsley in London, to demystify DP/DR and offer a practical path through the fear and confusion it creates.

Across a frank, compassionate conversation, we define depersonalisation and derealisation in plain language and explore why these dissociative symptoms show up across conditions like OCD, PTSD, low mood, and neurodiversity. Claudia explains the freeze response, what’s likely happening in the brain and we tackle the most persistent myths: that DP/DR is rare, untreatable, always trauma-led - and share prevalence data that puts DP/DR on par with better-known difficulties.

Most importantly, we outline what actually helps and hear how values-led action restores identity when chasing the “old me” keeps life on hold, and why grounding isn’t one-size-fits-all. We discuss promising approaches like body movement psychotherapy and mindful movement for safer reconnection with the body, plus the power of peer support through charities such as Unreal.

Highlights include:

02:31 What DPDR Feels Like

06:26 The Brain, Freeze Mode And Survival

12:38 Neurodiversity And Interoception

24:14 Practical Self‑Help

This week's guest:

Claudia is a highly specialist Clinical Psychologist and accredited Cognitive
Behavioural Psychotherapist. She is currently the clinical lead for the National
and Specialist Depersonalisation & Derealisation service, part of the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma service at the Maudsley NHS Hospital in South London. She is involved in the teaching and supervision of trainee psychologists on the Clinical Doctorate course at the Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience and is involved in several research projects with colleagues across SLAM and KCL. She also runs her own private practice where she specialises in helping clients with DP/DR, anxiety and trauma difficulties

Claudia's instagram

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The Hello Therapy podcast and the information provided by Dr Liz White (DClinPsy, CPsychol, AFBPsS, CSci, HCPC reg.), is solely intended for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute personalised advice. Please reach out to your GP or a mental health professional if you need support.