Parts work

I work from an Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed perspective. IFS is an evidence-based therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz who was a systemic family therapist. He began to recognize that his clients would speak about various aspects of themselves which can be understood with the multiplicity of the mind recognized by Freud, the theory of hypnotherapy and many Eastern spiritual philosophies.

IFS helps individuals to understand and work with their inner parts which can be made up of thoughts, emotions and agendas. Parts can be compliant, rebellious, highly anxious and afraid of uncertainty, deeply lonely or depressed. You may have parts that are in direct conflict with each other, for instance, a part that wants you to be spontaneous and adventurous and another extremely cautious part. Parts work helps individuals make sense of where thoughts, beliefs and behaviours are rooted and work toward developing greater internal trust that leads deep-rooted fears and protectors to relax within your internal system.

Your inner parts are like clouds that prevent you from seeing clearly. Some of your clouds are dark and stormy, some are wispy and flexible and some are more dense and unmovable. Doing parts work helps you to get to know why each cloud has formed and what it is protecting inside your internal system.

None of your parts are bad, as much as they may seem to cause difficulties in your life. Within every person beneath myriad parts, is a centred, relaxed, confident, calm, clear, courageous, creative, compassionate core, which is referred to as Self. The aim of IFS is to unblend from the parts to access Self in your system. You could think of Self as your true nature that exists beyond all the hurt and protective shields, a place that is unfettered and untouched. Although, you do not need to be a spiritual person to benefit from parts work, in many spiritual traditions the Self is well understood and referred to. In Samkyya philosophy the Self is referred to as Purusha.