The power of parts work
“A part is not just a temporary emotional state or habitual thought pattern. Instead, it is a discrete and autonomous mental system that has an idiosyncratic range of emotion, style of expression, set of abilities, desires, and view of the world. In other words, it is as if we each contain a society of people, each of whom is at a different age and has different interests, talents, and temperaments. In.”
What is Parts Work?
Parts work is an umbrella term for therapy approaches that aim to identify and resolve conflicts between different parts of the self. Parts work is based on the concept that within each person there are multiple ‘parts’, ‘states’, ‘personalities’, ‘subpersonalities’, ‘alters’, that have their own characteristics, agendas and interact with one another. When the needs and drives of each of our parts clash, these inner conflicts can create psychological and relational problems. Parts work aims to help people resolve these inner conflicts through self-awareness, self-compassion and self-acceptance.
The Evolution of Parts Work
The roots of parts work can be traced back to various indigenous and spiritual practices that recognised the presence of multiple selves within an individual. However, it gained prominence in modern psychology with the advent of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy pioneered by Dr. Richard Schwartz in the 1980s.
Today, parts work is integrated into a myriad of therapeutic modalities, including Gestalt therapy, Jungian analysis, and trauma-informed therapies like EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. These modalities offer different lenses through which to explore and understand our internal landscape, allowing therapists to tailor their approach to the unique needs of each client.
Understanding the roles of our Parts
From the language of Parts Work from Internal Family Systems, three main types of parts are described:
Managers: These parts are responsible for maintaining control and order in our lives. They often set rules, standards, and expectations to protect us from perceived dangers or vulnerabilities. Managers often develop early in life to protect us from harm or rejection. They may exhibit controlling behaviors or perfectionism in an attempt to maintain a sense of safety and worthiness.
Firefighters: When managers' strategies fail to keep us safe, firefighters come to the rescue. These parts are reactive and seek immediate relief from distressing emotions or situations. Firefighters operate on a "flight or fight" response, engaging in impulsive or reactive behaviours to extinguish emotional fires triggered by past traumas, such as substance abuse, binge eating, outbursts of anger, or self-harm to numb pain or escape overwhelming feelings. These behaviours provide temporary relief but often perpetuate cycles of shame and self-blame.
Exiles: Exiles are the wounded parts of ourselves that carry unresolved pain, trauma, and vulnerability. These parts are often hidden or suppressed, as their emergence can trigger intense emotional distress. However, they hold the key to healing and integration, as acknowledging and addressing their needs is essential for inner wholeness.
Internal Family Systems and other therapeutic approaches, cultures and religions also speak to the concept of “The Self”.
The Self: At the core of our being lies the Self, a transcendent and compassionate presence that embodies our true essence and is often spoken about as not a part - but the true “us”. Unlike other parts, the Self is not driven by fear or desire but operates from a place of wisdom, clarity, and unconditional love. It serves as the guiding force in parts work, facilitating harmony and integration among our various parts. When we connect with the Self, we access a reservoir of wisdom and resilience that empowers us to navigate life's challenges with clarity and grace.
Facilitating Healing through Parts Work:
The goals of parts work therapy are to:
acknowledge and befriend all the parts of us
help our parts adapt and evolve by understanding their intentions and working with them to develop new roles or strategies that better service the individual’s overall wellbeing
unburden the exiled and wounded parts of us
restore trust in The Self to reharmonise the inner system and become self-led
Parts work invites us to heed the wisdom of Carl Jung: "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."
If you are interested in seeking the support of The Dawn as part of your healing journey, or just as a process of getting to know yourself further. Please send us a message through the contact page on the website!
Nicole Staats
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Principal Therapist at The Dawn Therapeutic Services