Internal Family Systems and Parts Work

Internal Family Systems, Ego-State Therapy, and the Structural Dissociation (TIST) model all fall under the umbrella commonly referred to as "Parts Work". These interventions are built on the concept that our personality is composed of a number of various parts from our subconscious. Parts therapy promotes learning to show loving kindness, compassion, and gratitude to the whole of who you are.

 

Parts work allows individuals to search deep within themselves and find the strength, courage, and inner resources they already possess to welcome all parts of themselves home and fully integrate - if integration is what is desired. 

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When a person experiences trauma, it is common for that part of self to be exiled in order for the person to continue going on with daily life. Exiled parts often cause conflict, as other parts may use adaptive, yet self-destructive, behaviors (addictions, eating disorders, etc.) to keep the exiled part out of consciousness to avoid feeling the pain that part holds.

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Parts work enables people to welcome exiled parts home, find gratitude and compassion for the parts of self who have used adaptive behaviors to cope and survive, and develop a secure attachment to self. Individuals who complete this work often notice an improvement in self-worth, self-love, ability to care for self in all areas of life, improved relationships - making deep lasting connections, decrease in self-destructive behaviors, an overall sense of safety, and the ability to experience joy and pleasure, moving from a space of surviving to a place of thriving. 

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