Parts Work Therapy

Parts Work Therapy refers to a collection of therapies that help people to develop a map of their mind, in order to resolve internal conflicts, self doubt and self-criticism, and live in a more peaceful and balanced way with themselves.  Parts work therapies include the Model of Structural Dissociation, Internal Family Systems Therapy and Ego State Therapy.

When I am using Parts Work with a person, together we develop of map of their consciousness, starting with neurobiology, helping people to identify when their survival responses (e.g. fight, flight, freeze, submit, collapse) are activated.  We will include in the map parts of the person’s experience whose function it is to manage those survival responses, to prevent them getting hijacked by the survival responses.  I also develop people’s access to a part who is present and grounded, able to observe the body and be curious about the body’s needs, and who can begin to coordinate the complex systems of the organism.  I also work on developing people’s access to inner wisdom: the part of their organism that can help them to regulate themselves and make choices that are authentic, empowering and right for them.

I do parts work from an integrative place, drawing on therapeutic wisdom from several sources including: the literature on dissociation, the Model of Structural Dissociation, Polyvagal Theory, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, Ego State Therapy, and Inner Self Helper work.

References

International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation [Chu, J. A., Dell, P. F., Van der Hart, O., Cardeña, E., Barach, P. M., Somer, E., Loewenstein, R. J., Brand, B., Golston, J. C., Courtois, C. A., Bowman, E. S., Classen, C., Dorahy, M., ̧ Sar,V., Gelinas,D.J., Fine,C.G., Paulsen, S., Kluft, R. P., Dalenberg, C. J., Jacobson-Levy, M., Nijenhuis, E. R. S., Boon, S., Chefetz, R.A., Middleton, W., Ross, C. A., Howell, E., Goodwin, G., Coons, P. M., Frankel, A. S., Steele, K., Gold, S. N., Gast, U., Young, L. M., & Twombly, J.]. (2011). Guidelines for treating dissociative identity disorder in adults, third revision. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 12(2): 115–187.

Dana, D.A. & Porges, S.W. (2018) The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation.  New York: WW Norton and Company.

Krakauer, S. Y. (2001). Treating Dissociative Identity: the power of the collective heart. New York: Brunner-Routledge.

Ogden, P., & Fisher, J. (2015). Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology). New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Schwartz, R.C. (1995) Internal Family Systems Therapy. New York: Guildford Press.

Steele, K., Boon, S. & van der Hart, O. (2017) Treating Trauma-Related Dissociation. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.

Watkins, J., & Watkins, H. (1997). Ego State Therapy. London: W.W. Norton & Co.