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Episode 28, Introduction to Parts and Partswork: Healing the Inner Family of Self

Meet Your Inner Family of Self: What Partswork Is and Why It Matters

What if the anxiety you feel isn’t all of you, but just a part of you trying to protect something tender and unhealed?

🧠 What Is Partswork?

Partswork is a transformative approach in psychotherapy and self-development that views the human psyche as a system of sub-personalities or “parts,” each with their own perspective, emotion, and story.

You may have felt this intuitively:

  • “A part of me wants to say yes, but another part wants to run away.”

  • “I know I’m safe, but I still feel like that little kid inside.”

  • “My inner critic won’t leave me alone.”

These aren’t just figures of speech—they're signs of an internal system at work.

📜 Where Did the Idea Come From?

The idea of internal multiplicity isn’t new. It has roots in:

  • Carl Jung’s archetypes and inner dialogue

  • Gestalt therapy’s two-chair techniques

  • Transactional Analysis’s Parent-Adult-Child model

  • Voice Dialogue by Hal & Sidra Stone

  • And most recently, Internal Family Systems (IFS) by Dr. Richard Schwartz

Each of these approaches teaches us to treat our parts not as problems—but as protectors, exiles, or forgotten selves waiting to be heard.

💡 Why It Matters Now

In today’s world of chronic stress, trauma awareness, and burnout, the Partswork approach is more relevant than ever. It allows us to:

  • Break free from internal conflict

  • Heal core wounds with compassion

  • Understand addiction, procrastination, and perfectionism through a new lens

  • Access deeper creativity and clarity by working with—not against—ourselves

Instead of “fixing” our behavior, we listen to the parts behind it.

🧩 A Simple Example

Let’s say you’re procrastinating.
One part wants to succeed. Another part is afraid of being judged.
Partswork helps you listen to both, build trust, and bring your Self forward to lead the way—not fear, not pressure, not avoidance.

🎧 Want to Go Deeper?

In this week’s podcast, Episode 28, I walk you through:

  • The history of Parts-Oriented therapies

  • Foundational concepts like Self-leadership, unblending, and polarization

  • Common myths and FAQ

  • Real-life vignettes and healing stories

  • A look at current and future trends

Thawing the Inner Family of Self

🧭 What’s Next?

This episode sets the stage for an entire series exploring the Inner Family of Self starting with Thawing the Inner Family of Self Workbook, the Inner Critic and the Wounded Child.

Stay subscribed to get early access to:

  • Weekly Partswork Practices group

  • Micro-courses

  • Inner Parts visualizations

  • Guided meditations

  • Case examples and recovery pathways

💬 I'd love to hear from you...

What parts have shown up for you lately?
Have you tried journaling, dialoguing, or meditating with them?
Reply to this post or drop a comment and share your experience—your story may inspire someone else on their healing journey.

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