Parts Process

The core principle of parts work is that each of us has a Self with a capital S within us. There are many names for this, including Higher Self, Wise Mind, Unconditional Love, Christ or Buddha Self. This is not religious in any way but is an aspect of who we are. I sometimes call it the Core Essence Self or CES.  Some may call it the Diamond within. Throughout the writing I will call it the Self.

IFS is a therapeutic model that views the mind as composed of multiple parts with distinct roles and personalities, all working within a larger Self. This modality was developed by Richard Schwartz in the 1980s.

The Self expresses a certain quality or qualities that Schwartz calls the eight C’s. These include:

• Compassion

• Clarity

• Curiosity

• Confidence

• Connectedness

• Creativity

• Courage

• Calmness

Having access and developing connections with this is crucial. Many do so through meditation, being in nature, or simply focusing on love.

Parts work begins by accessing this Self energy, being in Self, and inviting it to be present in the work. In other words, the Self energy will hold unconditional love for all parts throughout the entire process.

The steps of the Parts Process are:

1. The person is aware of something that may activate them. We often call this a trigger or a trailhead.

2. The next step is to discover where in the body there is a physical sensation related to this emotion. It may be physically sensed in the body or heard as a “voice,” seen as an image.

3. Once it is found, this is identified as the location of the part.

4. The person then asks, “How do I feel toward this sensation, voice or image?”  Usually the answer to that question might be something like: “I’m annoyed by it,” or “I want it to go away.”  When this is the case, we ask the part that is annoyed what it wants us to know about itself. We also reassure this annoyed part that whatever it expresses makes sense. Once this annoyed part feels fully heard, it is respectfully asked if it would step back a bit so that we can get to know the original part.

5. The person then can ask the original part what it would like us to know about itself. Anything this part articulates is acceptable. Often it may sound or feel weird. Stick with it.

6. Once the person is “in Self,” the Self energy just naturally extends one or more of the eight C’s to the original part.

For example, Self might feel compassion toward that part that has just told us what it wants us to know. Self expresses its compassion toward the original part and continues this for as long as it feels right inside. You can treat the original part as if it is an actual being who is being witnessed by Self. 

7. The next step is to ask the part how it is experiencing the energy of compassion. The part shares how it is receiving or sometimes rejecting this energy. Any reaction that the part expresses is validated by Self.

8. Then Self asks the original part if there's anything else it wants to say. The original part then says whatever it wants to say as the Self continues to hold space. Repeat this as many times as your parts need. 

9. With each response from the original part, the Self continues by sending out one or more of the eight C's to the part and listens for how this is experienced by the part.

10. The original part has expressed and become aware of the burdens it was carrying, releasing them by naming them to the Self and feeling loved, validated, and accepted by the Self. At this point, the alchemy is present. (Many IFS therapists include an unburdening process in which the original part releases the burden to any of the four elements: air, earth, water, fire. This is described further in the workbook referred to below.)

This completes the process.

The following is a brief description but more detail and theory can be found in Tanis Allen's book titled, "The Self -Led Internal Family Systems Workbook." This is subtitled, "Learn IFS Skills to Understand and Love all your Parts." 

This book is designed for both lay people and for therapists. To understand and use parts process more deeply, Tanis Allen's book is recommended as it includes examples, cautions, and guidelines to make this powerful work safe.