Shrinkle #22 · Therapy room · 5 letters
Parts work
Parts work is an approach that sees the mind as made up of different parts, such as a worried part or a critical part, each trying to help in its own way.
In the room
A therapist might invite a client to get curious about the part that procrastinates, and what it might be trying to protect them from.
Something a client might say
“Some of me wants to go out, yet another side of me wants to hide.”
An illustrative line, not a real client.
Online vs in the room
Online, talk of 'parts' is sometimes taken to mean having multiple personalities. In parts work, having parts is seen as a normal feature of every mind, not a sign that something is wrong.
Where it comes from
Parts work is most closely associated with Internal Family Systems, developed by Richard Schwartz.
Related ideas
Internal Family Systems · Inner child · Inner critic
Made by Alembic Labs. Educational, not clinical advice. Privacy · Terms