ATTACHMENT + IFS-INFORMED PARTS WORK THERAPY
Understanding The Different Parts of Yourself
Have you ever felt conflicted between two sides of yourself?
Or noticed yourself repeating patterns you wish you could change? Parts work helps you explore these different sides of yourself, understand what may be driving your reactions, and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself.
My attachment-informed approach considers how past relationships and experiences may have shaped the ways you've learned to protect yourself. Together, we'll make sense of these patterns and explore new ways of responding to yourself and others, at a pace that feels right for you.
UNDERSTANDING IFS-INFORMED PARTS WORK THERAPY
Parts work is a therapeutic approach that helps you understand the different sides of yourself, especially those that show up when you're stressed, overwhelmed, or feeling vulnerable.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is one model of parts work. It recognizes that we can have different thoughts, feelings, and reactions that sometimes seem to conflict. Even the parts of ourselves we struggle with may be trying to protect us in some way.
Attachment-informed parts work also considers how our relationships and earlier experiences may have shaped these protective responses. Understanding where these patterns come from can help us approach them with greater curiosity and compassion.
I've completed specialized training in parts work and dissociation, including integrating parts work with EMDR. My approach is grounded in curiosity, compassion, and helping you better understand the parts of yourself that may be keeping you feeling stuck.
THE PARTS WORK PROCESS
Parts work helps you recognize the different sides of yourself, understand why they show up, and explore new ways of responding. The process is collaborative and looks different for everyone.
01.
NOTICING YOUR PARTS
We begin by recognizing the different sides of you that show up in everyday life, such as your inner critic, people pleaser, or the part that pulls away when things feel difficult.
02.
UNDERSTANDING THEIR ROLES
We explore what these parts are trying to do for you and what they may be protecting you from.
03.
EXPLORING WHERE THEY COME FROM
Together, we look at how earlier experiences and relationships shaped these patterns and why certain parts learned to respond the way they do.
04.
BUILDING TRUST WITHIN YOURSELF
We make space to understand what your protective parts need and begin relating to them with more compassion and understanding.
05.
FINDING NEW WAYS TO RESPOND
As you become more aware of these patterns, you may find new ways to respond to difficult feelings, relationships, and situations.
ATTACHMENT + YOUR PROTECTIVE PARTS
The ways we learned to connect with others, express our needs, and protect ourselves begin in our earliest relationships. When certain feelings or needs weren't welcomed, understood, or responded to consistently, we developed ways of coping that helped us get through those experiences.
Maybe you learned to keep everyone happy to avoid conflict, stay in control so nothing could catch you off guard, or pull away when closeness started to feel uncomfortable. These responses may have served an important purpose, even if they now leave you feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or stuck.
Through attachment-informed parts work, we can approach these patterns with curiosity rather than criticism. Together, we'll explore what these protective sides of you have been trying to accomplish and what they might need today. As you begin to understand them differently, there may be more room to respond in ways that feel right for you.
WHAT TO EXPECT
You don't need to know anything about IFS or how to identify your different parts before starting therapy. We can begin with whatever feels most present for you, whether that's a familiar relationship pattern, a critical inner voice, or a feeling you don't quite understand.
We'll work together at a pace that respects your comfort and readiness. You always have a say in what we explore and how deeply we go.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
We'll talk about what brings you to therapy, the patterns you've noticed, and what you'd like to feel different.
BUILDING TRUST AND SAFETY
We'll check in with your comfort along the way and take time to understand the concerns behind your protective responses.
NOTICING YOUR PARTS
We'll explore the different sides of yourself and how they show up in everyday life, without pressure to change anything.
MAKING ROOM FOR CHANGE
As you develop a different relationship with your parts, you may begin noticing more choice in how you respond to yourself and others.
A GENTLE REMINDER:
You don't have to force a part of yourself to change. We can start by understanding why it's there.
IS PARTS WORK RIGHT FOR YOU?
Making Sense of The Different Sides of Yourself
Maybe you understand why you react a certain way, but still find yourself repeating the same patterns. You might feel pulled between conflicting needs, question your own decisions, or find yourself falling into familiar patterns.
Attachment-informed parts work may be helpful if you:
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Struggle with a harsh inner critic or persistent self-doubt
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Find yourself people pleasing or putting others' needs first
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Often feel torn between two choices or unsure which direction to take
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Shut down, withdraw, or become overwhelmed during conflict
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Notice familiar relationship patterns that are difficult to change
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Want to understand yourself with more compassion and less judgment
You don't need to know anything about IFS or parts work to begin. We can talk about what you've been experiencing and whether this approach feels like a good fit for you.
Not sure if Parts Work is the right fit? We can talk about what you're experiencing, what you're hoping to work on, and whether this approach makes sense for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Even the parts of yourself you struggle with deserve understanding. Therapy can be a place to explore those feelings, make sense of familiar patterns, and begin relating to yourself with more compassion.