Compassionate Parts Work
My work is informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), which understands our inner experience as made up of different parts, each carrying its own emotions, beliefs, sensations, memories, and ways of protecting us. Alongside these parts is a core Self associated with qualities such as curiosity, calm, clarity, compassion, confidence, courage, creativity, and connectedness.
Protective parts develop to help us survive overwhelming experiences. Rather than pathologizing symptoms, we approach these parts with curiosity and compassion, exploring the roles they have learned to carry. From a grounded core Self, trauma can be witnessed and integrated without force.
Parts work may also include somatic awareness and creative expression. Sensation, movement, imagery, and art-making can offer different ways to connect with parts, access inner resources, and explore what words may not fully reach.