We are greater than the sum of our “parts”…
Driving our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, our internal family system members or “parts” are in us to help navigate the hallways of life and protect us from harm and keep the system running smoothly. Those that manage keep us looking good, by trying to control all relationships and situations in roles such as judge, self-critic, planner, passivist, optimist, controller, pessimist, enthusiast to keep the exiled wounds of the inner child kept below the conscious of Self. They manage us…but sometimes wounds are exposed, and it is then the other protective parts come to the rescue to put out the fire of pain through addiction, violence, dissociation, OCD, distraction, or other methods.
When we look at ourselves through this lens, we gain a deeper understanding of how complex humans are and that we are truly greater than the sum of our parts. Because we are all infallible creatures, the likelihood that we have all experienced a wound, if not multiple, or even a life-time full is statistically significant. Understanding that our neuroses, or mental health illnesses, challenges and obstacles originate with dysfunction in our internal family system of parts, which is an effort to protect our wounds or keep them locked away, so they don’t pop into our conscious awareness, can be liberating. This is one way I conceptualize my clients in addition to EMDR and other modalities. Let’s talk if you’re interested!
