Parts Work

Understanding Your Parts

Ever feel like you’re different people in different situations? Like you have a “work self,” “friend self,” or “relationship self”? Parts work is a therapeutic approach to uncovering the often-protective parts of ourselves that surface when we’re stressed or triggered. These parts originally developed to keep us safe, but as we grow, they don’t always align with who we are now.

Though it may sound unusual, everyone has different parts of themselves. In cases of trauma, particularly childhood trauma, the psyche can “split” as a defense mechanism, sometimes resulting in memory gaps around painful events.

Fortunately, there’s a path forward. By getting to know each part—how it shows up, where it lives in your body, and its purpose—you can move toward a unified, resilient self. Parts work helps these aspects feel closer to your core self, the part that is capable and ready to reach your goals and dreams.

Through this work, you bring compassion to each part, understanding its purpose and letting go of outdated defenses. You become more self-aware and able to live authentically. Ultimately, each part of you longs to be seen, heard, and loved. When you listen to each one, they integrate into the present, shifting you from a place of hurt to one of wholeness and healing.