Introduction: Why “Parts Work” Makes Clients Feel Seen
Have you ever had a client say, “A part of me wants to change, but another part is scared”?
That sentence alone is an open door to Parts Work — the gentle, intuitive idea that we’re made up of many different “parts,” each with their own emotions, beliefs, and intentions.
Instead of seeing clients as resistant, fragmented, or inconsistent, Parts Work reframes inner conflict as communication.
Every part is trying to protect something valuable — even if its strategy is outdated or painful.
This guide will show you how to introduce Parts Work in therapy in a way that’s accessible, trauma-informed, and deeply empowering.
Section 1: What Is Parts Work? (Plain Language for Clients)
Parts Work is a therapeutic approach based on the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz.
It teaches that:
- We all have multiple “parts” or inner voices.
- Every part has a positive intention, even if its behavior causes pain.
- Beneath all the parts is the Self — calm, curious, and compassionate.
💬 Therapist language example:
“You might think of your parts as different team members. Some are loud and protective. Others are quiet and scared. All of them belong.”
Section 2: Why Introducing Parts Work Matters
Traditional talk therapy can sometimes make clients feel pathologized — as though something is “wrong” with them.
Parts Work helps clients:
- Reduce shame: by understanding internal conflict as natural.
- Increase self-compassion: seeing all parts as protectors.
- Integrate trauma safely: by approaching hurt parts at the client’s pace.
- Empower autonomy: clients learn to lead their inner system, not fight it.
💬 Therapist insight: “IFS gives language to what clients already feel — that they’re not broken, just made up of many stories.”
Section 3: How to Introduce Parts Work in Early Sessions
1. Start with Everyday Language
Skip jargon — use what clients already say.
“It sounds like part of you wants to speak up, and another part wants to stay quiet.”
That reflection alone often sparks recognition: “Yeah — exactly.”
2. Normalize Multiplicity
Explain that everyone has parts — even therapists.
Use examples like:
“Part of me wants to rest, part of me wants to be productive.”
This normalizes inner conflict as human, not pathological.
3. Use Visuals to Make It Concrete
Draw a simple diagram or use a printable worksheet:
🧩 Self in the center, surrounded by circles labeled “protector,” “manager,” “exile,” “inner critic,” etc.
📄 Use the “Meet Your Parts” worksheet from the IFS Workbook for visualization.
4. Begin Mapping Gently
Invite curiosity without analysis:
“Can we notice what part shows up when you feel anxious?”
“What might that part be trying to protect?”
Encourage naming, not judging.
🧠 Tip: Remind clients, “You don’t have to get rid of any part — just get to know it.”
5. Identify Roles and Intentions
Help clients distinguish types of parts:
| Type | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | Prevent pain | “I have to stay in control.” |
| Firefighters | Distract from pain | “I scroll or lash out when stressed.” |
| Exiles | Hold past wounds | “I feel small, ashamed, or forgotten.” |
Once clients understand why a part exists, they can approach it with compassion, not frustration.
📄 Pair with: IFS Parts Mapping Worksheet.
Section 4: Common Client Reactions (and How to Respond)
🧩 “I don’t think I have parts.”
→ Gently reframe: “That’s totally okay. We’re just exploring ways you relate to different feelings or voices — not labeling you.”
🧩 “So, am I multiple people?”
→ Clarify: “No — it’s still one you, but made of many sides that want to help in different ways.”
🧩 “This part feels bad.”
→ Normalize: “Every part started with a good purpose — even if its methods hurt now.”
Section 5: Using Worksheets and Exercises
Introducing Parts Work visually helps clients externalize what they feel.
Here are simple, therapist-ready tools:
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 🧠 Meet Your Parts Worksheet | Identify and name inner parts |
| 💬 Dialogue with a Part Sheet | Journal from a part’s voice |
| ❤️ Parts Mapping Chart | Show relationships between parts |
| 🌿 IFS Affirmations Page | Build Self-compassion language |
📄 All included in the IFS Worksheets Bundle for Therapists.
Section 6: How to Integrate Parts Work With Other Modalities
- With CBT: Reframe thoughts by identifying which part holds the belief.
- With EMDR: Notice which part shows up during memory reprocessing.
- With DBT: Combine “wise mind” with Self-leadership.
- With Somatic work: Track body sensations for each part’s presence.
💬 Therapist tip: “Parts Work isn’t a new technique — it’s a new lens for everything you already do.”
Section 7: Ending Sessions with Integration
After Parts Work exploration, always return to the Self.
Ask:
“How do you feel toward that part right now?”
“What would your calm, curious Self want it to know?”
This teaches clients to lead their system rather than analyze it.
🧘 End with a grounding exercise or brief mindfulness check-in.
Conclusion: Curiosity Is the Cure
Introducing Parts Work in therapy doesn’t mean diving deep immediately.
It begins with curiosity — an invitation to explore, not to fix.
When clients start saying things like,
“A part of me is angry, but another part wants to understand,”
you’ll know integration has begun.
That’s not fragmentation — that’s healing.
✅ Next Step for Therapists:
Download the IFS Worksheets Bundle for Therapists — includes mapping charts, part dialogues, and affirmations to help clients identify, understand, and integrate their inner system.
Read more: