Understanding the Inner System: An Introduction to Parts Work

Have you been hearing more about “parts work” lately? You’re not alone. Whether it’s through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS), ego states, or inner child work, the idea of “parts” has become a foundational concept in many trauma-informed approaches—and for good reason.

If you are one of many people who carry complex trauma histories, parts work provides a powerful framework for understanding internal conflict, chronic emotional distress, and behaviors that may seem at odds with one another. And when paired with EMDR therapy, this approach can help us go deeper, more safely, and with more precision.

So what exactly is “parts work”?

The Basics: You Are Not Just One Thing

Parts work operates on a simple but profound idea: we all have different “parts” within us. These parts can be thought of as subpersonalities, inner voices, or aspects of the self that developed to help us survive and function—especially in response to adversity or trauma.

• The part that feels anxious before every new experience.
• The part that shows up strong and capable, even when we’re falling apart inside.
• The part that lashes out when feeling misunderstood.
• The part that just wants to be left alone.

Rather than seeing these parts as signs of dysfunction, we begin to see them as adaptive, purposeful, and trying to protect us. Yes, even when their strategies don’t always serve us well.

 Why It Matters in Therapy

When you notice a stuck pattern, a strong emotional reaction, or a sense of inner chaos, it’s often not just a single emotion or memory at play. There are multiple parts of yourself with competing needs or fears.

Parts work helps us:

• Name what’s happening** internally (e.g., “a part of me wants to move forward, but another part is scared”).
• Build compassionate curiosity** toward the inner system, rather than frustration or shame.
• Facilitate internal dialogue** that can reduce inner conflict and pave the way for healing.

I’m always reminding my clients to first notice what’s coming up, approach it with curiosity and compassion, and then speak to their self kindly. Remember all parts have positive intentions. 

A Fit for the Midlife Professional

If you’re a professional in your 30s, 40s, or 50s you probably carry a complex blend of personal responsibilities, career stress, and unresolved emotional burdens. You may be outwardly high-functioning but inwardly exhausted, struggling to reconcile the parts of your self that feel competent with those that still carry old wounds.

For clients in this stage of life, parts work offers a structured yet flexible way to access buried pain while honoring the parts that have helped them succeed.

Preparing for Deeper Healing

By establishing a relationship with key parts of self before starting trauma processing—especially in EMDR—we create more safety, clarity, and internal collaboration. When parts feel heard and supported, they’re more likely to allow vulnerable material to surface and be processed.

In the next post, we’ll explore how EMDR and parts work can be woven together for more targeted, compassionate trauma treatment.

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Coming Up Next: Two Powerful Tools, One Transformative Approach: Why Parts Work and EMDR Work Better Together