Getting to Know Your Parts- Through Visualization!

At our weekly meditation group, we walked through the visualization “Your Perfect Day”. It became clear during our group, that this is an incredibly effective tool for parts work!

A brief overview of parts work

Indigenous and non-Western healing traditions have long recognized the multiplicity of the self, often through ritual, storytelling and spiritual practice. These perspectives were not part of mainstream Western psychotherapy at the time. Parts work became popularized in the United States through the work of Dr. Richard Schwartz and the formal creation of Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS). IFS views all people as having parts, regardless of diagnosis. These parts can be more or less polarized, compartmentalized, or conflicted- but everyone has them! Research on IFS therapy, while still growing, highlights it as a promising treatment for various conditions such as chronic pain, depression, and PTSD.

But why visualization?

Visualization helps you access and communicate with your parts in a gentle and creative way. This works whether your parts feel very separate or are more subtle aspects of your personality and emotions. For clients with less compartmentalized parts, visualization can reveal hidden feelings, motivations, or protective roles that might not be obvious in talk therapy. For clients with more compartmentalized parts, visualization can be a crucial tool to safely map and engage with distinct parts without overwhelming them. 

So why should I visualize my perfect day? 

This can create a more positive mental space where you can feel calm and open. It encourages parts to reveal themselves naturally through imagery without direct confrontation. You might notice as you begin the visualization that you have conflicting desires for how your perfect day begins or who you spend it with- this can be information as to what different parts value, desire or fear! When faced with this conflict, it can incite your core compassionate presence to emerge and lead your system. You might notice that it’s more challenging when faced with this challenge to compromise and hear multiple perspectives- this is something an individual therapist can help develop and nurture! 

My Offerings: 

You can sign up to attend our free weekly meditation group here! 

If you’re over 16, in California, and interested in individual/relationship therapy, I am currently accepting clients at my practice. The best way to contact me is via email at jayklyman@proton.me. You can also text me at 510-255-5702. I have more information about all of my offerings on my website www.jayklymantherapy.com