In this heartfelt and affirming episode, we sit down with the Shadow System, a guest navigating the early stages of discovering they’re a system. Just over a year and a half into their journey, they share openly about the confusion, curiosity, relief, and emotional labor that come with realizing you have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or OSDD.

✨ What We Talk About

* Journals, handwriting, and the clues that didn’t make sense—until they did

* The “am I making this up?” spiral (and why it’s so common)

* What happens when your system knows before you do

* System communication through writing, art, sensation, and intuition

* Why some parts step forward—and others stay hidden

* The pain of not being believed by a therapist… and the power of finding one who does

* How to talk to loved ones (even when they’ve only seen the media version of DID)

* Taking up space, offering feedback in therapy, and building trust at your own pace

This episode is an honest, deeply relatable look at the messy, sacred beginning of system awareness. If you’re newly navigating DID or OSDD—or supporting someone who is—you won’t want to miss this one.

⏱️ Timestamps

* 00:50 – Meet the Shadow System + Early Clues of Multiplicity

* 03:00 – Journaling, handwriting shifts, and confusing memories

* 08:30 – Realizing: “Wait… this is real”

* 12:00 – System denial, self-trust, and questioning your own mind

* 17:00 – Journals, art, and making space for parts to speak

* 22:30 – Therapy: What helped, what didn’t, and finding a safe fit

* 28:00 – “Do you think I’m just bored?”: Humor + honesty in healing

* 36:00 – Telling her husband she’s a system—and his loving response

* 44:30 – When parts front at home + parenting through system dynamics

* 50:00 – The inner world, the conference table, and communication struggles

* 55:00 – Advice for newly aware systems: “Slow down, trust your parts”

01:00:00 – New hope: What feels possible now

📲 Follow & Connect

* Follow the Shadow System on Instagram: @exploringmyshadows

* Subscribe for weekly blogs, downloadables, and community support: healingmyparts.substack.com

* Explore our website for free resources, support groups, consultations, and more: www.healingmyparts.org

* Shop our merch for cozy, conversation-starting gear made by and for systems: healingmyparts.org/merch

* Follow us on Instagram @healingmyparts for bite sized nuggets to support your healing.

🛠️ Want support for your system or your clinical work?We offer consultations, workshops, and speaking engagements for both systems and professionals. Find what fits your needs at Healing My Parts Services

🛑 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and support purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy or medical advice. Please take good care while listening.

Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

📝 Episode Overview

What does it really mean to live as a system in a world obsessed with being “just one person”? This week, we’re joined by psychologist, researcher, and unapologetic plural Sandi James. Together, we dive deep into the lived realities of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and plural life—unpacking treatment trauma, internal disconnect, and the everyday magic (and chaos) of showing up in a world that often doesn’t see you.

Sandy shares unfiltered truths about:

* Surviving—and thriving—after treatment that missed the mark

* The funny and frustrating sides of dissociation (like dog-sitting for strangers!)

* The real reasons systems “drop off the planet”—and why connection still matters

* Practical tips for co-fronting, calendar hacks, and making therapy work for your system

* How therapists and allies can better show up for plurals

Whether you’re a system, a clinician, or someone who loves and supports either—this conversation promises validation, laughter, and hope.

🕰️ Episode Timestamps

* 00:00 – Welcome! Meet Sandi James and today’s big questions

* 01:00 – Sandi’s story: treatment-resistant research, and why labels matter

* 03:15 – Deconstructing myths: “Manipulative,” “attention-seeking,” and “resistant”—what’s really going on?

* 06:00 – The clinical blind spot: “I don’t remember” ≠ lying

* 07:00 – Loneliness, masking, and the ache for connection in plural life

* 10:30 – Getting out the door: swings, surfboards, and sensory hacks

* 13:30 – Bright shoes and reclaiming the gaze: system pride in public

* 16:00 – Negotiating who fronts in social settings—and building internal trust

* 21:00 – System imposter syndrome: Who’s the “real” me, anyway?

* 28:00 – Holding space for others, even with internal doubt

* 33:30 – Calendar color-coding, alarms, and planning for plural life

* 42:00 – Partners who don’t know you’re plural: navigating silence and safety

* 51:00 – Friendships, “ghosting,” and parts with different social needs

* 57:00 – Hope for systems who feel like “too much”

* 1:04:00 – Harmony isn’t perfection: it’s persistence

* 1:12:00 – “I don’t want to go back—I want to discover who I am now.”

* 1:16:00 – Closing: Healing doesn’t require perfection or performance

💡 Who Should Listen?

* Plurals and systems seeking real talk and solidarity

* Therapists, case managers, and support teams wanting deeper understanding

* Friends & loved ones who want to show up better for the systems in their lives

🌈 Why You’ll Love This Episode

Prepare for laughter, honesty, and a gentle reminder: you’re not too much, and you’re definitely not alone. Tune in for validation, practical tips, and hope—no matter where you are on the journey.

Listen now, and re-discover what it means to be plural and becoming.💫

Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Overview

What happens when therapy isn’t accessible—or when it just doesn’t fit? Jade Miller joins us to talk about the power of peer support for people with dissociative identities, why healing doesn't have to follow a clinical script, and how redefining recovery can lead to real transformation.

This is a conversation about choice, internal trust, and the radical act of loving all your parts.

💡 Key Topics

🔹 Peer Coaching vs. TherapyWhat peer support is—and what it isn’t.

🔹 Redefining HealingWhy integration isn’t the only (or best) outcome.

🔹 Lived ExperienceHow peer work fills gaps traditional therapy can’t.

🔹 Provider PitfallsWhat not to assume when working with systems.

🔹 Daily Life as HealingMicro-moments, not checklists, keep systems steady.

🔹 Internal ConnectionRespect among parts is foundational for healing.

🔹 Jade’s DreamListen in to find out!

🧰 Tools & Resources

* System Synergy Workbook – 150+ pages of printable tools for systems, from check-ins to coloring pages.

* Dear Little Ones – A gentle, beloved book for littles and systems everywhere.

* Medical Provider Letter Template – Free download to support safe, trauma-informed care.

🌐 Connect with Jade

* Website: PeerSupportForMultiples.com

* Instagram: @peersupportformultiples

* Facebook: Peer Support for Multiples

* Support Safe Harbor Peer Respite

💬 Why Listen?

If you’re a system, provider, or someone who loves a system—this episode is a gentle but powerful reminder:There’s no one right way to heal. Only your way.And you’re not alone.

🎧 Hit play and share with someone who needs to hear this.

Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

What Moved in the Room

In this episode of Healing My Parts, we sit down with Fawnn Bryant—a plural system living with OSDD—who shares their transformative journey with EMDR therapy.

Fawnn’s story begins with the search for safety: leaving an unsafe marriage, creating a home where all parts could finally exhale, and finding a therapist who truly saw them. That safety opened the door to a flood of memories, the sudden emergence of Littles and the raw reality of disorganized attachment.

Together, we explore the chaos of early system discovery, the rupture-and-repair cycle in therapy, and how EMDR became a lifeline—tailored to honor each part. Over three years, Fawnn’s world shifted from constant crisis to cautious hope. As they put it, the progress is “only half-magical,” but even that marks a profound move from drowning to beginning to breathe again.

This conversation is both tender and practical, offering validation for systems and insight for clinicians: healing is slow, nonlinear, and messy—but movement and connection are always possible.

Moments That Moved Us

* System Discovery & Safety (00:01:00–00:04:00)Leaving an unsafe relationship, creating a safe home, and the moment a gatekeeper stepped back—ushering in younger parts and sudden system awareness.

* Attachment Wounds & Therapy Ruptures (00:04:30–00:07:00)The turmoil of disorganized attachment and the uphill work of rebuilding relational safety.

* The Role of EMDR (00:08:20–00:13:00)Why EMDR was a game-changer for a blendy, often non-verbal system—and how one therapist adapted sessions to meet every voice.

* Three Years In: Half-Magical Progress (00:18:00–00:22:00)From 30 simultaneous crises to one topic at a time—journaling, trust-building, and authentic connection.

* Statistics & Soapbox (00:27:00–00:31:00)Eye-opening numbers: 12% of the population is dissociative, 48% live with insecure attachment—underscoring the need for trauma-informed training.

* Consent & Modality Fit (00:44:00–00:47:00)Why systems must advocate for themselves, why CBT often falls short, and why true healing requires consent and pacing.

* Emerging Into Connection (00:39:00–00:42:00)From derealization as an infant survival strategy to building real friendships in adulthood for the first time.

Did This Move You,Too?

If you’re part of a system considering EMDR — or a clinician wanting to better support dissociative clients — this episode brings both reality checks and grounded hope. Healing rarely unfolds in straight lines, but Fawnn’s story shows how safety, connection, and relational repair can crack open a truer sense of your system — and create space for more of your selves to be seen and supported.

What moved you(s)?

Resources:

Healing Together Conference Annual gathering centering lived experience and professional support for dissociative systems.

Dissociative Writers A growing network of writers with lived experience navigating OSDD/DID and complex trauma.

Hearts Multiplied – A community for systems, offering support, connection, and collective healing.

Peer Support for Multiples -Jade Miller – Peer coach and system advocate known for her accessible resources on system navigation and inner safety.

Crisses – Longstanding voices in the dissociative community offering tools, classes, and foundational education for systems and supporters.

Healing My Parts on Instagram – @healingmyparts — soft, sometimes sassy system-affirming content, tools, and connection.

Healing My Parts on Substack – Weekly blogs, downloadables, insights and tools by a therapist with living with DID.

Healing My Parts Website – Consultations for both professionals & systems, workshops, support groups, merch, and more.

Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Join us for a rich, unfiltered conversation with Katie Keech, LMFT—queer, neurodivergent, and plural therapist—on what system-affirming care really means. From the politics of difference to the power of parts, this one goes deep.

In this episode of Healing My Parts, we sit down with therapist Katie Keech, LMFT (they/them), a queer, neurodivergent, and plural clinician whose presence is nothing short of magnetic. Together, we unpack what system-affirming care actually looks like—from bodyminds to backlash, trauma to truth—and why embracing difference is a deeply political and healing act.

Whether you're a system, supporter, or a clinician walking with us, this conversation is an invitation to rethink what safety, dignity, and authenticity can look like in the therapy room and beyond.

⏱️ Timestamps

* 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro

* Meet Katie: plural, queer, neurodivergent therapist + advocate

* 02:00 – Beyond the Binary: Neurocomplexity and Bodymind

* Katie shares how intersections of neurodivergence shape identity

* 05:00 – System-Affirming vs Singlet-Performing

* Why masking and blending aren’t signs of healing

* 07:00 – The Politics of Difference

* From eugenics to neurocosmopolitanism: why sameness is a control tactic

* 10:30 – Scared of Consciousness?

* The real reason people resist DID visibility

* 12:30 – Are Parts Inherently Good?

* Nuance around “evil,” groomed systems, and complexity

* 14:00 – Misunderstood Parts & Therapist Misattunement

* Why teen parts and risky behaviors are often mislabeled

* 17:00 – Projection in the Therapy Room

* Countertransference, burnout, and why “resistance” is a therapist’s issue

* 20:00 – When DID Isn’t Believed (or Treated)

* Katie + Monika share personal and client stories of invalidation

* 23:00 – Fusion vs Choice

* Performing healing to appease therapists vs honoring internal truth

* 26:00 – What Burnout Really Looks Like

* Autistic & system burnout as nervous system overwhelm—not depression

* 31:00 – Plural Friendship & “Too Much”

* What people get wrong about being friends with systems

* 36:00 – Disclosure, Safety & Groomed Systems

* Navigating who to tell, how to protect young parts, and relational risks

* 41:00 – Endogenous vs Traumagenic

* Why the binary may be a false split—and why it matters less than you think

* 46:00 – Cultural Models of Plurality

* A look at colonialist roots of the DSM and erasure of plural worldviews

* 50:00 – The Neurodivergence Web

* Autism, DID, ADHD, daydreaming, and the brilliance of the brain

* 56:00 – Shame, Fixing, and System Flattening

* ABA, conversion therapy, and the violence of “normalizing”

* 1:01:00 – Creating Plural-Friendly Worlds

* Why we need spaces where we can drop the mask, and just be

* 1:04:00 – Final Reflections from Katie

* A tree that splits from lightning isn’t broken—it’s adapting. So are we.

Connect with Katie!

Website: katiekeech.com

Instagram: @katiekmft

TikTok: Neuroqueer Therapist

X: @keechmft

Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we sit down with the incredible System of Gardens and Flowers—a French polyfragmented system of over 900 parts and a RAMCOA survivor—to explore what it really means to live, work, and heal while navigating complex dissociation and programming.

Together, we explore:

* How they discovered they were a system and began mapping 900+ parts (00:02:03)

* The difference between “parts” and “fragments”—and how they manage internal communication (00:04:10)

* What it’s like to be out at work as legal counsel while managing internal dynamics (00:16:00)

* How programming shows up in everyday life (and what helps dismantle it) (00:23:00)

* The real-life emotional toll of navigating therapy, memory loss, grief, and trauma (00:24:00)

* Why love, compassion, and community are lifelines in recovery (00:40:00)

This is a deeply human, unflinchingly honest, and profoundly hopeful conversation. Whether you're a provider, a survivor, or a fellow system, we hope you'll feel seen here.

Content Warnings: This episode includes references to trauma, RAMCOA, programming, and grief. Please listen with care and take what you need.

Resources Mentioned:

* Hearts Multiplied Forum

* Couple of Multiples Podcast

* Follow System of Gardens and Flowers on Instagram: @systemofgardensandflowers

* Follow Healing My Parts on Instagram

@healingmyparts

* Visit our website for more resources

healingmyparts.org

Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when eating disorders and dissociative disorders meet?

In this deeply human conversation with Annie Goldsmith, RD, LDN, we explore how food, body, and trauma are wired together—and what healing can look like when care is somatic, polyvagal‑informed, and truly system‑aware.

✨ Whether you’re a system, a clinician, or someone navigating mealtimes in a nervous system that’s been through a lot—this episode is for you.

💬 We talk about:▫️ Why eating disorder care so often misses dissociation (07:00)▫️ How parts experience food differently (yes—some don’t have a body) (22:00)▫️ What it means to build safety before behavior change (57:00)▫️ Intuitive eating in systems—does it work? (44:26)▫️ Health at Every Size in the context of systems (48:50)▫️ Why healing isn’t one size fits all (1:02:45)

🎧 Listen now: 💌 Let us know your thoughts—drop a comment or DM. We’d love to hear what resonates.

🖤 No parts left behind. Always.

👉 Annie’s Practice: Second Breakfast Nutrition

#DID #OSDD #EatingDisorderRecovery #PolyvagalTheory #SomaticHealing #TraumaInformedCare #HAES #IntuitiveEating #HealingMyParts

Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

If you’ve ever felt like the system wasn’t built for you… you’re not wrong.

In this episode, we’re joined by Anne and Lexi from Beauty After Bruises, a nonprofit that’s reshaping how survivors of complex trauma and dissociative identity disorder (DID) are supported when the traditional paths don’t—or won’t—show up.

We talk about what real care looks like when you’ve been through layers of harm. Whether you're a system trying to navigate healing, someone who loves a system and wants to understand, or a provider trying to get it right, this conversation offers practical insights, grounded validation, and real-world examples of what’s possible when advocacy is trauma-informed and action-oriented.

🎧 In This Episode:

* (00:49) The origin story: how Beauty After Bruises started with heartbreak and turned into healing

* (03:00) Lexi shares her experience as a system—and how it shaped their mission

* (12:30) Therapy boxes: what they are, who they help, and why they matter

* (20:20) “Trauma-informed” isn’t the gold standard—it’s the baseline

* (27:40) Why some therapists feel overwhelmed—and what systems need instead

* (33:15) When there’s nowhere to refer: facing the care gap

* (42:10) Designing support with survivors, not just for them

* (50:05) The myth of perfection: why it’s okay to show up imperfectly

* (56:30) Clinician burnout and the emotional toll of this work

* (1:02:00) What collaborative, client-centered care actually looks like

* (1:07:00) A reminder: healing happens when we’re not doing it alone

👥 About Our Guests – Beauty After BruisesFounded by Anne and Lexi, Beauty After Bruises is a nonprofit offering practical support, crisis intervention, and community care for people living with DID and complex PTSD. With a mix of professional insight and lived experience, they meet survivors where they are—whether that’s on a waitlist, in the middle of a breakdown, or just trying to survive another day.

🌐 beautyafterbruises.org📸 @beautyafterbruises💌 Support their work, apply for aid, or explore their survivor + provider resources.

📚 Resources Mentioned:

* Therapy Box Program

* Survivor Blog + Education Hub

* ISSTD (International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation)

✨ Loved this episode?Subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone who wants to support a system better, or is part of one.For more system-affirming tools, grounded education, and lived experience stories, join our newsletter on Substack.

Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

We are so excited to welcome back the Gianu System for one of our most insightful (and joy-filled!) conversations yet. In this episode, we talk about what healing looks like across time, modalities, and parts — and what it meant for the Gianu System to experience a fusion.

Together, we explore the winding, non-linear nature of trauma recovery — and how systems like ours navigate therapeutic work that meets all of us where we are.

We explore the complexities of being a system in trauma therapy: trying different modalities, navigating misattunements, and learning to getting alters communicating. We talk candidly about what it’s like when therapy doesn’t work — and what happened when they finally found something that did.

You’ll hear about the modalities they explored, including:

* 🧠 CBT (and why it didn’t land)

* 💬 IFS (what helped and what felt misaligned)

* ⚡ EMDR (how it helped — and what was hard)

* 🌀 Deep Brain Reorienting — the approach that finally changed everything

We dive into:

* Why screening tools like the DES and MID should be given more than once (because who’s fronting matters!)

* How missing a DID diagnosis can derail trauma work

* The power of self-compassion, communication, and humor in the healing process

* What fusion really is (and what it’s not)

Whether you're a therapist, a supporter, or part of a system yourself, this episode offers nuance, hope, clarity, connection, and so many "oh wow" moments.

🔁 With all the lightbulb moments and deep valiation, this is one you’ll want to come back to again and again.

Resources Mentioned:

* Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)

* DES II

* MID Assessment

* Gianu System on Instagram

* Gianu System on TikTok

* Gianu System Navigating DID & Relationships (with their Hubs!)

Let’s Stay Connected:Follow us on IG at @healingmypartsSubscribe to our newsletter/blog at healingmyparts.substack.com

Get full access to Healing My Parts at healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe

Kathy Broady is BACK with Part 2 of our incredible discussion about her powerful work at Discussing Dissociation!

In this episode, we dive deeper into:

* What the forums are like

* What happens during retreats

* What small group intensives are all about

Kathy shares how people can make rapid progress in understanding their system by participating in group work with other systems. There's something deeply healing about sharing space with others who have similar experiences.

This episode is full of valuable insights for both systems and providers, offering new perspectives on the healing journey and what certain parts might need along the way.

🎧 Tune in now and don’t miss out on this wisdom-packed conversation!

And be sure to check out Kathy’s amazing resources at www.discussingdissociation.com

Let’s keep learning, growing, and healing together! 💜✨

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healingmyparts.substack.com