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What if the different emotions, roles, and ages you experience aren't signs of dysfunction—but intelligent protective responses to trauma? In this episode, I introduce parts work therapy, explain the theory of structural dissociation, and share practical ways to reconnect with your fragmented parts so you can move toward inner harmony, emotional balance, and wholeness.

What You'll Learn

• What parts work therapy is—and how it differs across modalities like Internal Family Systems (IFS), inner child work, and approaches by Dr. Janina Fisher
• What "parts" actually are: emotions, roles, ages, protective responses, and more—and why everyone has them, not just trauma survivors
• The theory of structural dissociation: how chronic trauma causes the brain to split into "carry-on parts" (left brain) and "emotional parts" (right brain) as a survival mechanism
• The five common trauma-response parts: fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and attach—and how each protects you in different ways
• Why these parts aren't pathology or weakness—they're adaptive coping mechanisms that helped you survive overwhelming circumstances
• How healed parts can become powerful resources: grounded boundaries (flight), flexibility (freeze), balanced compassion (fawn), and healthy relationships (attach)
• Practical applications of parts work in trauma recovery: identifying activated parts, speaking "parts language," creating relationships with your parts, and reducing inner conflict
• How to start working with your parts through journaling, self-reflection, and simple grounding practices
• Why the goal of parts work isn't to eliminate parts—it's to foster healthy connection between your adult self and all your parts

Who This Is For
This episode is for adults healing from childhood trauma, complex trauma, or trauma from enduring conditions (like abusive relationships or systemic violence) who struggle with inner fragmentation, intense emotions, insecure attachment, boundary-setting, or feeling disconnected from themselves. 

Additional resources
Smart goals for trauma recovery: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/smart-goals-for-trauma-treatment/
Practices to get back to the window of tolerance: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/manage-emotions-strategies-to-widen-the-window-of-tolerance/

If you’d like to explore more, here are some ways to connect:

• Discover more about my work: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/
• Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighthorizontherapies/
• Send me a message: [email protected]

Trauma Demystified is not intended to replace professional guidance, support, medical treatment, or therapy. Please feel free to consult your physician or a mental health professional for any questions about mental health symptoms.

Bright Horizon Therapies is located in the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. This land is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. I acknowledge the traditional caregivers of the land and the importance of a commitment to the continued decolonization of my work.