When you begin therapy—especially trauma-focused work like EMDR—you may quickly discover that not all of you feels the same way at the same time.
One part of you may desperately want healing and change - while another part feels scared, overwhelmed, or unsure.
Parts Work helps make sense of this inner conflict with compassion rather than judgment.
What Is Parts Work?
Parts Work is an approach based on the idea that we are made up of different “parts” or inner experiences—not in a pathological way, but in a human way. You might have:
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A part that wants to avoid conflict
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A part that tries to keep everything under control
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A part that shuts down when overwhelmed
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A part that still feels the pain of what you lived through
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A part that wants to move forward and heal
None of these parts are “bad” or “wrong.” They each developed to protect you, help you cope, or manage emotions at times when you needed support.
Parts Work helps you identify these inner experiences, understand their intentions, and begin relating to them from a grounded, compassionate “Self”—your wise, steady, present-day core.
Why Parts Work Is Important in EMDR
EMDR processing requires a certain level of stability, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. If strong protective parts—like avoidance, shutdown, or perfectionism—are not acknowledged and supported, they may block or interrupt EMDR sessions.
Before diving into trauma memories, Parts Work helps you:
1. Understand the internal dynamics that influence your reactions
Many clients arrive saying, “I know I want to heal, but something stops me.”
In Parts Work, we explore that “something” with curiosity rather than frustration. Often, protective parts fear that trauma processing will be too overwhelming or destabilizing.
When we respectfully understand their concerns, they tend to soften.
2. Build internal safety and emotional readiness
Your protective parts need to trust that the healing process is safe. By listening to them—not pushing them aside—we create internal cooperation.
This makes EMDR smoother and less triggering.
3. Strengthen the grounded, compassionate “Self”
In EMDR preparation, cultivating your inner “Self”—the part of you that is calm, clear, compassionate, and capable—is essential.
Self is the internal anchor that allows you to stay present while revisiting difficult experiences.
4. Reduce emotional overwhelm
When you understand your parts, you can respond to your emotions rather than getting swept away by them.
This dramatically increases your ability to stay regulated during EMDR processing.
Common Parts You Might Recognize
Clients often connect with some of the following:
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The Perfectionist: tries to prevent failure or judgment
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The Protector: avoids conversations or emotions that feel too scary
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The Inner Critic: attempts to motivate through pressure or fear
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The Numbing Part: uses shut-down, scrolling, food, or dissociation
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The Child Part: still holds early pain or unmet needs
Parts Work isn’t about eliminating these parts—it's about helping them relax, feel heard, and let your adult Self take the lead.
How We Use Parts Work Together
In EMDR preparation and throughout your healing journey, we will explore things like:
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“What part of you is showing up right now?”
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“What does this part need in order to feel safe?”
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“What is this part afraid would happen if it didn’t step in?”
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“How can your Self respond with compassion rather than pressure?”
This gentle curiosity builds internal cooperation and reduces conflict within you.
It also helps you feel less stuck, less overwhelmed, and more empowered.
Parts Work Helps You Heal from the Inside Out
As your parts begin to feel seen, understood, and supported, they no longer need to intervene so strongly. This opens the door for EMDR to access deeper layers of healing.
You begin to experience:
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Greater emotional clarity
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More internal harmony
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Less shame or self-blame
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Increased confidence in your ability to handle emotions
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A stronger sense of who you are beneath the trauma
In short, Parts Work helps you become your own safe place—something that supports every phase of EMDR.
This short video explains the core ideas behind parts work and how this approach supports emotional healing, self-awareness, and integration.