Are there any therapists in here who practice this? If so what is the difference between this (parts therapy) and asking the sub-concious to change a programme?
Apologies if the question seems stupid. I simply don't quite understand what parts therapy is but I'm considering spending a hundred Americanos for a DVD set on it.

bobser

Yes Ive used parts therapy. There are basically two kinds of parts therapy.

A) parts negotiation

B) parts integration

Parts therapy mostly deals with inner conflicts. The theory is that a part is created during an emotionally significant event. Where the unconscious divides into two different programmes moving in opposite directions.

For example you may get a part that is over cautious and wants to hold you back. While the opposing part is the opposite - it wants to take a chance and risks in order to move forward.

These two opposing parts waste energy and keep you stuck.

You can either get them to negotiate with each other. Or much more effectively integrate them back into one whole part.

The thing about parts is that their intention is not always the same as the behaviour they generate. Quite often the intention is the opposite of the behaviour but the part doesn't know it. Part of the process is to reframe the parts or show them that the behaviour they generate is the very thing that will prevent them getting their intention.


Its easy to create parts infact we are all made up of many parts. The part of you that says stop when you come to a pavement. Is probably your mother. A part of you is the magician or hypnotist. Or the father, or friend, on and on.

Most people that have a significant impact on you become an unconscious part.

You can install parts for persuasion purposes. Even as you read this a part of you may think this is rediculous while another part quietly considers the possibility of this being true. And that part can be allowed to push the other part into the background long enough to discover this for yourself.

But only as long as you need to learn something really useful that will enable you to consider whether this DVD set is the right one for you. After all wouldn't it be rediculous to rule out anything without at least exploring the possibilities?

..... and that's probably why I ended up with a room filled to the gunnels with complete and absolute sh-te! Where were you MP with your advice when we needed you???!!!

Good post MP.

I used parts therapy a lot when I was part of the tacky british hypnotherapy industry trying to please impatient punters with their horrible little problems. I mixed it with Gestalt therapy which is a similar ballpark (shares the roundabout). The results could be very powerful (as every schmuck in the business is obliged to say) but I honestly think that any process that is quite experiential and strange would be powerful - it gives the person something to latch their boundless optimism and belief to.

Anyway back on topic, I studied with Ernest Rossi in London who had a brilliant way of having a client move their hands as a metaphor for parts, allowing them to do it all on their own (moving them about, bringing them together etc) whilst allowing the 'unconscious' to sort it all out on their behalf. Needless to say, on the stage with the great Rossi and his droning voice (which I can impersonate beautifully) lots of the more fragile women (as you get on these courses) would start crying and saying how magical the experience was.

Gil Boyne (who I do like) also did some great Gestalt and parts therapy, and I think his case studies are well worth watching. I know that some diss him on here, but if you study his work, you'll notice that he actually brings ALOT together in his case studies, seamlessly meandering between lots of models without even knowing that hes doing it. His last training session ever is in London next month, I recommend anyone in the UK to go, its brilliant.

If you want good information on Parts Therapy, check out Roy Hunter's books. He took Charles Tebbets' work on parts, which was influenced by the whole Gestalt Therapy, iirc, and expanded on it some.

Will, the Ernest Rossi technique you mention sounds a bit like the "visual squash" technique I read about in ... Frogs into Princes, I think. Or maybe Tranceformations. Both hands out palm up in front of you, "bad" thought/feeling in one hand, resource in other. They slowly come together as "the unconscious mind processes them and joins them, taking the best of each and making something new and whole."

Is that similar?

Joshua

Hi Joshua
It sort of is, but the Rossi method was a lot more flexible in terms of letting the client do what they want. Rossi also encouraged sensory stuff like saying "you might notice one hand getting warmer as it finds itself learning new resources (or whatever)", so that sensory acuity became associated to a developing belief in some unconscious resolution. I always felt that Bandler took a complex and layered method and stuffed it through his simplification meat grinder, leading to embarrassing situations at training seminars. "Whats your problem John?" "Oh my wife left me, I'm being made redundant and just found out I have to have a testicle removed" "Fantastic! You'll do - now put your hands up - think of a positive memory - now make it brighter! and more intense! Now DOUBLE it! Now put all your problems in your other hand and bring them together! How does that feel?"* (John wonders off to depressingly dunk his stale pink wafer in his now-cold tea)

As I understand it a part splits into two opposing parts. But with both having the same intention.

First you define the program or behaviour that's causing the problem. They are usually inner conflicts. ( I wast trained by Tad James ) For example I was seeing someone today who has a successful hairdressing business which has leaped forward in the last year or so to turning over a million pounds. All of a sudden he is continually panicking and having knots in his stomach.

He is about to launch into the next phase where he wants to open five more shops in the next few months. He is near burn out. Every haircut he does now has a new meaning. Now for the first time he has something to lose.

Closer examination uncovers that the part that's causing the knots in his stomach is preventing him moving forward and is trying to sabotage his new plans. Its intention is to protect him from looking foolish and failing.

The part that wants him to move forward and open the new shops is the opposing part. Theory is that at one time these two parts were the same part but now are working independantly.

First thing is you separate the intention from the behaviour by chunking up logical levels.

you do that with both parts you always come to the highest intention which is to make you happy and safe. And ask the parts if they are now aware that the behaviour is not getting their intention in fact its doing the opposite.

Each part is now out on each hand with both arms cataleptic. They by their own accord start to come together. I also use some of Rossie's process instructions to help the process along.

Hands come together and you can see a visible change in their nonverbals and colour. You then take this new one whole part and integrate into the next part of the therapy whatever the process maybe. I usually work straight through a five to six hour session. Which parts therapy is a small part of and only if the it is required.

Will I think a visual squash isn't quite parts therapy although its baed upon it.

The thing about any part is that it will always have an oppising part that's p ulling them in the opposite direction. Its when they are integrated the person can move forward.

More than 30 years ago I was introduced to a JOSE SILVA technique of meditation whereby you walk along a beach. The water is to your right. About half a mile along the beach and maybe some 100 yards out there's a solitary fisherman repeatedly casting his net. He has long white hair and a beard. As you approach you give him a wave and he waves back, drawing in his net and rowing towards the shore. he and you arrive at the same point at the same time (that arriving thing was my idea, 'might' be important).
You ask your question... he gives you the answer.
It's incredibly simple I know, but probably more succesful than just about anything I've ever tried with either myself or others.
But here's the thing: Is this excercise in some way related to parts theory? Is it possible, assuming parts theory is correct, that the meditator gets to ask an important question through the fisherman to the part, and the part answers that question through the fisherman?
If so this suggests the possibility that the meditator can talk to their parts without being hypnotised by a third person.
Obviously I could be out of my tree but the idea makes me smile. 'Bit of a romantic' I hear you whisper.

Nice and simple and I don;t doubt your testament to it's effectiveness

This is not really akin to parts therapy. When I use parts I am not interested in Q and A. I am interested in satisfying the intention in other ways that will be in harmony with everything else.

Q and A suggests understanding and understanding is not necessary.

Anthony

... yes of course. That makes complete sense. And I somehow knew that, sorry!

No it's not necessary if you are using a process to integrate them. But talking to parts is how it all started. And two chairs etc.

Realigning or reframing the intention. Which basically means separating the intention (which is always positive once you chunk to the highest level)from the problem behaviour.

For example if a part of you keeps you afraid and generates an irrational fear around certain people. The intention might be to protect you from looking silly or making a mistake. However the behaviour is making you miserable and depressed. you can talk to the part and show it that the behaviour is making you miserable. And then ask it to "protect" you from being lonely and miserable by allowing you to be at ease in certain situations. The part is still a protective part its just protecting you from something different. Its highest intention is always to make you happy. that's an example of negotiation and alignment.