In spite of considerable evidence to support the notion of our human multiplicity, some still find it hard to accept this idea. Yet how many times have we experienced being in two different minds or at odds with ourselves? If we can pay real attention, we might start to become aware of some of our younger parts, as well as other aspects that display certain traits. The latter could be parts that are Determined, Curious, Loving, Kind or Honest, but we may also notice less attractive aspects, such as those that are Resentful, Envious, Selfish or Hateful.

It’s unsettling when we find ourselves in the grip of internal entities we don’t like, but the ultimate challenge for us is to try and get to know, understand and accept all our internal parts. If we are able to do this, we become more integrated and balanced and our mental health improves. There’s nothing better for boosting well-being than feeling part of a team that’s essentially in harmony.

In Andy Cohen’s TED talk entitled, ‘A mom can’t always act like a grown up’, the American Psychoanalyst explains how the birth of her daughter triggered an awareness from within, that her own internal baby had unresolved emotions related to unmet needs. Andy’s enlightening talk is a great contribution to the issue of multiplicity.

Internal family systems (IFS) was founded by an American, Richard Schwartz, who was originally a family therapist. He gives credit for the creation of the IFS model to many of his clients, who in the 1980s began describing inner entities, which they called parts. As a result, Schwartz went on to develop some powerful, but safe, methods for therapists to use with clients and their burdened internal parts. He also introduced us to ways of treating a group of parts as a system or inner family. This makes it a significantly different and effective model.

The concept of parts and personalities is not new or uncommon. Carl Jung, for example, pioneered the idea of archetypes in the early 1900s. He described them as ‘imprints of possibility’, which are available to everyone. Some of the more familiar archetypes are: The Warrior, Caregiver, Hero, Lover, Judge, Joker, Sovereign… and the list goes on

Our multiplicity is never more obvious than when someone with dissociative identity disorder (DID) ‘switches’, and a different part - or ‘alter’ as they are often called – makes an appearance. These alters are dissociated, traumatised young parts, who have been holding memories and unresolved emotions associated with past trauma. They have a desperate need to be recognised, listened to and healed.

The first time I came face-to-face with a client’s alter in therapy was when six year-old Little Vivvi ‘came out’ in the middle of a session and said, ‘Hello Gill’. I felt really shocked because she had the voice and mannerisms of a child. I could hardly believe I was talking to a young part of my middle-aged client, Vivian. Years later, her eight year-old ‘sister’, Izzy, also appeared in the therapy room.

Little Vivvi and Izzy are the real stars of my book, The Girls Within. By engaging so bravely with therapy, they demonstrated their power to transform and heal the entire internal family.

Please note that all names have been changed to preserve the anonymity of my client.