Tuning Into my Body.
My session began with a body scan via a connection with what I call my “attunement part,” and my body and parts were feeling appreciative of the seeming care and validation. As I settled in, some parts began to speak through a series of physical sensations: a slight headache, tension in my neck, and an ache in my right hip. I also found myself drifting into a “dozing part” that wanted to take a nap. Rather than pushing this sleepiness away, I welcomed it, but also asked if it could give me a bit of space for the session. I then worked with a deeper activation regarding some communication breakdowns I had experienced this week.
From Anger to Needs
I soon encountered a part in my gut that felt hurt by recent boundary violations by what it considered a lack of clear communications from others. This part was angry—clenched fists and all—wanting to “smash things” in response to feeling disrespected. As I sat with this exile, I used the lens of Nonviolent Communication to identify its unmet needs: recognition and respect. We spent time “rehearsing” how it could speak for its needs rather than from anger. Interestingly, my hip pain seemed tied to this process; as I listened to these parts, my hip expressed a need for more movement and a change of environment to feel recognized and attended to. I ended my session in my customary way of thanking my parts, those who showed up today and expressed themselves, and they also thanked me for visiting, spending time with them, and being present.
These posts are personal reflections on my own n=1 experiment with IFS and somatic inquiry. They are shared for educational purposes and are not intended as medical or psychological advice.