The Pocket Guide to Sensorimotor Psychotherapy in Context (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology) by Pat Ogden

Author:Pat Ogden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 2021-04-27T00:00:00+00:00

Mapping Parts of the Self

Julie was perplexed and distressed by her discordant behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Additional psychoeducation helped her understand the dramatic shifts she experienced as reflections of the roles of different parts in managing the effects of trauma. I clarified that the use of parts language did not indicate an actual split of the self but referred to the functions of action systems of defense and daily life. She resonated with the parts terminology and was relieved to hear that the internal conflicts were logical, and that it was possible to work toward integrating them. I suggested we might map her internal system by identifying the behaviors, thoughts, emotions, memories, and especially physical components associated with each part, and writing or drawing a representation of each one on paper. The purpose of this exercise is to identify parts that are correlated with both defensive and daily life action systems regulation and integration (Fisher, 2017; Ogden 2020; Ogden & Fisher, 2015).

First, we mapped parts associated with daily life action systems. Julie said that the part of her that wanted to please was connected to daily life, and although she realized that this part also was trying to appease others to stay safe, she also genuinely took pleasure in contributing to the happiness of those close to her, particularly her daughter. She also identified a capable part that could go to work and be sociable. She reported that a signal of the pleasing part (when the part did not usurp her own wishes) was a smile and relaxed eye contact, while the capable part was experienced in a lift of her chest, a sense of her back, and a slight lengthening of her spine.

After psychoeducation about the various defensive subsystems, Julie reported that she had no fight part, but she had no insight into why. However, we were able to identify various other defensive subsystems and make a list of their somatic signs: the widening and clinging of her eyes, a fear of being left, and “feeling like a child” indicated the cry-for-help part; impulses to move back and look at the door signaled the flight part; and an overall feeling of numbness, slumped posture, a downward turn of her head, a spacey feeling, and lack of body sensation were the characteristics of the collapsed part to whom “nothing mattered.” She was frequently amnesic for those periods of time when she was severely hypoaroused, which appeared to be related to a feigned-death defense and increased dorsal vagal tone. Of course, this extreme hypoarousal profoundly disrupted her ability to function in her life. Julie routinely submitted to emotional abuse from her boss. Sexual advances from her husband often precipitated Julie “leaving” her body, and at times she did not remember their sexual contact. She expressed shame and dislike for these shut-down, submissive tendencies.

It is essential to understand that each part of the self has an important function. Julie and I discussed how her survival resource of hypoarousal, compliance, and shutdown minimized

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