“Everything is a Part”

One of the central tenets of Internal Family Systems (IFS) is “multiplicity of the mind.” IFS theory states that it is normal for a mind to have many different interacting subpersonalities called “Parts.” This paper on the Parts of IFS presents a hypothesis that attempts to clarify and expand on current theory. 

For context, this builds on three other PARTS & SELF articles on IFS theory in which I proposed a distinct perspective on the nature and origins of Self and Parts, and their relationships (see links below). In summary, these articles proposed that Self can be best understood as a transcendent energetic field that permeates the body/mind. Parts, by contrast, can be seen as belonging to the material world as “emergent properties” of the central nervous system’s neural networks. 

Additionally, I proposed that the “mind” may be interpreted as the result of the collective activity of Parts (i.e., all the thoughts, emotions, dreams, consciousness, etc.). Furthermore, our experience of Self can be explained as the result of Parts channeling Self-energy. In such a model, Self-energy would be embodied by “Self-infused” Parts during effective IFS therapy, as well as in the transcendent moments in life. 

Since humans are born with a very immature neurological system, I theorized that such a system would have Parts that are also immature and vulnerable, meaning: with less access to Self-energy when exposed to trauma. This would mean fewer internal resources available to resolve such trauma without taking on wounds.

Everyone who has studied IFS has learned about “burdened Parts” and their tendency to obscure Self-energy. The terms burdened “exiles” and “protectors” dominate the IFS vernacular. But what do we mean by the term “burdened?” In IFS theory, when someone (often a young child) is exposed to a traumatic event, a Part can take on an unresolved wound to become burdened with a negative belief or “moral meaning” about itself (i.e., believing they are shameful, unworthy, unlovable, etc.). Then in response to this burdening, other Parts take on protective—but rigid—roles to protect this burdened Part, and/or to protect the system from the burdened Part. The result is the burdened Part becomes “exiled” and the protective Parts either take on a “manager” role or a “firefighter/soother” role. 

While it is common to call both the exiles and protectors burdened, it is generally understood that it is the exile that actually carries the consequences of unresolved trauma as a burden. Then in order to protect the burdened exile (or the internal system from the exile), the protectors handle the exile’s burdened-caused reactivity using strategies of prevention (managers) or distraction (firefighters/soothers). Consequently, these protectors have such an intimate relationship with their exiles they are also labeled as burdened. 

What are the Parts that become exiles and protectors? If the origin of these Parts is discussed in the IFS literature, it is usually in passing. Typically they are only acknowledged after they have already become burdened. I believe that they are usually immature or vulnerable Parts that have never previously been burdened. Richard Schwartz seems to concur. For example, in The Psychologist (1/12/2021) he says that before their burdening, Parts “start out” having “valuable qualities and resources that help us in our lives.” Unfortunately, there is no common identifying term for any Part until it has become burdened, and little discussion of the functions of these “never-burdened” Parts.

To more fully appreciate the importance to our internal systems of all types of Parts, I offer the term “native Parts” as a new identifier for never-burdened Parts. This allows Parts to be divided into three categories based on their relationship to burdening: native Parts (i.e., never burdened), burdened Parts, and unburdened Parts.

Native Parts – For this discussion, native Parts can be introduced as: 

• “Workaday” Parts that are generally ignored in most of IFS literature and training. 
• Elemental aspects of all internal systems, which are deemed far more common than any other category of Part.
• The Parts that would become burdened if there was an unresolved trauma and, therefore, exist prior to either of the other two categories.

My working definition of native Parts is Parts that “engage in their functional role in a flexible and context-responsive way, and are not shaped by unresolved trauma, exile reactivity, or rigid protector role requirements.” Thus, in this model, native Parts are not burdened; as such, they would not be a focus of therapy, nor would they need our attention and would probably carry out their roles mostly unnoticed. 

According to this hypothesis, all Parts would start life as native Parts (except, perhaps, if a Part came into existence already carrying a legacy burden). In their native roles, these would be functional Parts that take care of daily life—effectively and without reactivity, going about their business of making the mind and human life work. Furthermore, their roles would be associated with both conscious and unconscious mental/emotional activity, as well as both work and pleasure. For example, they could be the Part that drives the car, does math, solves problems and creates using imagination, dreams, manages sleep, loves our children, plays, etc. So, in such a model, there would be many more native Parts than burdened or unburdened Parts within any internal system. 

While the terms “manager” and “firefighter” are best reserved for burdened protector Parts, in this model native Parts could serve in similar roles but without the rigid reactivity that still burdened protector Parts carry. So when an internal system dominated by mature native Parts is dealing with a problem or threat, some native Parts could step up to deal with it using discernment and the qualities of Self-energy (i.e., the 8 Cs, etc.). Or when the situations of life create the need for soothing, native Parts could use methods that do not create a backlash in the system, thus preventing polarities and other negative consequences.

Based on this model, given that native Parts carry no burdens, they should be less likely to obscure access to Self-energy. This would allow them to function as channels for experiencing Self-energy. Some could even specialize in embodying Self-energy. Consequently, I propose that when Self is experienced in regular life, transcendent moments, or in therapy, it is likely that a native Part would be embodying the Self-energy. 

Burdened Parts – Burdened Parts in this hypothesis start existence as native Parts, but then due to some unresolved trauma, often in vulnerable childhood, they take on a wound/burden. IFS theory considers burdened Parts to be the focus of therapy—the well-known exiles, manager protectors, and firefighter/soother protectors. 

Exiles are understood to respond with reactivity when triggered by events in the external world and internal system. Meanwhile, protectors engage in well-intended, but rigid, strategies to protect the system from these reactions, as well as from other perceived threats. It is believed, therefore, that burdened Parts are the source of what plagues most people’s lives: reactivity, shame and shaming, addictions, unhealthy attachments, redemption-seeking relationships, out-of-control emotions (fear, hate, anger, among others), suppressed emotions, misdirected emotions, etc.

IFS trainings teach that the purpose of “Parts work” in therapy (i.e., working with protector Parts) is to introduce a client’s burdened protectors to Self-energy in order to strengthen their Parts-to-Self relationships. This is thought to help these protectors trust Self-energy enough to “soften” their rigid roles and, ultimately, allow access to the exile for potential unburdening. But protectors are not expected to give up their strategies until their associated exiles have been unburdened and healed. In this context, the expression “unburdening a Part” is best understood as healing the exile. 

When an exile is effectively healed/unburdened, it could be reclassified as an unburdened Part. In addition, if adequate engagement and permission from the exile’s associated protectors was achieved during exile unburdening, then these protectors may also become unburdened Parts (assuming they are not still protecting another exile). 

Unburdened Parts – In IFS theory, unburdened Parts were once burdened but have been significantly healed. They then either take on a new role of their choosing or become more flexible and context-responsive in their existing role. These are the healed exiles and protectors. The gifts of these unburdened Parts are believed to be especially apparent once healing has occurred (see Mariel Pastor’s work on unburdened Parts).

It is taught that initially, and sometimes for longer, unburdened Parts may need some ongoing attention from Self-led Parts to stay unburdened. This is because under some situations they can revert to carrying their old burdens. Examples include: a newly occurring trauma similar to the original trauma, when the concerns of a protector Part were not adequately addressed, or due to an unhealed legacy burden.

The relationships between the three categories of Parts in this model can be summarize this way: If unresolved trauma takes place, a native Part can become a burdened exile, which involves other native Parts taking on burdened protector roles. A burdened Part may become an unburdened Part if appropriate healing occurs. And an unburdened Part can revert to a burdened Part under some circumstances. 

According to IFS theory, when we are “blended” with a Part or notice the affiliated activity, it is usually due to some kind of reactivity that results in a disturbance or conflict within the system. These disturbances and polarizations are thought to indicate the activation of exiles and their protectors. While exiles tend to be triggered by events in the external world, protectors tend to be focused on the internal system—especially exiles and their reactions, as well as the activities of protectors with which they are polarized. 

On the other hand, according to this hypothesis, native Parts tend to be focused on their tasks/roles and are context-responsive to the outside world. And, unlike burdened Parts, they would tend not to be reactive to other Parts in the internal system. So, most of what our many native Parts do for us would not need or get our awareness and, therefore, their activity is less likely be perceived as resulting from a Part. 

Within these categories of Parts and their many roles, it is suggested that the mind would be made up of seemingly endless different Parts. IFS teaching tells us that all Parts are working with the best of intentions to support the needs of the internal system and a functional life, even if some carry burdens that cause reactions and misguided strategies. Consequently, when a client in therapy asks, “is that a part?” My standard answer is, “yes, everything is a Part.”

https://partsandself.org/an-hypothesis-to-unify-ifs/ published February 14, 2025.

https://partsandself.org/is-self-universal-and-transcendent/ published September 10, 2025.

https://partsandself.org/the-healing-field-of-self/ published February 6, 2026.