‘Parts work’ refers to a collection of therapies with a similar underlying assumption: that there are distinct patterns or “parts” of an individual’s psyche, each having their own motivations, values, beliefs, and unique role to play in our lives. Together, these parts create the unique mosaic of your mind. Just as the human body has different parts that work together, our mind has various parts that cocreate our sense of self and shape our perception of the world.

When you’ve lived through something hard, whether a specific trauma or a more chronic feeling of overwhelm, it’s natural to want relief that goes beyond just “talking it out.” You may have heard of EMDR or Brainspotting and wondered: Which one is better for me? What’s the difference? Do I need to relive everything to heal?

Family trauma isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s the silence that stays with us, the emotional distance, the unspoken expectations, the feeling that love was something we had to earn. Maybe you grew up in a home where everyone avoided conflict, or where emotions were too big, too messy, too dangerous to be expressed. Maybe you were the one who held everything together, even as a child. And now, as an adult, something still feels off. You’re functioning. But deep down, you’re still carrying the weight of what was never truly processed.

Creative therapy isn’t about being artistic. You don’t need to know how to draw, write, or make anything perfect. It’s about engaging your imagination, your body, and your senses to access parts of yourself that may not yet have words. In my work with adult clients, these alternative therapy approaches often lead to unexpected insights and profound emotional shifts.

Sometimes healing doesn’t sound like a conversation. Sometimes, it looks like a puppet, a gesture, a color, or a metaphor.