Tamala Floyd: Becoming Our Whole Self – Integrating Our Parts – Part 2

The Aware Show

With so many stressful events going on in the world, do you want to feel at peace, but find yourself getting triggered? Lisa continues the conversation today with guest Tamala Floyd, an expert in the Internal Family Systems model of psychotherapy. She further discusses “parts” therapy and explains how to be in relationship with our “selves” and our internal guidance systems. Tamala is a psychotherapist, consultant, author, and speaker with more than 20 years of experience. Her books and audio include “Listening When Parts Speak” and “Healing the Wounded Mother.” Tamala talks about the importance of our parts, including ones who hold rage, as well as the anxious parts, and the harming parts, which includes self-harm. These parts are common to humans across the world. Any part could be used for protection. Anything that our parts have taken on as a burden is to protect us from our internal wounds. We may feel unlovable or not good enough. This is the part that pushes people away. All the messages we get when we are young, whether we feel unworthy, too loud, too quiet, etc. all actually protect us. Tamala talks about Internal Family Systems. Our parts operate like family. Some get along, while some do not. Some have certain skills, which can help to heal. She explains how parts theory is based on Internal Family Systems. So how can a raging part protect us? At some point, it protects the sensitive part of ourselves. It’s the protector for the one who is too sensitive. All parts do not speak. They may show as a color, change of temperature, a picture, or feeling. We can also talk to ancestral parts of ourselves and bring them into present time. Tamala also discusses “legacy burdens” which are the burdens passed down through generations. These are not lived experiences, but experiences that are passed down. It can be incredibly uplifting to release these burdens. She explains that these are often easier to release, and once they are released, the person has more energy to work on themselves. Tamala also leads us through a powerful process of talking to our parts. She asks us to let it be however it needs to be and invites us to note what it is telling us. Listen. Be open and curious. She also discusses generational gifts and heirlooms. We don’t want to get rid of our parts; we want to get rid of the burdens so we can be in a healthy relationship with them. Tamala also talks about her new audio program, “Healing the Wounded Mother.” It’s about going to the source first. She invites us to get to the root of what’s happening so healing can occur.