Traysi Flores Therapy
Inner Child Therapy
& Parts Work
What I mean by inner child and parts work:
Parts work is a way of understanding the inner workings of our mind and how certain beliefs, emotional responses, and coping mechanisms developed and came to make sense. A belief, expectation, or way of responding may have once made sense, and through parts work, we become curious about how it made sense. In other words, what we perceived—or what really was true—at one point in our lives might not be the case now, yet our minds and bodies can continue responding in ways that once made sense.
Inner child work can be a part of this process when the feelings, beliefs, or responses we're exploring seem connected to experiences or needs from earlier in life. Parts and inner child work allow us to gently revisit present-day moments when these old responses become activated and become curious about what you learned, what felt true, and what may have been needed. From there, we can create space for new experiences to be felt, ones that allow you to discover what is true now and, sometimes, what may have been true all along.
Throughout this process, we may also draw from mindfulness and experiential therapy, and incorporate EMDR when it feels supportive to the work.
Who its for:
For sensitive adults who find themselves experiencing life in ways that can feel overwhelming, sometimes leaving them feeling as though they're “underfunctioning.” You might describe certain moments as “feeling childish,” “like a little kid,” or “small and powerless.” At the same time, another part of you may recognize that you have more tools, resources, and choices available to you now, yet these feelings can still take over in certain moments.
These reactions can make more sense when we consider that many of the ways we first learned to understand ourselves and the world around us developed during childhood, when we had fewer tools and less context for understanding what was happening. As children, we may miss important context, misinterpret an experience, or develop an understanding that helps us adapt to the environment we're in.
In adulthood, this can show up in ways that aren't always obviously connected to childhood—struggling to express what you need or feel, being hard on yourself, prioritizing other people's needs, fearing rejection or disappointment, or finding certain relationships particularly difficult to navigate.
What the process can look like:
Parts work often begins by slowing down when we notice a particular reaction, feeling, or belief showing up in the present. Rather than immediately trying to change it, we get curious about the part of you experiencing it—what it feels, what it believes to be true, what it may be trying to protect you from, and what it might need.
At times, this may involve noticing sensations or emotions in your body, putting words to what a part is experiencing, using imagery, or connecting with a younger version of yourself. We might also explore what you know and have access to as an adult now that you didn't have access to then.
The goal isn't to get rid of parts of you or convince them that they're wrong. Instead, we make space to understand why their responses make sense and create opportunities for something different to be experienced—at a pace that feels manageable and authentic to you.