Part 1 Group Building a Foundation for Inner Awareness and Growth

(Foundational Class: Introduction to Parts Work)

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This introductory group is perfect for those new to therapy or curious about parts work through Internal Family Systems (IFS). Participants will explore the mind-body connection and practice guided visualizations and meditations. Designed to be supportive and approachable, this group offers a gentle introduction to self-exploration and personal growth.

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Foundational Part 1 - 12-week class 

End of January 2025

We meet weekly for two weeks, followed by a one-week break. This pattern continues—two weeks of meetings, then a week off—until we complete all 12 group sessions.

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Session 1: Setting Your Vision and Foundations

In this session, the group will work together to clarify individual goals and create a collective space for envisioning emotional and mental wellness. Each participant will focus on identifying what they want to feel and experience in their lives, emphasizing positive outcomes that resonate deeply.

The group will discuss how aligning emotions, thoughts, and actions with a clear vision supports meaningful change. Participants will also be introduced to the mind-body connection and how different parts of themselves—emotional, mental, or physical—may support or block their progress. This exploration lays the groundwork for understanding the interplay between inner parts and external goals.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Connect with authentic desires and create a vivid mental picture of the emotional health you want to cultivate (provided for practice at home).

• Creative Expression: Use journaling or visual art to externalize and refine your vision, making it tangible and actionable.

• Group Reflection: Share insights, challenges, and inspirations as participants support one another in setting meaningful intentions.

 

Session 2: Deepening Awareness and Identifying a Focused Part

Building on the foundation from Session 1, this session will help participants identify one specific part or issue to work with moving forward. Group discussions will explore emotional blocks, limiting beliefs, or physical symptoms tied to emotional experiences.

Through Internal Family Systems (IFS) techniques, participants will begin to understand the role this part plays in their internal system and its influence on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Foster a safe, compassionate connection with the identified part.

• Creative Expression: Create drawings or journal entries to externalize and explore this part's presence in your life.

• Group Reflection: Participants can choose to share their discoveries, fostering collective insight and encouragement.

 

Session 3: Connecting Your Mind, Emotions, and Body

This session deepens the group’s understanding of the connection between emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations. Participants will explore how their identified part communicates through the body and how these signals influence their overall mental state.

The group will practice somatic awareness techniques to tune into body cues, such as tension, discomfort, or warmth.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Connect with physical sensations and develop a dialogue with your part.

• Creative Expression: Create a body map to visually represent physical sensations tied to emotions.

• Group Reflection: Share insights on how physical sensations influence emotional and mental patterns.

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Session 4: Cultivating Self-Compassion

This session focuses on fostering self-compassion. Using IFS techniques, the group will explore how to unblend from their parts and interact with them from a place of curiosity, understanding, and kindness.

Participants will begin to shift emotional-energetic patterns associated with their parts to support healing and integration.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Connect with parts compassionately and visualize positive emotional states like peace or acceptance.

• Creative Expression: Use art to symbolize self-compassion or create a representation of an emotional shift.

• Group Reflection: Share experiences and discuss how self-compassion can transform patterns and beliefs.

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Session 5: Releasing Emotional Energy

This session focuses on releasing the emotional energy tied to the identified part or issue. Participants will explore what their parts need to feel safe enough to let go of old patterns or emotions.

Activities:

• Visualization and Somatic Techniques: Practice releasing tension through guided visualization and body-based exercises.

• Creative Expression: Create a “before and after” representation of the emotional shift.

• Group Reflection: Share experiences and discuss the relief or openness that comes with emotional release.

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Session 6: Building Positive Emotional States

With space created from emotional release, this session helps participants cultivate positive emotional states such as curiosity, courage, or connection.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Embody positive emotions and anchor them in your mental and emotional state.

• Creative Expression: Use a collage or painting to symbolize positive emotional states.

• Group Reflection: Share reflections on how positive emotions can support healing and integration.

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Session 7: Introduction to Inner Child Work

This session turns the group’s attention to connecting with and nurturing inner child parts. Participants will explore deep emotions tied to unmet needs or past experiences.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Create a safe space for the inner child to express its needs.

• Creative Expression: Draw or write a letter to your inner child to deepen the connection.

• Group Reflection: Share insights about inner child work and how it relates to protective parts discussed in earlier sessions.

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Session 8: Emotional Regulation and Resilience

This session introduces tools for managing emotional triggers and building resilience. Participants will explore strategies to stay grounded and connected during challenging moments.

Activities:

• Somatic Exercises: Practice mindfulness techniques to recognize emotional triggers and respond with calmness.

• Creative Expression: Create a “resilience roadmap” to visualize personal strengths and resources.

• Group Reflection: Share strategies and success stories to inspire collective growth.

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Session 9: Rewriting Limiting Beliefs

This session focuses on identifying and transforming limiting beliefs that no longer serve participants. The group will explore ways to replace old beliefs with empowering ones.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Connect with and gently shift limiting beliefs.

• Creative Expression: Write affirmations or create an empowering mantra.

• Group Reflection: Share challenges and celebrate breakthroughs as participants reframe their beliefs.

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Session 10: Deepening the Transformation of Limiting Beliefs

This session builds on Session 9, deepening the connection to empowering beliefs and integrating them into participants’ daily lives.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Anchor new beliefs and address any resistance.

• Creative Expression: Create a symbol of the new belief to reinforce its integration.

• Group Reflection: Discuss challenges and share progress as participants solidify new perspectives.

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Session 11: Focusing on Your Vision

Participants will revisit and refine their vision from Session 1, aligning it with the emotional and mental changes they’ve cultivated throughout the group.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Embody the refined vision and its potential.

• Creative Expression: Create a vision board or write reflections on personal growth.

• Group Reflection: Share successes and insights, celebrating the collective journey.

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Session 12: Integration and Next Steps

The final session focuses on reflecting on the group’s journey, celebrating progress, and creating a plan for sustained growth.

Activities:

• Guided Meditation: Reflect on progress and solidify the connection to your vision.

• Creative Expression: Write a letter to your future self or create a symbolic representation of your growth.

• Group Reflection: Celebrate individual and collective achievements and discuss plans for maintaining momentum.

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