Understanding shame and guilt in the context of psychic multiplicity is crucial for comprehending how trauma and external insults manifest internally over time.
The role of protectors and exiles in the experience of shame and guilt is significant, with protectors often perpetuating shame by internalizing insults and shaming vulnerable exiles, highlighting the need to understand this dynamic in therapeutic settings.
Deep dives
The Importance of Understanding Shame and Guilt
In this podcast episode, Martha Sweeney discusses the relevance and significance of shame and guilt. She highlights the need for a deeper understanding of these emotions, particularly in the context of psychic multiplicity. Sweeney emphasizes that shame and guilt are self-conscious emotions that involve a judgment of personal value and behavior, respectively. She explores the differences between shame and guilt, highlighting their impact on individuals' relational dynamics and sense of self. Sweeney also emphasizes the importance of self-compassion as a means of healing and overcoming shame, and she delves into the concept of psychic multiplicity to explain the role of protectors and exiles in the shame experience.
The Role of Protectors and Exiles in Shame and Guilt
Sweeney discusses the role of protectors and exiles in the experience of shame and guilt. She explains that protectors, which have good intentions, often perpetuate shame by internalizing external insults and shaming the vulnerable exiles. Sweeney highlights the dilemma faced by protector parts who sacrifice their own system's needs to protect others. This dynamic can lead to inhibition and disinhibition as protectors struggle with the fear of shame becoming too prominent. Sweeney suggests that understanding the protector-exile relationship is crucial in therapeutic settings, as it can hinder progress if not addressed properly. She also emphasizes the importance of self-compassion in alleviating shame and healing exiles.
The Practice of Unblending and Embracing Compassion
Sweeney emphasizes the practice of unblending from shame and guilt parts as a means of cultivating self-compassion. She discusses the role of compassion as the opposite of shame and highlights the importance of self-compassion in overcoming shamefulness. Sweeney emphasizes the need to turn towards the parts that are feeling guilt or shame and explore their positive intentions. She also suggests that compassion is fostered by appreciating that shame and guilt are part of the human condition and that healing exiles and calming protectors through self-compassion is an ongoing practice.
The Relevance of Psychic Multiplicity in Understanding Shame and Guilt
Sweeney highlights the concept of psychic multiplicity as a key element in understanding shame and guilt. She explains that the presence of multiple parts within an individual's mind allows for self-conscious emotions to arise. Sweeney references other therapeutic approaches, such as psychoanalysis and dialectical behavior therapy, which also acknowledge this multiplicity. However, Sweeney notes that IFS provides a more personifying approach, allowing clients to engage directly with their parts. She emphasizes that recognizing the role of protectors and exiles is crucial for healing shame and fostering self-compassion.
On today's podcast I talk with Martha Sweezy. Martha has authored all the IFS books with all the IFS people. Her latest solo book project is entitled, "Internal Family Systems for Shame and Guilt."
Martha says, "Understanding shame and guilt in the context of psychic multiplicity is to understand how trauma becomes traumatic over time and how an external insult becomes an internal identity and process."
*She comments on several of her upcoming book projects with various people in the IFS community. The book she is writing on IFS and Psychedlics is with Richard Schwartz, Dave Lovas, and Sunny Strasburg.
Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website: Home - Tammy Sollenberger
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Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created new music. Jack is a graduate of Derek Scott’s IFS Stepping Stones Program. You can follow Jack at bonzemusic on Instagram.
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