The Mark Groves Podcast #482: Meet the Parts of You That Are Waiting to Be Heard: Dr. Richard Schwartz
Oct 27, 2025
Dr. Richard Schwartz, the founder of Internal Family Systems and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, explores profound concepts in self-healing. He discusses how 'unburdening' can help release individual and collective trauma, reconnecting us to our compassionate core. Richard outlines the roles of inner protectors and exiles, emphasizing that healing involves listening to these parts with curiosity. He also examines how this approach can transform family dynamics, address physical symptoms linked to trauma, and even reduce societal division through collective unburdening.
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Inner Parts Operate Like Family Systems
- Clients spontaneously described inner parts with autonomy that repeated family-systems patterns.
- Richard Schwartz realized these internal parts form systems similar to family systems and carry histories that drive behavior.
The Three-Part Map: Exiles, Managers, Firefighters
- Schwartz identifies exiles, managers, and firefighters as core groups of parts.
- Managers try to control and prevent vulnerability while firefighters react impulsively to douse emotional flames.
Self Emerges When Parts Feel Safe
- When burdened parts make space, a consistent core state arises with calm, curiosity, compassion and other qualities.
- Schwartz names that core Self and describes it as present in everyone and restorative to the parts.
