What is Parts Therapy?

Parts Therapy is based on the concept that our personality is composed of a number of
various parts, which are aspects of the subconscious. In other words, we all wear different
hats. The facilitator acts as a mediator to help clients resolve inner conflicts.
This advanced hypnotic technique often works with clients after other techniques have
failed. The facilitator guides the client into a state of hypnosis and then talks to that part of
the subconscious that wants to prevent the client from changing...and then talks to the part
motivating the client to improve his/her life.
The process resembles mediation, in that the facilitator asks the right questions in order to
help the parts resolve their own differences. The process is designed to empower the client!
Originally pioneered by Charles Tebbetts during the 1960's and 1970's, parts therapy has
evolved throughout the years into a very effective technique when combined with hypnosis
and facilitated by someone trained in the use of client centered parts therapy.
Roy Hunter' s client-centered approach is based on the concept that the client's inner mind
can resolve inner conflicts when the facilitator acts as a mediator and asks the right
questions.
Introduction
How many people experience inner conflicts that inhibit successful attainment of important
goals? Counselors and hypnotherapists often use proven techniques to help their clients
change undesired habits and/or to achieve desired personal and professional goals, yet
some clients still backslide because of strong inner conflicts.
Increasing numbers of therapists around the world are discovering the benefits of parts
therapy and its variations to help clients get past personal barriers. Parts therapy can often
help resolve inner conflicts even after clients fail to respond to more traditional techniques.
The client-centered approach draws out the client's own ability to resolve inner conflicts.
Defining Parts Therapy
Parts therapy is based on the concept that our personality is composed of a number of
various personality parts, which are aspects of the subconscious, each with their respective
jobs or functions of the inner mind.
The facilitator calls out and communicates directly with those parts of the subconscious
involved in a client's inner conflict, and then employs mediation to help a client resolve inner
conflicts in order to achieve the desired result.
The late Charles Tebbetts taught his methods of employing parts therapy in the 1970's, even
before writing his hypnotherapy book Miracles on Demand (Tebbetts, 1985) that is now out
of print. He believed that we all have various aspects of our personalities, which he called
ego parts. Tebbetts originated parts therapy from the work of Paul Federn, and borrowed

aspects of parts therapy from others therapists and researchers. Federn worked with the id,
ego, and superego (Federn, 1953).
Tebbetts privately practiced his own variation of Federn's work for many years before
teaching it to others, evolving parts therapy into a format that effectively helps clients
resolve inner conflicts.
Roy Hunter has updated parts therapy to an even more client-centered approach than the
one Tebbetts practiced and taught.
Why Is Client-Centered Parts Therapy Different?
The best way to define "client-centered" parts therapy is as follows: the facilitator remains
objective (like a mediator), empowering clients to discover their own resolutions simply by
asking the right questions. K
It is based on the concept that the inner mind, or subconscious, will reveal the core cause(s)
of an inner conflict when questions are asked in an objective manner; and the various parts
of the inner mind find their own resolutions when the facilitator asks the right questions.
We can best accomplish this during a deep state of hypnosis, which minimizes the risk of
analytical interference from the conscious mind. A deeper hypnotic state facilitates effective
communication with each part, usually free of analytical resistance. Additionally, the
facilitator of client-centered parts therapy should avoid projecting his/her own philosophical
or spiritual beliefs into the session, so that it truly remains the client's experience.
Roy Hunter avoids calling out "protector" or "controller" parts first, and call out only the two
parts in conflict. Looking for a specific part (such as a controller part) might cause parts to
emerge that may be irrelevant to resolving the inner conflict. Other parts are called out if
necessary, but Roy avoids unnecessary detours. He also avoids putting his own names on
the ego parts. Instead, he asks each emerging part to give him a name or title, which often
provides important insight regarding a part's purpose.
Additionally, Tebbetts taught that we should treat each ego part with respect, just as though
the part was a person. This helps the facilitator to maintain rapport with each part, making it
easier to help the conflicting parts come to terms of agreement. Roy Hunter also emphasizes
the importance of avoiding inappropriate leading, and encourages his clients to avoid
dwelling on any pre-conceived opinions before they enter hypnosisand simply go with
what emerges from the inner mind.
Any preconceived opinions can influence what emerges from the subconscious, whether said
opinions come from client or facilitator.
When Is Parts Therapy Appropriate?
Client-centered parts therapy is ideal for clients who have two different parts of the
subconscious pulling them in opposite directions. For example, a smoker might have a
strong emotional desire to quit in order to have more energy (or better health), while

another part of the subconscious provides pleasure in lighting up after meals (or at other
times). Inner conflicts are also common with people wishing to control their weight. How
often does a dieter give in to junk food?
The obvious clue would be evident by a client saying: "A part of me wants to get rid of this
weight while another part wants to keep on eating junk food!" The ego part desiring to be
attractive is in conflict with the inner child (or some other ego part) wanting to enjoy eating
sweets, etc. Parts therapy usually will uncover the cause(s), so that the facilitator may
facilitate inner conflict resolution through a process similar to mediation. Before proceeding,
however, Roy tells his client: "We tend to wear different hats as we walk through the path of
life. We get into the work mode on our jobs, wearing the hat of a dedicated worker; but the
inner child often comes out to play after our work is done.
A smoker might have a part of the subconscious motivating that person to quit, while
another part is determined to sabotage every attempt" This type of advance explanation is
essential for the client. One minute of communication can be worth many months of
resolution, as Roy Hunter once saw a female client who believed that she had multiple
personalities simply because another therapist had previously employed a variation of parts
therapy without giving her an advance explanation of the process. Often the need for parts
therapy may not be readily apparent. Practitioners of diversified client-centered hypnosis
learn how to fit the technique to the client rather than vice versa, and they do not
automatically use parts therapy with everyone. Most of Roy Hunters intake sessions begin
with asking the client to describe his (or her) desired goal.
When possible, Roy gives some positive suggestions designed to the client's specific
benefits for achieving a desired goal. This is because an enjoyable first impression is lasting,
and more likely to result in the client keeping his/her next appointment. He also devotes a
session to teaching self-hypnosis as a way of reducing stress. By the third or fourth session,
if the client still resists positive suggestions, Roy will choose an advanced hypnotic
technique that seems appropriate for that particular client. Naturally, when an inner conflict
is apparent, Roy chooses parts therapy. When the appropriate technique is not so obvious,
he uses finger response questions before deciding how to proceed.
How Do We Employ Parts Therapy?
Roy Hunter compares parts therapy to mediation. The reason he chose Hypnosis for Inner
Conflict Resolution in the title of his parts therapy book is because he mediates between the
two primary parts in conflict, which he calls the conflicting part and the motivating part. As
previously mentioned, he asks each part to provide him with a name or title to use during
the process, which he calls the 11-Step Process. While many of his sessions involve calling
out only two parts, other parts do exist whether or not they make their presence known. His
2005 book Hypnosis for Inner Conflict Resolution describes these steps in detail.
Here are the steps:
1. Identify the part
2. Gain rapport (compliment the part).
3. Call out the part.

4. Thank it for emerging.

5. Discover its purpose.
6. Call out other parts as appropriate.
7. Negotiate and mediate.
8. Ask parts to come to terms of agreement.
9. Confirm and summarize terms of agreement.
10. Give direct suggestion as appropriate (only after terms of agreement, but NOT before).
11. INTEGRATE the parts! (The formal parts therapy process is completed.)
Several chapters in the book explore all eleven steps in-depth, with sample scripts to help
the facilitator along the way. Common detours often appear, making it necessary for the
facilitator to deal with what emerges from the inner mind. Roy discusses the common ones,
and provides tips to help the facilitator find ways of getting past the detours.
This 11-Step Process is based on the discipline Roy Hunter learned from Tebbetts in 1983,
which he put into print (Tebbetts, 1985). Roy Hunter has updated his teachings through his
years of professional experience.
For example, Tebbetts often engaged in what he called a "Great Debate" with what he called
the offending part (which Roy Hunter calls the conflicting part), and he referred to the
facilitator as an arbitrator (Tebbetts, 1985). Although Tebbetts got results in the classroom,
witnessed by Roy and other students, his major update of his work is to encourage the
facilitator to act as a mediator instead of an arbitrator, and to avoid engaging in debates
with any of the parts.
In addition to the parts therapy process described above, the session contains a preparation
and a conclusion. During the preparation, Roy Hunter explain parts therapy briefly to the
client, so that he/she will be comfortable with the process. The preparation phase also
includes an appropriate induction and deepening techniques, and establishing a client's
peaceful place. The conclusion begins after the parts are integrated in Step 11, when Roy
gives both direct and indirect suggestion and imagery, in order to have the client imagine
his/her desired result.
Appropriate debriefing takes place after the client emerges from hypnosis, and another
session is scheduled if necessary.
Why Is Client-Centered Parts Therapy Effective?
The client-centered approach empowers the client, because the cause(s) and resolution for
the problem come from the client's inner mind instead of from the mind of the facilitator.
The inner mind seems to contain a profound wisdom that is often surprising to both client
and therapist alike, because there is a part of the inner mind that observes what happens
even during deep trance (Durbin, 2001; Hilgard, 1994). The facilitator must simply ask the
right questions in order to access that inner wisdom.
Some hypnotic techniques, such as aversion therapy, employ scripts and/or suggestions
asking clients to give their power away to someone who tells them what to do. They may
even receive "spells" in the form of hypnotic suggestions! A person with a strong "rebel"

button can overcome aversion suggestion, yet others who do succeed could run the risk of
losing self-esteem because of their dependence on someone else to place hypnotic
suggestions deep in the subconscious.
Even parts therapy or its variations are sometimes employed in a therapist directed manner,
where the facilitator tells each part what to do and debates with rebellious parts. This type
of approach is risky. One of Roy Hunter's former students learned that lesson the hard way
after losing a debate with a client's rebellious part. He gave her two free sessions to
apologize to the offended part, and finally helped her resolve her inner conflict.
Several years ago, a psychologist asked Roy Hunter to use parts therapy to help her resolve
an inner conflict. Upon emerging from hypnosis, her first words were, "That solution was so
simple, I wish I had thought of it myself!" Roy quickly reminded her that the resolution had
indeed come from her own mind, and not his. She smiled and agreed, and acknowledged the
value of client-centered parts therapy. Both professionals and students alike also
acknowledge the value of using a client-centered approach after sitting through Roy Hunters
classes or workshops.
The client-centered approach helps clients attain greater empowerment, because it is based
on the belief that the power to change resides within the client. The facilitator's job is to
remain objective while helping clients discover their own inner power, and to help them use
it constructively. Successful client-centered parts therapy provides a greater probability of
lasting results, and often provides the side benefit of an improved self-esteem for many
clients.
This is a win/win.