TACS: Task Two: Trust and Rapport with Protector Parts

Task Two: Trust and Rapport with Protector PartsIn Task Two, we want to open a dialogue between the adult ego state you and each part of you that's involved with this goal in one way or another. A part may be protecting you by blocking the goal somehow. Another part may be urging you on-wards to accomplish your goal.There are several things that we want to accomplish with Task Two. Number one, we literally want to open lines of communication between different parts of our brain that have previously not been well connected in the self psychologies. The term for this disconnection is “fragmented self.” When one part of you communicates with another part of you, neural pathways in the brain are being utilized to do that. And the more we engage in these dialogues, the more open and connected these pathways become. In some cases, we're even establishing connections that did not exist before.As we have these dialogues, actual biological changes are taking place in the neural circuitry of the brain. The clinical term for this is integration because we're integrating that fragment of self by establishing and strengthening neural connections between parts. The neurobiological term for this is neurogenesis or brain growth. The second thing we want to accomplish in Task Two is in making these connections, we want to have a quality, helpful connection based on harmony rather than conflict.So by adopting a few principles, such as the principle of positive intention and “love the part, hate the behavior”, we can establish a respectful, trusting relationship. That is, a connection between parts. Rapport and trust is just as important in the inner world as it is in the outer world. This is the very foundation of building a healthy relationship with self.The third thing we want to accomplish in Task Two is that once the adult ego state has had a chance to connect with each part, then we focus on getting the parts to communicate with each other with the same principles already mentioned. This strengthens those connections even more and fosters integration between the parts, preparing the way to negotiate a new, harmonious relationship with the inner family itself.