This workshop in collaboration with Dr Luke Rowe, Dr Elle Brittain and Dr Carrie Clifford proposes a reflective and experiential invitation to expand therapeutic "parts work" - for example as proposed by Internal Family Systems (IFS) - by integrating the concept of “tribe” as a foundational internal structure. IFS was inspired by systems and family therapy models, which largely emerged from work with nuclear families. As such, the internal structure it models can implicitly reflect a culturally-specific view of family—often Eurocentric and individualistic. The proposal is to expand the felt-sense of Self beyond the internal "parent-leader" toward a more interconnected, co-regulated internal “tribe Self”. This aligns with emerging neurobiological perspectives (Siegel, 2020) that view the mind not as confined to the skull, but as a relational and embodied process—a “mwe” rather than a me. Drawing on experience, cultural-historical reflection, trauma theory and an optional imagery exercise, the goal is to stimulate discussion about possible culturally more appropriate models for the human internal structure that honors both our evolutionary social wiring and collective healing.

The International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) is the global organization that fosters the development, representation, and advancement of psychology worldwide.

Event administrator

Event administrator

Guest Editor