Recommended Reading

By Tom Holmes, Ph.D. 📘 Read the free PDF here

A Compassionate and Accessible Introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS)

If you’ve ever felt like different versions of you are pulling in opposite directions—one part craving rest while another insists on pushing through—Parts Work beautifully explains why.

Tom Holmes introduces readers to the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model through warm illustrations and easy-to-understand metaphors that make the complexity of our inner world feel both approachable and deeply human. Instead of seeing ourselves as “broken,” Holmes helps us recognise that every inner voice, protector, or exile has a purpose.

Why It’s Especially Helpful for CPTSD

For those healing from Complex PTSD, this book offers safety and clarity. Holmes gently shows how our survival strategies—people-pleasing, avoidance, perfectionism, emotional shutdown—are parts that once protected us from overwhelming experiences. The visual style helps readers externalise painful emotions, creating space for curiosity instead of shame.

Readers begin to understand the difference between their Self—the calm, compassionate core within—and their protective parts that carry fear, pain, and learned defences. This shift alone can be profoundly healing for trauma survivors who have long felt fragmented or at war with themselves.

For Clients and Practitioners Alike

• For Clients: This is one of the most accessible and affirming introductions to IFS. You don’t need any background in psychology to benefit from it. It pairs beautifully with therapy or self-reflection work.

• For Practitioners: It’s a wonderful teaching and visual aid to help clients understand internal dynamics. While it isn’t a clinical manual, it complements more advanced texts like Frank Anderson’s Transcending Trauma or Richard Schwartz’s No Bad Parts.

Key Takeaways

• There are no bad parts—only parts that once tried to keep you safe.

• Healing comes through relationship with these parts, not by pushing them away.

• The Self’s qualities—curiosity, compassion, calm, and connection—are always available, even after trauma.

  
  

A Gentle Guide Back to Wholeness

Holmes’ tone is grounded, kind, and creative. His use of metaphor (like the “inner bus” or “inner garden”) offers readers visual anchors to navigate emotions that might otherwise feel overwhelming. It’s perfect for readers who want a trauma-informed, hopeful entry point into inner-parts work.

✨ If you’re beginning your IFS journey or looking for a compassionate way to understand your inner world, this book is a gentle place to start.

➡️ Read the free PDF edition here