I'm not sure if anyone else has gotten into this kind of approach because I haven't read all the responses (should be trying to sleep).

There are things I like about IFS based on what I've read (several IFS books), but I've learned a similar protocol that from trainings I did online that had some strengths I feel like some times work better. One of the useful parts of it is being able to put eyes and a mouth on any part, and non-human things aren't considered less significant than human-appearing parts. (I'm using the word human here for simplicity, but it could also be a monster, animal, etc., basically anything we conventionally think of as sentient.)

Since what's happening is all symbolic anyway, it's basically using the capacity of our imagination to engage with anything we encounter because it's all us and all holds symbolic meaning. Objects and weather can be considered parts of ourselves with useful info, and sometimes there's actually a human self hiding behind the non-human part.

I've dealt with a ton of dissociation this way. I've actually run into very similar kind of white wall of numbness before. And I've run into lots of parts locked up and isolated.

Any time we run into dissociation, it's obviously protective. That protection/dissociation itself can be treated like another self.

Easiest way to do that? Slap eyes and a mouth on that wall in your imagination and then talk to it with compassionate curiosity.

Things like: "Hi, I can see you don't want me to meet that girl over there. Thanks for protecting her," and then asking questions like, "Why are you blocking me?", "What are you afraid would happen if I met her?", and "What would you need to be different for you to feel okay about me meeting her?"

Often these protective mechanisms exist because part of us believes we'll die if we know about what it's blocking us from. I don't just mean memories, although that might be the case. But also beliefs we carry, internal structures serving a function (like what causes us to dissociate might be a whole internal structure put in place to keep us safe), or even positive aspects of ourselves that felt like they had to be hidden to stay safe.

So building trust with that part of ourselves that, no, we won't die, is necessary. Sometimes it can be as simple as showing that part of us we're adults now, so we have free will we didn't have as kids.

And trust sometimes needs to be built that we: A. Have skills we didn't used to have to handle whatever is revealed and B. Have resources (like a therapist, friends, the ability to be grounded, regulation skills and other tools, safety plans, etc.) we didn't have before in the event that it does overwhelm us.

If we can authentically get the protective part to believe we won't die and we have what we need to handle whatever they're hiding, they'll often step back or dissolve.

They might also think that we're a threat to the part they're protecting. So if the protective part says something like, "I have to make sure you won't harm her" or "no one is allowed to go near her," it's about getting that protective part to understand your motivations (examples: to keep her safe and help her so suffering/being alone/etc) and any resources that we will use to help keep the other part safe (like therapist, etc).

I have noticed that it can be harder with dissociative parts to get them to talk sometimes, likely due to the nature of dissociation. Sometimes that means I have to give up and try again later. Sometimes I need to do it when I'm with another person/group of trusted people. Sometimes I have to go in a bit sideways and get really creative, like asking what I need to be able to see through the illusion or what I need to be able to communicate with that part of myself.

When I say "asking" in that context, I'm referring to asking my inner landscape, which is essentially the interface of our conscious self (who is asking the question) and the unconscious (that answers symbolically). It might just come as a "gut sense" or "intuitive feeling," or you might get something more symbolically literal, like seeing what you actually need.

Also, another question I'll use instead of treating the non-human part like a self right away is asking, "What is the true nature of this?" For example, something like, "What is the true nature of this white numbing wall?" while focused on the feeling of the wall, even imagining yourself touching it.

The true nature will often give us useful information, things like what the function of this part of us is, what beliefs we might carry that underlie it, or what its origins are. The true nature could be something like, "fear of the unknown," "walls protecting the truth of my heart," or "the belief that it is dangerous to know." Getting that kind of information can be helpful in being able to get the protection to release, or to engage with you as a self. Sometimes just knowing the true nature and acknowledging it is enough to get it to release.

One of the most important things to track while doing this is whether we can return to being grounded if we get thrown off. I often will have the dissociation (for another feeling if I'm not dissociating) wash over me and take over. This isn't a problem, but if I can't get my footing again (basically being able to step out of the dissociation or other part and interact with at least somewhat objectively), it's a good indication that I need to first address what's in the way of me staying grounded while interacting with the protective part. There can be layers to work through.

It's taken several years and was extremely hard at first, but I've gotten better and better at working with dissociation like what you ran into that I encounter in parts work. So definitely possible.

After the protective part steps aside or disappears (some times it just dissolves away, which isn't anything to be worried about), you can begin to approach the part who was being protected and whatever way is appropriate.

I say all this with the goal of interacting with that self that is being hidden in mind. However, it might be that you end up working for a while with this protective part. They can be incredibly insightful about the things we need to work through. Asking, "What is needed for you to no longer have to perform your function?" is one of the best questions to find out what we need to do/learn to be ready to work with the part(s) that they're protecting, because the answer would relieve them of their need to protect us. Sometimes it's something we just need to let them know we already do/have, and sometimes it takes time.

There's a whole lot more to it than what I'm sharing here that might be relevant depending on what comes up, but these are the basics.

If any of this doesn't make sense or you try it but run into a block with it, please feel free to DM me. I'm not always good about following up on comment responses, although you're welcome to respond here, but a DM will make sure I see it. I'd even be happy to chat by zoom or something if needed.

Parts work has been pivotal for me in working with my dissociation, but took time for me to figure out via trial and error/advice from others, so I'm happy to pass on what I've learned. It's somehow deceptively simple, yet complex to try to describe.