How Polarised Parts Develop in Addiction, and How Therapy Can Resolve the Stalemate

In this course (the second of a two-part series), Dr. Marc Lewis, Professor Emeritus in Developmental Psychology and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at University of Toronto, continues the series on internal family systems and addiction (the first course of this series is entitled <a href="https://www.mentalhealthacademy.co.uk/catalogue/courses/a-psychological-model-of-ifs-style-parts-and-their-role-in-addictive-disorders" target="_blank" style="font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit">“A Psychological Model of IFS-style Parts and Their Role in Addictive Disorders”</a>). In this lecture, Dr. Lewis expands on the roles of the various parts by questioning the challenges to which drug-taking adapts, especially focusing on ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and how they, along with adolescent challenges, impact the acquisition of harmful habits. Through outlining two case examples, Dr. Lewis shows how part-selves may be projected into a developmental cascade leading to outcomes of addiction and how therapy can help change the trajectory.