Voice Dialogue (parts work) is a creative, experiential therapy designed to increase self-awareness and empower individuals. It helps you connect with and honor both the conscious and unconscious parts of yourself in a deeply nourishing and accepting way. Voice Dialogue can be integrated into a standard psychotherapy session or used as a standalone modality.
Developed in the 1970s by Hal Stone, PhD and Sidra Stone, PhD, Voice Dialogue is based on the belief that the human psyche is composed of multiple inner selves. Each part serves a unique purpose and emerges at different stages of our development. These selves—such as ‘the critic,’ ‘the inner child,’ ‘the responsible one,’ ‘the rebel,’ ‘the athlete,’ or ‘the couch potato’—have distinct perspectives and agendas. How we relate to ourselves, others, and the world is influenced by how these parts interact in our daily lives.

What happens during a Voice Dialogue session?
Voice Dialogue involves identifying and exploring our dominant or “primary selves”—the parts of us we are most comfortable embodying. These parts define how we see ourselves and how we present ourselves to the world. The process also uncovers and acknowledges our “disowned selves”—parts of ourselves we may have neglected or chosen not to identify with.
The session follows a conversational interview format, where I ask questions that guide you to the core essence of each inner self. This process fosters greater awareness and understanding of how each part influences your life.

In Voice Dialogue, each part of the self physically moves to a different location in the room, often to the couch. This physical movement grounds the experience, allowing you to notice the felt differences in your presence and energy as you embody each part.

What is the goal of Voice Dialogue?
The goal of Voice Dialogue is to cultivate the Aware Ego Process, a state of awareness that can witness and embrace the tension between your conscious and unconscious selves. The Aware Ego is comfortable with inner polarities and holds, rather than controls, the complex dynamics within the psyche.

By strengthening the Aware Ego, Voice Dialogue fosters empowerment, clarity, and integration. It’s similar to other mindfulness-based parts-work therapies, like Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Gestalt, in that it encourages organic unfolding and deep attunement to the mind-body continuum. Through this process, we discover new pathways toward greater acceptance, integration, and peace.