Seasons of Practice: Balancing Structure and Spaciousness in Therapy

Through the last few seasons, I found myself reflecting on the ease and deep safety that comes from having a predictable roadmap in my professional work. In a career spanning Out of Home Care, the health system, disability, mental health, and complex trauma treatment, I’ve long valued a structure that leaves space for creativity, intuition, and humanness.

Whether we’re doing deep trauma work, building capacity, supporting systemic change, or walking alongside someone through life transitions, having a clear conceptualisation helps us orient ourselves. But how do we balance that clarity with the human unpredictability of each session? All clients are different, have different needs. How do we hold both structure and spaciousness?

As a neurodivergent clinician, this balance is something I’ve navigated imperfectly- my brain craves flexibility and routine at the same time! And just as the outer seasons shift, I’ve been reflecting on the “inner seasons of practice”: the times that call for structure, and the times that ask us to stay soft and responsive.

One of the things I most value about my work in Resource Therapy is the way it offers a clear, respectful conceptualisation of what’s happening inside a person. It doesn’t reduce someone to a medical diagnosis or single identity. Instead, it tunes into (and works directly with) the distinct parts that show up in different moments.

This is so important for clients who carry shame or confusion about their behaviours. Instead of believing “this is who I am”, they begin to see that a particular Resource (or 'part') with unmet needs took the lead in a given moment. They also start to connect with the other parts of themselves- the ones that hold joy, creativity, nurture, and strength.

Resource Therapy isn’t just a useful theoretical lens, it’s a structured, step-by-step process that is tailored to each person. By learning the RT Actions, we’re not limited to generic protocols or treating symptom clusters. We’re listening for which part is in distress, what it needs, and how we can respond directly, and with compassion. This way of working also integrates beautifully with EMDR and other trauma therapies. It creates a balance of clarity and responsiveness- a roadmap that can adapt to the aliveness of each session.

While I use Resource Therapy in trauma therapy, the parts lens is much broader. It can enrich practice across allied health, disability support, education, and outreach. It helps professionals find clarity when systems feel overwhelming, and it provides a shared language that is both clinically sound and deeply human.

Above all, a parts approach reminds us that people are not their distress. They are whole humans, with parts that show up in times of pain and parts that carry resilience, nurture, and adventure. Holding this balance- of structure and compassion- is what keeps therapy grounded and alive.

Like the change of the seasons, our practice has cycles. Sometimes we need the clarity of structure; other times, the spaciousness of intuition. Parts work helps us hold both. As summer inches closer, I’m looking forward to continuing these conversations in the therapy room, in training spaces, and here with you.

Want to Learn More?

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