At the very start of therapy I could talk to parts, especially the older ones, and a mentor/protector, and a protector of my smallest littles (I suspect memory bundles of the CSA)

But for over a year now, I've had no effective communication with parts.

I talk to my parts, as if they can hear me. Can be about anything. Thank them for previous aid, telling them about my day, reviewing memories that I think would be associated with a particular part. Given them permission to talk to each other.

Since I often tear up, and feel that funny feeling in sinuses and throat as if about to cry, I'm pretty sure some of them can hear me.

I suspect a protector is preventing me from hearing their reply.

So I specifically talk to that protector, asking him to tell me why I'm not ready to hear.

So far, no joy.

Any ideas on how to:

• convince this protector that I'm ready to hear from parts.
• help get ready to hear from parts.

I've got about a dozen that I've given names to. They ahve an age, appearance (many not much like me) I think the appearence is my immagination to help me get into their mindset. E.g. Rebel is a skinny 15 yr old boy, black pants and boots, no shirt, spiked collar and spiked wrist bands, black hair. Rebel has never done a lot to act out. So mostly a seething mass of repressed anger.

By contrast, at that age, I was chunky, always covered even at home, brown hair somewhat curly. My image for Slipstick -- nerd, math whiz, socially totally inept/indifferent, sarcastic. Smart. Contemptuous toward others as a means of bolstering his fragile self esteem, lonely.

When I get a flashback, I'm not sure which part it's from. Prhaps I have a larger number of aprts that I just haven't ID'd yet.