Exploring Our Inner Divides: Lessons from "Severance" on Confronting Disconnected Parts of Ourselves

An abstract portrayal of introspection, as a figure gazes thoughtfully into a mirror, blending vibrant hues of blue, orange, and yellow.

Before going any further, I should let you know that there are spoilers ahead if you haven't yet watched the AppleTV+ series "Severance".

A bit of background

Severance is about a group of people who sought to lead distinctly separated work and personal lives. This is accomplished by undergoing a surgical process that allows them to have no consciousness or memories of their lives outside of work when they are at work, and no consciousness or memories of their lives at work when they are navigating their existence outside the walls of Lumon Industries, their workplace. Severance is fascinating television. The script, plot, character development, direction and production are worthy of the acclaim they receive. It has received multiple Emmy nominations, and has spawned a very solid fanbase.

I, too, am a fan of the series. As a therapist, however, I am more keen to pay attention to how Severance illuminates how we are inclined to navigate our internal conflicts. The series focuses on team members in Lumon Industries' Macrodata Refinement (MDR) Department. The progression of the series reveals the struggle of the external lives of the team members (their "outies") as they make sense of the world in which their "innies" exist:

Mark Scout: Lost his wife beloved wife to a car accident

Dylan George: Struggles with depressive episodes and low motivation

Irving Bailiff: Is cynical and questioning of Lumon's practices as he tries to make sense of his visions through art

Helena Eagan: Daughter of the head Lumon Industries, who has a cold and detached relationship with her father

Their correspnding "innies" - the Lumon version of themselves, identified by first name and last initial - have little resemblance to them. Mark S., Dylan G., and Irving B. are initially presented as compliant (if not ardent) employees who are motivated to meet their quarterly quota (even though they have no idea what their work actually means). Helly R., on the other hand, is presented as rebellious and cynical the moment she is introduced to the audience.

It isn't explicitly stated, but one can deduce to some degree why they chose to be severed. One assumption is the appeal of escaping from their mundane (in the case of Dylan G.), or tragic (in the case of Mark S.) lives. Or, it could be an attempt to earn the evasive affection of a distant parent (Helly R.), or escape the burden that is the repression of one's sexuality (Irving B.). However, it is possible that, as the second season expands the storyline, the escape Lumon offers is likely a discovery of their core self - who they truly are.

About our "parts"

Richard Schwartz, PhD is the creator of Internal Family Systems (IFS), an evidence-based therapuetic approach that validates and de-pathologizes multiple personality. The approach does this by accounting for the fact that everyone has multiple parts. Schwartz, in his book No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholness With the Internal Family Systems Model (2021, p. 36), describes:

It's the natural state of the mind to have parts - they are not the product of trauma or of internalizing external voices or energies... all of our parts have valuable qualities and resources to give to us.

Our parts help us navigate, understand, and make sense of our world by drawing on different strengths and resources in different contexts. However, our parts can become burdened and conflicted, resulting in experiences that perptuate dysfunction and distress in everyday life. Schwartz explains that burdens are "the product of a person's direct experience..." (p. 18). When experiences consolidate within us negative beliefs about ourselves, others, or the world around us they become the burdens our parts carry that organize how we make sense of subsequent experiences. As a result, these burdens prompt our parts to spring into action to protect us.

For example, a person who experienced neglect and abandonment throughout their childhood, and who has difficulty having healthy relationships in adulthood due to commitment-avoidance may be dealing with a part that chooses to protect the self by avoiding the pain that abandonment causes to the system. It wouldn't be entirely accurate to assume this person fears or dislikes commitment; as a matter of fact, it is likely the opposite is true. However, the part that is frozen in the experience of past abandonment is triggered by the possibility of future abandonment, and feels it carries the responsibility to prevent this from happening again.

What happens when we ignore our parts?

As Schwartz points out, our parts will do whatever they can to make us listen to them, including (but certainly not limited to): emotional distress, sabotaging relationships, maladaptive coping. Shunning these parts for the burdens they carry perptuate shame towards the self, which often leads to isolation, dissociative habits, and even physically destructive or self-harming behaviours.

What happens when we engage our parts?

Imagine what it would look like if we came face-to-face with those parts that we are too ashamed, scared, repulsed or angered to confront? What would it look life if we visited the part of our self that we turn away from because it keeps us entrenched in beliefs and habits that limit us? This is what IFS invites us to do with curiosity, compassion, and love. By taking a step back to examine and engage our burdened parts we learn about their fears and concerns, and why they keep showing up the way they do (often with good intentions).

Incidentally, this question is teased in season two of Severance, when Mark Scout has a conversation with Mark S. We got to see two parts in conflict as they tried to save that which was most valuable to them - the love of their lives. Ironically, the conflict shows that their objectives are fundamentally the same. The end of season two doesn't resolve this conflict for us, but it certainly helps the viewer observe both parts with curiosity, compassion, and empathy.

This can be seen as a window into what Schwartz described as the value of looking at the "system" (p. 60) of our internal parts (hence, Internal Family Systems). By seeing how different parts of our inner self interact, we get to see the conflicts, needs, and power dynamics within ourselves that drive our behaviours, giving way for opportunities to unburden parts that may be stuck in roles that have outsized them.

Revisiting the example above, imagine what we would be able to observe if the previously abandoned part were to engage the part that strongly desires healthy relational connection. What would that dialogue entail? And for the system holding these conflicting parts, imagine the insight that could emerge from understanding the hidden needs, fears, and desires that have been ignored or avoided.

This provides opportunities for meaningful therapeutic work, whether or not one has a history of trauma. We often struggle with guilt or shame for the parts of our self that do not show up in the ways that make us feel like we belong. But oftentimes these parts are doing the best they can with what they know - the challenge being that what they know is frozen in a state or context that does not necessarily align with present reality.

Through my training in EMDR I have come to learn about the work of Schwartz, and IFS. While I continue to learn more about this approach and its effectiveness in trauma work, I see its usefulness in helping clients engage and own their story (and parts) with increased compassion.

Of course, as much as I am a fan of Severance, I certainly do not advocate a similar process in delineating our parts. There are far more ethical ways to go about doing that - such as evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy.

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If you would like to discuss your therapeutic needs, and would like to explore the possibility of starting therapy, feel free to contact Heartspring Therapy by calling 416-688-5274, or by booking a free initial consult at heartspringtherapy.ca/book-online. In-person and video therapy sessions are available.

If you are having thoughts of suicide or self harm, or having strong urges to harm someone else, please contact 911, a crisis line, or go to the nearest hospital. You may also contact the Mental Health distress line by dialling 9-8-8.