Internal Self Helper

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An internal self helper is a headmate whose role is holding knowledge about the system, headmates, trauma, and/or internal workings. Some internal self helpers may also be gatekeepers.

History
The term was coined as Inner Self Helper, or ISH, by Dr. Ralph Allison and may have been introduced in his presentation "Psychotherapy of Multiple Personality" in 1978. "This entity will not accept the definition of personality, and has, itself the power to create helper personalities. I abbreviate the full name to ISH, which means "similar to, or alike." This is appropriate, since it is similar to the main personality in many of its basic characteristics. It has knowledge and strength but is incapable of showing hatred or fear."

The concept was first published in an article titled "Spiritual Helpers I Have Met" in 1985. Dr. Allison also claimed to have met spiritual headmates who ranked above the ISH, with the apparent highest in power being called a Higher Helper. The paper's conclusion ended with the following assertion: "Therefore, to do successful therapy, the therapist must accept them for what they claim to be, and, as long as the therapy is progressing satisfactorily, there is no reason to be skeptical about who or what they 'really' are."

In 1989, M. Ann Adams, RNP, used the term "Internal Self Helper," accredited to Allison. Adams found through a survey of forty therapists who had together treated hundreds of MPD patients that 50% of therapists expected an ISH in every multiple patient and most had worked with helpers as assistants or peers. A 1991 paper written by Christine Comstock mistakenly cited ISH as being coined in 1974, also done in the previous paper. A citation in Adams's article listed a paper Comstock presented at a meeting in 1985 which also used the word "internal." She identifies the concept as controversial, saying some professionals argue that the ISH is "unprovable, unnecessary, and probably iatrogenic," and that others relate inner helpers to God.

Dr. Allison later detailed on his website, originally archived in 1998, a list of characteristics of an Inner Self Helper, or Damage Control Officer: "A. Prime Directive of the ISH is to keep patient alive until her Life Plan is completed and fulfilled. The ISH will prevent suicide in any way possible. B. Has no date of origin; has always been present. C. Can only agape love; is incapable of hatred. D. Has awareness of and belief in "The Creator." E. Is aware that the Celestial Intelligent Energy (CIE) put her in charge of teaching this person how to live and move forward properly. F. Is able to work on the inside of the patient's mind, as co-therapist, while the human therapist works on the outside. G. Knows all about history of patient and can predict short term future. H. Possesses no personal sense of gender identity, but will assume either gender the therapist is comfortable with. I. Talks intellectually instead of emotionally, carefully chooses precise words, speaks in short concise sentences; prefers to answer questions; gives enigmatic instructions. ("Teach her humility today.") J. Avoids using slang; does not have the capacity for put-downs or guilt-trips. K. Is aware of patient's past lifetimes."

Criticism
"I often think of the Internal Self Helper as the therapists escape hatch. If they don't know how to handle something, if they have no idea on how to deal or understand something they can call on an ISH and have them deal with it. This is their way out, their avoidance of their own issues around the client or multiplicity in general. It also provides them with an excuse for not acting or helping their clients. If they receive one that is in crisis, that can not deal with a certain situation they can put all the responsibility onto the client themselves, or specifically the Internal Self Helper. Now learning to be responsible for one's life is not a bad thing, but for a lot of people it is something that has to be learned over time. Supposedly the therapist is there to guide that process not to push all responsibility onto someone immediately. And what if for the multiple without an Internal Self Helper, or at least the ISH as implied by therapists. Will they be made to feel less, to feel responsible for the failures of therapy and self help because they can not function as so called specialists' state they should."

Related Terms
Archivist, Lorekeeper, and Memory Holder describe other roles that center around inner-system knowledge.

For subterms of this archetype, see Category:ISH Subterms.