By realizing that every action of the Self is of noble intent for the system, it is important to discover the perceived need for which actions are performed, and help the system to find other ways to fulfill these needs. For instance, the “firefighters” can often make choices which appear to be harmful to the system, but are done in the best interest, and with the best information available to that alter personality. Finding out these mistaken perceptions and correcting them can bring order out of chaos for the client.
Besides the components of the BASK model, it is also important to understand that within every dissociative system, there is certain to be found several types of personalities who have specific roles to play in the system. These types of personalities were identified by Richard Schwarz in Mosaic Mind as Managers, Firefighters, and Exiled (usually hurt child) parts. According to his experience, Dr. Schwartz found that while the three categories of parts are apparent in all people, they are more extreme and defined in survivors of abuse. (Goulding/Schwartz 109) Identification of the role and function of the presenting parts is helpful in using a system approach to map out the internal family in a way which provides guidelines for perceiving and understanding the relationships between groups or parts. (Goulding/Schwartz 109)
Again, another paper could be written to discuss the roles and functions of individual parts, and the importance of avoiding the limitations of labeling by addressing functions rather than the essence of each part. Suffice it to say here, that a major work of integration is to come to know each part, with its function, its noble intent, individual personality traits, weaknesses and strengths, and to learn how that part functions separately from the Self, when it is “blended” with the Self, and how eventual synergy can be attained by integrating or “melding” parts and their roles and purposes to accomplish a unified whole. Further along in this paper will be a larger discussion of the role of “Self” and her importance in the healing process.