Understanding Fragmentation and Compartmentalization

Fragmentation and compartmentalization are inevitable in life. Just like a brand new car out on the rod, it is bound to undergo hits, scratches, damage, and so on, no matter how careful the driver is. Fragmentation began before you were even conceived (and hence why it keeps on repeating itself - the Hermetic Principle of Correspondence) and happened especially when you were born.

It’s how you approach the fragments

That makes or ‘breaks’ you [further].

“As above, so below; as within, so without.”

In the higher cosmos, the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine separated from the void, and triggered the chain of creation. In the cosmic womb, differentiation begins—cells divide, boundaries form, and soon we are no longer one with the mother. Birth deepens this separation, introducing a sense of “I” that, although necessary, also marks the start of fragmentation (Neumann 1954). Trauma, conditioning, and societal expectations further splinter the psyche.

In Japanese Kintsugi pottery, broken vessels are repaired with gold, emphasizing rather than hiding the cracks. This practice reflects the core of spiritual alchemy—transformation through integration, not denial. The once-broken bowl becomes more valuable not despite its flaws, but because of them. Similarly, the goal of spiritual coaching is not to “fix” you, but to honour the fragments, trace their stories, and fill the cracks with gold. At Chrysalis Transpersonal Psychology Coaching, this begins with a free preliminary assessment that examines the roots of fragmentation and lays the foundation for reintegration.

While fragmentation and compartmentalization are often used interchangeably, they refer to subtly different processes. Fragmentation describes a disintegration of the self—an experience where one feels psychologically splintered or emotionally disjointed, often as a result of trauma or developmental disruption (Howell 2005). Common terms used by clients include: shattered, broken, disconnected. Compartmentalization, on the other hand, is a defense mechanism wherein conflicting thoughts, feelings, or identities are kept isolated from one another, allowing a person to function while avoiding internal conflict. Unlike fragmentation, which implies brokenness, compartmentalization may initially seem functional—yet over time it can limit authenticity and integration (Eagle 2000). Prolonged and unacknowledged compartmentalization may become traumatizing and exacerbate fragmentation. Healing requires acknowledging both, and working to unify what has been split or sealed off.

As mentioned in a previous post on Parts Work, fragmentation and compartmentalization often show up as internal conflict—a push-pull dynamic between competing inner voices. Clients may feel paralyzed by procrastination, stuck in loops of habitual behaviour, or inexplicably blocked from fulfilling their goals. These symptoms are not defects—they are signals. They point to inner parts that are misunderstood, suppressed, or simply unseen (Schwartz 2001).

The healing journey begins with spiritual inventory. We ask: What lights you up? What shuts you down? Have you worked with spiritual tools like journaling, angelic guidance, or sacred sound? Are you visually inclined or moved by words and sounds? This process itself starts to soften the walls of compartmentalization, as clients begin to meet themselves anew (Assagioli 2000).

There are many conventional methods of approaching fragmentation. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps challenge distorted beliefs. Internal Family Systems (IFS) invites dialogue with inner parts. Somatic therapies anchor the healing process in the body (Van der Kolk 2014). Each method has its merit.

In Transpersonal Psychology Coaching, however, we go beyond cognition and sensation—we invite the sacred. Our primary method is open awareness, a fluid, co-created process led by the coach but inspired by the client’s natural resonance. One client may enter a meditative trance accompanied by shamanic drumming. Another may simply watch the tides in a nature documentary while guided to witness their breath. Whether it’s angelic visualization, conscious breathing, or sound-based anchoring, the tool serves the soul’s call—not the other way around (Grof 2000).

The extent of fragmentation and the client’s existing resources determine how deep we go in any given session. But each step, with the steady presence of a guide, becomes another brushstroke of gold across the broken lines. Wholeness, then, is not a destination—it is a reclamation of what was always within us, waiting to be seen.

For 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 in healing your fragmented parts, start by booking a FREE 45-minute consultation by sending an email to 𝕤𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕞𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥@𝕘𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝕞.

Bibliography

Assagioli, Roberto. Psychosynthesis: A Manual of Principles and Techniques. New York: The Viking Press, 2000.

Eagle, Morris N. Cognitive and Affective Growth: Developmental Interaction. New York: Routledge, 2000.

Grof, Stanislav. Psychology of the Future: Lessons from Modern Consciousness Research. Albany: SUNY Press, 2000.

Howell, Elizabeth F. The Dissociative Mind. New York: Routledge, 2005.

Neumann, Erich. The Origins and History of Consciousness. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1954.

Schwartz, Richard C. Internal Family Systems Therapy. New York: Guilford Press, 2001.

Van der Kolk, Bessel. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York: Penguin Books, 2014.