Just because it is helpful right now to have aspects keep separate doesn't mean that's the way it will always have to be. I don't have alters, but I do have some "differentiated ego states" that have a kind of life of their own. It's been helpful for my T to get "everyone's" side of the story because everyone sees the same events differently. some days I feel very "together" and I can see the different perspectives. Some days I feel very separate and I get very conflicting, strong emotions. On those days, the one who is upset gets all of me upset because there's all this upset that doesn't add up. Don't know if THAT made any sense...

I think integration is a "down the road" sort of thing. First there has to be awareness, then communication, then cooperation. Until those are in place, I don't think there can be integration - how can we integrate with someone we don't even know is there? How can you integrate two who can't even talk to each other?

It's a process. As you get "down the road", you'll probably have a better feeling for what your solution will be.