What an interesting activity, just_some_girl! Schema therapy has different 'modes' (vulnerable child, punitive parent, detached protector etc) and I have sometimes wanted to find ways to represent them but T has always seemed very unkeen- something about them all being *me* I think?

T gave me a lovely rag doll with blonde hair and pigtails for my birthday (thanks again for the idea, Hankster!) and I've been using that as an externalized representation of the 'little one' in me. I've found it really helpful actually- it's a bit like mindfulness, in that it gives me a bit of distance from my feelings- I can recognise that those completely overwhelming feelings belong to the little one, so they don't overpower *all* of me. And actually seeing this sweet dolly sort of activates my healthy adult mode- I see her and know how she's feeling and realise that she's got me or nothing, so I'm more likely to take charge- and also more likely to be kind to her rather than impatient or downright punitive.