What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mosaic Mind: Empowering the Tormented Selves of Child Abuse Survivors
Argues that the healthy personality is naturally multiple, and suggests inner dialogs that adult victims of child abuse can use to heal each portion of their personality
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
44 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 5, 2020
It's mostly for therapists but it's a great read. There is a lot of mention of things that could be a trigger so I think it's good to advice if people have sexual triggers, please don't read or read carefully.
July 19, 2019
Probably the best book Ive read on DID and BPD. I specialise in working with BPD and IFS has been a game changer. This book is the next step in the work of Richard Schwartz. A graphic and compassionate overview of Richards work with a particular survivor of extreme abuse.
March 3, 2022
This book doesn't really provide a model for how to implement IFS therapy in practice, but it does provide insight that helps to normalize the experience of implementing IFS with clients who have experienced trauma. It also inspired me to lean into the dialogue between parts, and to be aware of my own parts while working with my clients.
May 17, 2019
R. Schwartz is the father of the inter family system therapy modality.
Read
September 11, 2022A very triggering, difficult, and important read.
May 15, 2025
2025 ~ Mosaic Mind is available (not very readable text) for free at Archive.org if you make an account.
I believe this is Dick Schwartz's first book, the one which precedes the first edition of his IFS textbook (1995). The second edition, Internal Family Systems Therapy by him and Martha Sweezy (2019) is now preferred. The Amazon user reviews are also useful to evaluate Mosaic Mind.
Mosaic Mind differs from his later books. It's more academic, follows a client case with exhaustive excerpts from the client's journal. The book is also a defense of IFS given the academic mind-model of 1995 was still the mono-mind.
From the 1600s-1800s, the "mono-mind model" posits--rather rigidly--all thoughts, feelings, and desires originate from a single, unified self. While awake, there are no other parts. "To have parts is pathological." the mono-mind is whole unto itself. The obvious ego-centricity and left-hemisphere limitations of Iain McGilchrist are not recognized in the mono-mind model.
This contrasts with the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, which proposes our waking psyche is composed of multiple distinct "parts" or sub-personalities; exactly, as portrayed by the Minions in the Despicable Me movies.
More detail:
Mono-mind ~ This model views the mind as a unified entity, with a single "me". It believes all aspects of our personality and behavior stem from a central source. See also the concept of "Island Man."
IFS Model ~ IFS challenges the mono-mind theory. It proposes our waking psyche is made up of numerous "parts." Each part has it's own unique thoughts, feelings, and experiences. These parts can be seen as internal family members, each with its own purpose and history.
Key Concept of IFS ~ The IFS model emphasizes these parts are not necessarily "bad" or "problematic". Instead, they are seen as having a role to play. They can be understood and healed.
Healing Through IFS ~ By understanding and connecting with these parts, individuals can access their true "Self;" which at its best, is a wise and compassionate core of alert neutrality, care and compassion. The Self can facilitate unburdening traumas, resolving internal conflicts, and ultimately, achieving greater internal harmony and self-connection heavily revised from Google AI)
I believe this is Dick Schwartz's first book, the one which precedes the first edition of his IFS textbook (1995). The second edition, Internal Family Systems Therapy by him and Martha Sweezy (2019) is now preferred. The Amazon user reviews are also useful to evaluate Mosaic Mind.
Mosaic Mind differs from his later books. It's more academic, follows a client case with exhaustive excerpts from the client's journal. The book is also a defense of IFS given the academic mind-model of 1995 was still the mono-mind.
From the 1600s-1800s, the "mono-mind model" posits--rather rigidly--all thoughts, feelings, and desires originate from a single, unified self. While awake, there are no other parts. "To have parts is pathological." the mono-mind is whole unto itself. The obvious ego-centricity and left-hemisphere limitations of Iain McGilchrist are not recognized in the mono-mind model.
This contrasts with the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, which proposes our waking psyche is composed of multiple distinct "parts" or sub-personalities; exactly, as portrayed by the Minions in the Despicable Me movies.
More detail:
Mono-mind ~ This model views the mind as a unified entity, with a single "me". It believes all aspects of our personality and behavior stem from a central source. See also the concept of "Island Man."
IFS Model ~ IFS challenges the mono-mind theory. It proposes our waking psyche is made up of numerous "parts." Each part has it's own unique thoughts, feelings, and experiences. These parts can be seen as internal family members, each with its own purpose and history.
Key Concept of IFS ~ The IFS model emphasizes these parts are not necessarily "bad" or "problematic". Instead, they are seen as having a role to play. They can be understood and healed.
Healing Through IFS ~ By understanding and connecting with these parts, individuals can access their true "Self;" which at its best, is a wise and compassionate core of alert neutrality, care and compassion. The Self can facilitate unburdening traumas, resolving internal conflicts, and ultimately, achieving greater internal harmony and self-connection heavily revised from Google AI)
September 4, 2025
It was quite the slog trying to get through this book. It was incredibly dense and you could absolutely tell an attorney was involved in writing it.
Despite having a wealth of information, it was difficult to retain the information with how it was presented/explained. I found myself rereading paragraphs multiple times and still not having a clue what I read. I’ve read 3 other books by Schwartz and this one was by far the worst.
Despite having a wealth of information, it was difficult to retain the information with how it was presented/explained. I found myself rereading paragraphs multiple times and still not having a clue what I read. I’ve read 3 other books by Schwartz and this one was by far the worst.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews