Internal Family Systems
Would you like to feel calmness, clarity, compassion, curiosity, confidence, courage, creativity, and connectedness?
According to Internal Family Systems (IFS), these qualities are inherently within you, or your Self. The goal of IFS is to help one access their Self and help it lead one’s internal system, which also contains several sub-personalities, or “parts.”
From the IFS perspective, all parts are inherently good and well-intentioned, but they can take on extreme, destructive roles as a protective response to trauma and adversity. One must not reject or get rid of their protective parts, but understand their intention, honor them for the stories and pain they carry, and free them from these burdens to use their energy in more enhancing and adaptive ways. Through this process, harmony amongst all of one’s parts can be achieved, and Self can more effectively lead the internal system.
IFS is an experiential model in that it invites clients to tune into, witness, and dialogue with their internal experience. The IFS therapist may also utilize other interventions such as guided visualization or journaling to assist clients in exploring their various parts.
IFS can help with:
- Trauma
- Substance Use Disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar Disorder
- Self-Harm
- Eating Disorders
- Phobias
- Compulsive Behaviors