IFS Therapy
What is IFS Therapy?
IFS or Internal Family Systems as it is officially known, is a model of personality developed by Dr. Richard (who likes to go by Dick) Schwartz from USA in the 1980's. Dr. Schwartz is is on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard School of Medicine. Schwartz developed this unique model of therapy by getting lots of feedback from clients that he worked with.
I'll explain IFS Therapy very simply here - there is a lot more to it, but just reading this can help you start to understand yours and others internal systems.
The theory is the everyone is multiplicity ie made of parts. Just like a car, body, computer down to an atom we are all made up of 'parts' and the brain and mind is the same. Think about any dilemma perhaps the party that you don't want to 100% attend, you will be in two minds maybe more. In IFS we can work with these parts as individuals sometimes from an 'inner, mindful state'. Amongst the parts is the space in which they exist this space is known as The Self in IFS, it is not a part but more an space and positive energy.
IFS therapy gives you and I a way of talking about this, it is like having a lens to see through. The IFS lens is one of the most adaptable, and accurate lenses I have come across in schools of therapy..
The parts in IFS theory are categorised into 3 main groups:
Why are parts sometimes problematic? Well, Parts don't know they can be problematic, they only see the other parts as problems, they have only your Self's best interest. Sometimes, Parts act like you are still in the trauma, and function as a way of protecting you that isn't needed. For example: you may be jumpy when really you are safe and older now. Sometimes Parts conflict too, or in IFS language are 'Polarised'.
And there is also Self: Self is not a part but the energy field within you - the true 'essence' of you, and the space in which your Parts exist. Self is said to feel calm, and from this space we can be curios, clear, compassionate, confident, courageous, creative, and connected. Self is an energy that comes from within you, and an IFS Therapist will help you to access this to heal your Parts.
Legacy Burdens: you may hear of this concept on your IFS journey, legacy burdens are basically part that are burdend by the job they have been doing, parts are not their burdens it's more like how they are feeling because of the jobs they've been doing - usually for a long time.
Many people from around the globe are loving having their IFS therapy online. IFS is my main theoretical approach to therapy because it make most sense to me, and my clients find it an easy to read road map.
I'm fully trained in IFS Level 1-3 & Masterclasses, I'm also a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist with lots of experience working in the field of trauma.
IFS or Internal Family Systems as it is officially known, is a model of personality developed by Dr. Richard (who likes to go by Dick) Schwartz from USA in the 1980's. Dr. Schwartz is is on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard School of Medicine. Schwartz developed this unique model of therapy by getting lots of feedback from clients that he worked with.
I'll explain IFS Therapy very simply here - there is a lot more to it, but just reading this can help you start to understand yours and others internal systems.
The theory is the everyone is multiplicity ie made of parts. Just like a car, body, computer down to an atom we are all made up of 'parts' and the brain and mind is the same. Think about any dilemma perhaps the party that you don't want to 100% attend, you will be in two minds maybe more. In IFS we can work with these parts as individuals sometimes from an 'inner, mindful state'. Amongst the parts is the space in which they exist this space is known as The Self in IFS, it is not a part but more an space and positive energy.
IFS therapy gives you and I a way of talking about this, it is like having a lens to see through. The IFS lens is one of the most adaptable, and accurate lenses I have come across in schools of therapy..
The parts in IFS theory are categorised into 3 main groups:
- Firefighters: These firefighters can stop you feeling hurt. They usually take you over when something distressing happens to protect you. They react to situations with 'high energy', they can use alcohol, drugs/substance, exercise, pain, sex, work, fight/flight/freeze/faint. Whatever it takes to protect you in that moment they will do, and they don't care how they do it!
- Managers: These parts can be like firefighters but they are not as reactive, they tend to 'run the show' most of the time through your day. It is often Managers that react when Firefighters have finished their job, Managers can be very critical of the Firefighters. They take care of you by giving you messages "do this...", "do that...", "they'll let you down..", "it will all work out in the end" "have a cup of tea"
- Exiles: These are the parts that Managers & Firefighters are suppressing and keeping locked away far away from harm. Exiles are child like / younger parts frozen in time through upsetting, distressing, and traumatic situations. Sometimes exiles are triggered by events/memories and situations. Exiles will try and escape to be seen and be with you through feeling, but your the Managers and Firefighters will quickly step in to get them back deep inside. Exiles are accessed in IFS with the protectors permission, then with Selfs' energy, and the skill of an IFS therapist the exiles can be helped to be released, integrated and healed. Once exiles have been healed and taken into the system the Firefighters & Managers can start to relax, take a breaks, and even get new jobs to help you out in better ways!
Why are parts sometimes problematic? Well, Parts don't know they can be problematic, they only see the other parts as problems, they have only your Self's best interest. Sometimes, Parts act like you are still in the trauma, and function as a way of protecting you that isn't needed. For example: you may be jumpy when really you are safe and older now. Sometimes Parts conflict too, or in IFS language are 'Polarised'.
And there is also Self: Self is not a part but the energy field within you - the true 'essence' of you, and the space in which your Parts exist. Self is said to feel calm, and from this space we can be curios, clear, compassionate, confident, courageous, creative, and connected. Self is an energy that comes from within you, and an IFS Therapist will help you to access this to heal your Parts.
Legacy Burdens: you may hear of this concept on your IFS journey, legacy burdens are basically part that are burdend by the job they have been doing, parts are not their burdens it's more like how they are feeling because of the jobs they've been doing - usually for a long time.
Many people from around the globe are loving having their IFS therapy online. IFS is my main theoretical approach to therapy because it make most sense to me, and my clients find it an easy to read road map.
I'm fully trained in IFS Level 1-3 & Masterclasses, I'm also a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist with lots of experience working in the field of trauma.
