Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is another way of working with traumatic experiences that are still influencing our responses to the present. It is also a way of becoming more aware and accepting of different aspects of ourselves or of resolving internal conflict that can lead to anxiety, depression or other seemingly self harming ways of being.
The IFS theory was developed by Richard Schwartz and suggests that we are all made up of ‘parts’. Schwartz suggests these parts are inherent in us, but then develop roles and functions as we go through life. Some of these parts are fairly straightforward, such as our ‘professional part’ or our ‘parent part’. Other parts can sometimes seem to cause us distress, such as our ‘addictive part’, or our ‘overly self-critical part’ or the ‘part that won’t let in any positive feedback or allow us any enjoyment’. Other parts in our system can then be hostile to these distressing parts so that we can, at times, feel in a maelstrom of conflict.
This Mandela describes three main categories of parts. They surround what Schwartz calls The Self: that essential being in everybody which is not a part and has no agenda; that calm compassionate and curious holding presence we can all experience. Exiles hold wounding feelings and negative self-beliefs arising from threatening, isolating or shaming experiences; experiences that they didn’t have enough ‘Self’ or external support to deal with at the time. Managers do whatever they can to protect us from experiencing the Exiles. Firefighters typically take control when Managers aren’t succeeding and Exiles are beginning to overwhelm our system.
My work as an IFS therapist is to support you to develop a relationship between your Self and all your parts. Eventually Exiled parts can feel understood, get the healing they need and unburden themselves of painful feelings and beliefs that they’ve been carrying for many years. They then no longer threaten to overwhelm our system and Manager/Firefighter parts can feel more choice and less compulsion about how and when they protect. Thus, we can develop more confidence in the Self of our beings to lead the way.
Fees range from £70 to £120 for a 50 minute session, depending on circumstances and type of therapy / supervision.
For those that wish to know more, two very readable introductions are below,
Introduction
For an introduction to Internal Family Systems from the man himself, please refer to this YouTube link:
A very good and clear introduction can be found here: https://theweekenduniversity.com/internal-family-systems-introduction/
And finally, more information about IFS or other IFS therapists can be found here: https://ifs-institute.com/