Internal Family Systems

Internal Family Systems

IFS is one of the fastest growing therapy models worldwide today. Richard Schwartz developed the model, with the aid of his clients over 30 years ago. Dr Schwartz was originally a Family Systems Therapist and he developed the IFS model from this background.

Here is how IFSUK describe IFS- “IFS is a simple yet sophisticated fusion of psychology, spirituality, intra-psychic and family systems theory; its unique methods create the safety for clients to experience self-transformational healing.”

IFS is a different way to work with our inner system or family of inner parts. IFS is a parts based therapy, believing we are all made up of many different parts.

Internal Family Systems is a safe, gentle way to work. It is guided by the client and their inner system or parts, mostly these parts are like inner children.

IFS allows us to get to know our parts and facilitates further exploration of our internal system, helping us discover and differentiate our different parts and their individual roles.

Then, when the time is right, to enable parts to unburden past roles or beliefs. This can include, Generational Trauma’s passed down the family linage, it’s possible to heal these alongside personal Traumas.

Parts are then invited to bring in new and different energies or qualities that better serve you and your internal system going forward.

All of the above is enabled and enhanced by Self energy and part of our work is also to reintroduce our parts to Self.

Everyone has Self energy and in IFS Self is described by the 8 c words ->Curiosity, Confidence, Compassion, Clarity, Creativity, Courage, Connectedness, Calmness.

IFS Qualifications & Practice

I have completed Level 1 & Level 2 IFS training, between 2018- 2020.

My personal and professional experience of an IFS session – is that it’s similar to going on an inner journey.

To begin the session – Once the system is settled and you are in a calm, centered place, you can begin to explore, tune in and connect to different parts of you. Parts can be identfied as sensations, images, words, thoughts or memories.

You would then choose a particular part to get know better and to work with it.

Or sometimes clients come with a part in mind to work with.

Or sometimes a target part is found through dialogue at the start of the session and the session proceeds from that point.

Internal Family Systems

“Self is a spiritual essence within us and around us, like a field, that can quiet that thinking part of the brain”.
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Dick Schwartz, from his new book No Bad Parts, available now via link in bio:
https://ifs-institute.com/nobadparts

In IFS there are 3 main parts and Self.

The 3 main parts are known as Managers, Firefighters and Exiles.

Managers and Firefighters are both manager parts, Managers are pro active and Firefighters are reactive Managers, whose jobs are to protect the exile, which is the part that holds the original wound or trauma.

Availability IFS Therapy

IFS is available online and Face to Face as a walk and talk option. I work Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday am. I have 3 special places in Nature on good, level paths with coffee and toilets available nearby. KY15 area where these sessions can take place. Just ask!