Your cart is currently empty!
“Self” directed exploration and “shadow” work.
FROM PSYCHOLOGY TODAY:
Internal Family Systems Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an approach to psychotherapy that identifies and addresses multiple sub-personalities or families within each person’s mental system. These sub-personalities consist of wounded parts and painful emotions such as anger and shame, and parts that try to control and protect the person from the pain of the wounded parts. The sub-personalities are often in conflict with each other and with one’s core Self, a concept that describes the confident, compassionate, whole person that is at the core of every individual. IFS focuses on healing the wounded parts and restoring mental balance and harmony by changing the dynamics that create discord among the sub-personalities and the Self.
When It’s Used
IFS therapy is used to treat individuals, couples, and families. It is an evidence-based approach that has been shown to be effective for treating a variety of conditions and their symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, phobias, panic, and physical health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, as well as improving general functioning and well-being.
What to Expect
IFS is talk therapy in which you work with a therapist to identify and understand the specific sub-personalities or families that make up your internal mental system. Once you identify these parts, the therapist will help you acknowledge your feelings about these suppressed emotions, learn how to release these feelings so you are freer to address the actual problem, and ultimately find more positive ways to manage conflicts on your own. The therapist may suggest certain tools to help you do this, such as relaxation exercises, visualization, keeping a journal, and creating a chart that illustrates the relationship between Self and the different parts of you.
How It Works
IFS was developed in the 1990s by family therapist Richard Schwartz, Ph.D., who developed the concept of an undamaged core Self that is the essence of who you are, and identified three different types of sub-personalities or families that reside within each person, in addition to the Self. These include wounded and suppressed parts called exiles, protective parts called managers, that keep the exiled parts suppressed, and other protective parts called firefighters, that distract the Self from the pain of exiled parts when they are released. For example, an exiled part may be the trauma and anger of earlier abuse, emotions that are suppressed by the manager, while the firefighter may be an alcohol addiction or behavior such as overeating that distracts the client from facing and re-experiencing those uncomfortable emotions. These parts can be healed, transformed, and better managed by the Self by achieving the three goals of IFS:
1) Free the parts from their extreme roles
2) Restore trust in the Self
3) Coordinate and harmonize the Self and the parts, so they can work together as a team with the Self in charge.
What to Look for in an IFS Therapist
Look for a licensed psychotherapist, social worker, counselor or other mental health professional with advanced training in IFS therapy. The Internal Family Systems Center for Self-Leadership conducts training programs. Look for a therapist with IFS training. In addition to licensing and educational credentials, it is important to find a therapist with whom you are comfortable working.
References
The Center for Self Leadership. Evolution of the Internal Family Systems Model by Dr. Richard Schwartz, Ph.D.
Shadick NA, Sowell NF, Frits ML, et al. A randomized controlled trial of an internal family systems-based psychotherapeutic intervention on outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis: a proof-of-concept study. Journal of Rheumatology. August 2013.
Foundation for Self Leadership: IFS, an Evidence-Based Practice
28 responses to “Exploring parts of your personality through insight and access”
-
Greetings! I’ve been reading your web site for a long
time now and inally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Tx!
Just wanted to mention keep up the great work! -
You’ve made the point!
-
You actually reported this terrifically!
-
First off I would like to say wonderful blog!
I hadd a quick question which I’d like to ask if you do
not mind. I was interested too find out how yoou center yourself and clear your mind before writing.
I’ve had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out.
I truly do enjoy writng but it jjust seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any
recommendations or tips? Manny thanks! -
Hello Dear, are you actually visjting this website regularly, if so after that you will
without doubt take nice experience. -
Generally I don’t read artcle oon blogs,however
I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and ddo it!
Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, very
great post. -
Thanks for finally talking about > Exploring parts off your personality through insight aand access – James Fitzgerald Therapy PLLC < Liked it!
-
I just like the valuable information you supply on your
articles. I’ll bookmark your bpog and check again here frequently.
I’m rather certain I’ll learn many new stuff right right here!
Best of luck for the next! -
You need to take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the internet.
I most certainly will highly recommend this blog! -
With thanks, Fantastic information.
-
I am in facxt pleased to glance at this web sute posts
which contains plenty of helpful data, thanks ffor providing these information. -
I ike the helpful info youu provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog annd take a look at agaqin here regularly.
I’m somewhat sure I’ll be informed many new stuff pfoper right here!
Best of luck for the following! -
Remarkable things here. I’m very glad to look your post.
Thanks so much and I’m looking ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drp
mme a mail? -
Because the admin of this site is working, no hesitation very shortly it will be well-known,
due to iits quality contents. -
I was suggested this website by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written byy him ass nobody else know such detailed about my trouble.
You’re incredible! Thanks! -
Great website. Plenty of helpful info here. I’m sending
it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thank you for your sweat! -
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I believe that you ought to publish mre oon this topic, it might not be
a taboo subject butt generaally people don’t discuss such
issues. To the next! Cheers!! -
Attractive part of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to say that
I get in fact loved account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to
your feeds or even I fulfillment you get admission to consistently quickly. -
What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It
absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads.
I am hoping to give a contribution & help different users like its helped
me. Great job. -
My brother recommended I may like this blog.
He was once entirely right. This post actuall made my day.
You cann’t imagine just how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thank you! -
My spouse and I stumbled ove here coming from a different web
page and thought I may as well check things out.
I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward
to fining out about your web page again. -
I do noot even now the way I stopped upp here, however I believed thhis submit used to be good.
I do not realize who you are however definitely you are going to a well-known blogger if you aren’t already.
Cheers! -
Paragraph writing is also a fun,if you be acquainted with afterward you
can write otherwise it iis complex to write. -
Thank you very much for sharing, I learned a lot from your article. Very cool. Thanks.
-
Hello are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying too
get started aand set up my own. Do you require any html coding expertise to make your own blog?Any hel would be greatly appreciated!
-
Thank you very much for sharing, I learned a lot from your article. Very cool. Thanks.
-
Thank you, your article surprised me, there is such an excellent point of view. Thank you for sharing, I learned a lot.
-
my8mpm
Leave a Reply