Internal Family Systems

Internal Family Systems

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What is IFS?

I am a Level 1 trained IFS therapist and am looking forward to undertaking Level 2 training in March this year (2024). 


At the heart of Internal Family Systems therapy is the belief that there is a calm, compassionate core ‘Self’ within each of us that cannot be damaged. As an IFS therapist I aim to be open, welcoming of all experiences, and all feelings, respecting a person’s level of comfort and trust, without judgement. As I work with people, we begin to identify all the different parts that exist within them – for example angry parts, resentful parts, controlling parts.


These many parts  (within all of us!) can be understood as an internal family – like our families outside of us, there is also a family inside of us. We call the members of this family ‘our parts’.


This evidence-based approach assumes each individual possesses a variety of sub-personalities, or “parts,” and our aim is to get to know each of these parts better to achieve healing.


By learning how different parts function as a system and how the overall system reacts to other systems and other people, people in therapy can often become better able to identify the roots of conflict, manage any complications arising, and achieve greater well-being.  Each part has its own likes, dislikes, burdens, and history, and is thought to play a distinct role in protecting us in some way. Every part within a person is responsible for warding off behaviours, actions, or reactions that could result in dysfunction or disharmony within the individual.


As an example, a part of us that likes the house spotless might be protecting us from feelings of chaos, perhaps experienced earlier in life. By tidying up, we are protected ourselves from these uncomfortable feelings that can become activated when the house is in a mess.


Each part is welcome and validated, recognised as important due to its function to protect us. Parts may be identified as having either healthy and productive roles or extreme roles. Those parts with roles considered extreme may benefit from therapeutic work. The IFS model emphasises the network of relationships between parts as parts may not be able to experience change in isolation.

The IFS model has 5 basic assumptions: 


  1. The human mind is subdivided into an unknown number of parts.
  2. Each person has a Self, and the Self should be the chief agent in coordinating the inner family.
  3. Parts engaging in non-extreme behaviour are beneficial to the individual. There is no such thing as a “bad part.” Therapy aims to help parts discover their non-extreme roles. 
  4. Personal growth and development leads to the development of the internal family. Interactions between parts become more complex, allowing for systems theory to be applied to the internal system. Reorganisation of the internal system may lead to rapid changes in the roles of parts. 
  5. Adjustments made to the internal system will result in changes to the external system and vice versa. Therefore, both the internal and external systems need to be adequately assessed.

  

Issues treated with IFS

IFS is used to treat a wide variety of mental health conditions and psychological wounds. It may be applied in family, couple, and individual situations. As of November 2015, this type of therapy is listed in the National Registry for Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) as an evidence-based practice. It has been shown to be effective for the improvement of general emotional and mental well-being and has been rated as promising to improve symptoms of phobia, panic, generalised anxiety, depression, and certain physical ailments. 

Issues treated with IFS therapy include:

  • Trauma
  • Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
  • Compulsive behaviours
  • Depression
  • Bipolar
  • Body image issues
  • Anxiety
  • Phobias
  • Substance dependency


What happens in an IFS session?

A session of IFS therapy may take the form of traditional talk therapy, but a therapist may also choose to focus on an affected individual’s internal environment and help the individual connect different parts to Self. For example, a person who is experiencing alcohol addiction may be asked to relax, take a few deep breaths, and try to feel the part inside that wants to keep drinking. That part may be identified via a body sensation, a visual image, or an inner awareness of the part’s existence.


With the person in treatment now focusing on the internal environment, the therapist may ask how the person feels about that part. The individual may report feelings of shame, disgust, anger, or even fear. The therapist will typically then explain the need to find out the reason behind the part’s actions, often gently encouraging the person in therapy to “turn down the volume” of any fear, hatred, disgust, or shame felt toward the part, in order for the part to communicate clearly.


The part may explain it acts in the way it does to help the individual deal with difficult problems being experienced. At this point, the therapist may instruct the individual in treatment to ask the part if it would be willing to stop its actions if other effective coping mechanisms were used instead. The part may strongly doubt any other methods will be able help the individual to cope, yet still be willing to try these methods as there is nothing to lose. With permission granted, the therapist will often then help the individual to deal with issues in healthy and constructive ways.


Many of my clients have reported this being an unusual experience at first, but not unpleasant and, in fact, many find the process relaxing, even though they may be encountering parts that are extreme or painful to meet up close.

The important thing to note is that an IFS therapist never pushes anyone to confront parts that don’t want to be exposed or confronted. This whole process moves at the clients’ pace, not the therapist’s pace.

 

For a more detailed description:



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