"IFS is a profound psychotherapy model that points to clear and practical steps for emotional healing and for leading a Self-led life."
- Gabor Maté, celebrated trauma and addictions expert and author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a form of psychotherapy that helps us identify and explore our internal parts in order to better understand how our emotional and mental states shape our behavior and life experiences. IFS recognises that each individual is made up of many different parts or sub-personalities, all of which have their own distinct needs, feelings, and perspectives.
Through the IFS process, we can learn to recognise and respect the different parts of ourselves, and learn to build relationships between these parts in order to create a more balanced, harmonious, and healthy inner system. This can lead to greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, and the ability to make informed decisions that are in line with our individual values and goals.
Additionally, IFS can help people to become better communicators, more mindful of our emotions, and more connected to our sense of purpose. All of these benefits can contribute to an overall feeling of wellbeing, and a greater capacity for joy and fulfillment in life.
Click below for some of my favourite video explanations of IFS:
3 minute video The Human iOS, Percy Ballard
8 minute video Richard Schwartz, Founder of IFS
IFS therapy dovetails wonderfully with the emerging emphasis on body-based psychotherapies, mindfulness practises, and the role of spirituality in mental health and well-being."
- Peter Fraenkel, PhD, Department of Psychology, The City College of the City University of New York