In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
- Albert Camus, French author
Internal Family Systems
Developed by Richard Schwartz, PhD, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is an evidenced-based, non-pathologizing and transformative modality, based on the understanding that the human mind is naturally multiple. Grounded in systems thinking, we understand that we are all comprised of various subpersonalities, or “parts”. Traumatic events, losses & societal harms cause our vulnerable, often youngest parts to take on negative beliefs about themselves and the world. These young ones remain frozen in the time and place of their wounding. "Protector" parts learn to take on extreme roles to protect these vulnerable parts and "exile" them out of consciousness to keep the system from being overwhelmed by trauma and pain.
Our Self, or core essence, is innately a healing force: compassionate, calm, confident and clear. IFS therapy helps us relate to our burdened parts from the place of our own healing Self energy to relieve our parts of their burdens.
“IFS is a loving way of relating internally (to your parts) and externally (to the people in your life), so in that sense, IFS is a life practice, as well. It’s something you can do on a daily, moment-to-moment basis—at any time, by yourself or with others.”