IFS Therapy

Internal Family Systems Therapy

Internal Family Systems (IFS) a unique therapeutic model in that it takes a non-pathological approach to understanding and healing the mind.

It was formulated in the 1980s by Richard Schwartz and has been refined over many decades by a wealth of therapists.

It combines two concepts, one being systems thinking. This holds that systems are interconnected and a change in one part of the system results in movement in the whole system.

Take women’s liberation for example. It began with intellectual debates and ideas such as The Feminine Mystique. With a change in thinking, political and social changes of all manner followed with it.

internal-family-systems-parts

The second concept behind IFS is in keeping with many psychological models, holding that we each contain number of ‘subpersonalities’ as part of psyche. Multiplicity.

In psychotherapy, multiplicity refers to the understanding that individuals have multiple "parts" or "selves" within their psyche, each with its own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. This is not to be confused with dissociative identity disorder.

These parts can be activated in different situations or relationships, leading to variations in thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Examples include having a "scares child" part, an “inner critic” or a "compassionate parent," to name a few.

ifs therapy

Cassie and one of her doppelgangers

The 2020 television series, The Flight Attendant (based on a novel by the same name) brought multiplicity into the mainstream.

Cassie is a flight attendant who works her way through a series of escalating personal and family crises to some kind of greater understanding and integration.

As an alcoholic her mental state is not always lucid. She contends with a host of visions, flashbacks and hallucinations with which she has a series of conversations in her head while she tries to figure everything out.

Over time she dialogues with a series of other Cassies. Teen Cassie blindly adores her alcoholic dad. The One in the Golden Dress is the party gal who solves all her problems with a drink. If You Made Better Choices is the version of her that is earnest, bossy and idealistic, while The Black Hole of Joy is depressive to the point of being suicidal.

Disagreements among Real Time Cassie and the Other Cassies grow, as different external and internal tensions escalate. The Cassies all want to keep her psychologically safe, but they have radically different world views meaning they each offer incompatible coping strategies.

As one reviewer captures it: "we glimpse how exhausting it is to be both the storm and the sailboat". In many respects, we are all a bit like Cassie, no matter how good some of us are at projecting an aura of togetherness.

Testimonials

Marcus is not just one of the nicest people you will meet, he is so professional that it will blow your mind. Definitely one of the most amazing and eye-opening experiences I have ever had.

- Carol Wilson

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I undertook my session in a state of deep grief around my relationship with my father. By the end of it I felt something click into place internally. I left feeling whole and strong and beautiful as well as in light. I would not only go again but I thoroughly recommend this as a gift to yourself.

- Julia

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Inner Childhood Healing

Our inner child is those parts of us that experienced the early stages of life, being the wonder and innocence, as well as those parts that were fragile, scared and overwhelmed.

Within the framework of IFS, our younger selves splinter off and those parts of us deemed to be unlovable are dubbed as “exiles” who carry the wounds of past experiences.

The concept of exiles refers to parts of ourselves that hold painful memories, traumas, and emotions often rooted in childhood experiences.

These exiled parts are typically buried away to protect the individual from overwhelming feelings, making them less accessible to conscious awareness.

The goal of family parts therapy is to reconnect with these exiled parts compassionately, allowing them to express their feelings and needs rather than remaining suppressed where they act out in destructive ways.

inner childhood healing

Integrating our exiles and understanding our inner child aspect is just one element in family systems therapy.

From a Jungian understanding, many of us wrestle with the events of our lives, our daily circumstances and dilemmas without sufficient awareness of beliefs, structures and behaviours that manifest what we notice on the surface.

Family parts is a powerful means to make the unconscious conscious. As Carl Jung famous pointed out, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.“

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