The Transformative Power of Internal Family Systems (IFS) For Individuals and Therapists
By The Embody Lab
The following information was shared in a live conversation between Dr. Scott Lyons, Dr. Richard Schwartz, and Dr. Peter Levine on the topic of Internal Family Systems (IFS). Watch the replay of their conversation here.
Harnessing IFS for Personal and Professional Growth
Internal Family Systems (IFS) stands out as a profound therapeutic approach for individuals navigating personal healing and therapists facilitating transformative sessions. Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, IFS introduces a distinctive framework centered around the concept of the Self. It underscores the therapeutic potential of consciously engaging with our internal "parts", which represent different facets of our psyche that may feel fragmented or disconnected. The goal is to integrate these parts harmoniously, fostering a sense of inner coherence and healing.
Conceptualizing the Self through IFS: Wholeness and Integration
In IFS, the concept of wholeness is often discussed. Wholeness involves bringing together parts of ourselves known as Exiles, which have become fragmented due to past traumas. It’s important to understand that, despite our individual experiences with trauma, our core Self always remains intact and accessible. By creating a nurturing space to reconnect with these parts, we can guide them from extreme disconnection towards inner harmony. Wholeness unfolds as these parts come together to integrate, moving beyond trauma and the constraints of ego, allowing for deeper connections with both ourselves and others.
Going Beneath the Surface to Access the Self
In addition to psychological techniques, Dr. Schwartz often integrates a somatic approach into IFS. This means we can identify and engage with our inner parts through awareness of our body's sensations. For instance, when facing an inner Critic, an IFS practitioner may help you pinpoint where this Critic manifests physically, enhancing your understanding of its impact. Here's how therapists might initiate this process:
Start by noticing where the Critic feels present in your body.
Ask yourself how you feel toward that part. This can help us learn more how much of your true Self is present versus parts that oppose the Critic, clouding your perception.
Next, acknowledge the part that opposes the Critic. You can gently ask it to give you space for a few minutes so you can understand the Critic better. If the part feels safe enough to do so, inquire again: How do you feel toward the Critic now?
You might say I’m curious about why it calls me names all day.
In just moments, you’ve moved from resistance to curiosity or even compassion toward the part, embodying your true Self.
When you engage with the Critic from this centered state, you'll likely discover it serves a protective role rather than a purely critical one.
Remember, this process varies for each person based on their experiences and trauma.
The Wounded Healer
Dr. Schwartz also emphasizes that therapists need to bring their own sense of Self into the therapy room to effectively apply IFS. Healing and achieving wholeness are ongoing journeys that blend spiritual and emotional growth, integrating conflicting parts into potential allies. It takes courage and humility for therapists to support others while also striving for their own personal wholeness.
Spiritual Dimensions: Connecting with Guides and Energy
Beyond just psychological healing, IFS also acknowledges spiritual aspects where people can connect with guides or higher aspects of themselves for guidance. Peter Levine describes this spiritual connection as feeling "waves of warmth or tingling sensations." It helps release emotional blocks, fostering deeper inner peace and clarity. This process channels energy, allowing a stronger sense of Self to support us through our personal journey.
Addressing Legacy and Collective Trauma: A Path to Collective Healing
Legacy burdens encompass traumas inherited from ancestors or absorbed from cultural influences, which our internal parts often adopt, hindering access to the spiritual dimensions inherent in IFS experiences. Practices like Internal Family Systems and collective unburdenings help heal these parts. In these processes, individuals often receive insights and develop deeper connections with guides who appear in sessions to assist on the healing journey. Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Levine have observed clients encountering spiritual guides not as internal parts but as supportive presences alongside them. Collective unburdening can involve groups convening in conference-like settings to release inherited or societal traumas, drawing on ancient shamanic practices spanning millennia. This underscores the intertwined nature of personal and collective healing journeys, revealing profound interconnectedness in the process.
Embracing Transformation with IFS
Internal Family Systems therapy isn't just a therapeutic approach; it's a pathway to profound personal and professional growth across diverse fields and situations. By allowing the power of the Self to emerge and integrating fragmented parts of the psyche, individuals embark on journeys of self-discovery, healing, and spiritual exploration. Therapists also benefit immensely from IFS, gaining a transformative framework that enhances their practice and personal well-being. This approach fosters deeper empathy and effectiveness in guiding clients toward holistic healing.
Whether you're facing personal challenges or looking to enrich your therapeutic practice, IFS provides a comprehensive approach. It invites us all to delve into our inner worlds and embrace the journey of self-understanding and integration.
Reflection prompts for use in discussion groups or your personal reflective journaling
On the Integration of Parts and Concept of Wholeness:
The article discusses how IFS aims to integrate fragmented parts of the Self to achieve wholeness and harmony. How might this approach differ from more traditional therapeutic methods that focus on managing or suppressing parts of the psyche rather than integrating them?
On The Role of the Therapist's Self in IFS:
Dr. Schwartz emphasizes the importance of therapists bringing their own sense of Self into the therapeutic space when practicing IFS. How might a therapist's personal journey of self-awareness and healing impact their effectiveness in guiding clients through the IFS process?
On Spirituality and Energy in IFS:
IFS acknowledges spiritual dimensions where individuals may connect with guides or higher aspects of Self. How might integrating spirituality and energy work into therapeutic practice enhance or challenge traditional therapeutic approaches? What ethical considerations might arise?
On Collective Unburdening and Legacy Trauma:
The article touches on the concept of collective trauma and the role it plays in individuals' internal systems. How might IFS be uniquely suited to address collective traumas inherited from cultural influences or ancestral histories? What challenges might therapists face when integrating collective trauma work into their practice using IFS, and what methods could be used to overcome those challenges?
About Dr. Richard Schwartz
Dr. Richard Schwartz began his career as a family therapist and an academic at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There he discovered that family therapy alone did not achieve full symptom relief and in asking patients why, he learned that they were plagued by what they called “parts.” These patients became his teachers as they described how their parts formed networks of inner relationship that resembled the families he had been working with. He also found that as they focused on and, thereby, separated from their parts, they would shift into a state characterized by qualities like curiosity, calm, confidence and compassion. He called that inner essence the Self and was amazed to find it even in severely diagnosed and traumatized patients. From these explorations the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model was born in the early 1980s.
In 2013 Schwartz left the Chicago area and now lives in Brookline, MA where he is on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Understand more about what holds you back from creating the life you want. Transform stuck parts of yourself into inner resources of strength, love, and freedom. Remove the barriers in your relationships, and gain a deeper understanding of yourself and others. The Integrative Somatic Parts Work Certificate Program with Fran Booth - trainer for PESI and the IFS Institute - will take you on a journey to discover and heal yourself and your clients.
