Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy is a form of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz that is based on the idea that the mind is made up of multiple distinct "parts" or subpersonalities, each with its own perspective, emotions, and role.
These parts are not seen as pathological but as valuable components of the psyche that may be stuck in extreme roles due to past experiences.
IFS identifies three main types of parts:
- Exiles: Vulnerable parts that carry emotional wounds and pain from past experiences.
- Managers: Protective parts that try to control everyday life to prevent the exiles’ pain from surfacing.
- Firefighters: Reactive parts that try to suppress or distract from emotional pain, often through impulsive behaviors.
At the center of the system is the Self, a core state characterized by qualities like calm, compassion, confidence, and curiosity. IFS therapy helps individuals access the Self in order to heal and harmonize their internal system by building trusting relationships with their parts and releasing them from extreme roles.
IFS is non-pathologizing, strengths-based, and has been used effectively to treat trauma, anxiety, depression, and a wide range of other psychological issues.