Several of my parts over the years, have become Facets of Me. I can become Teacher or Explorer, or Wordsmith or Shutterbug at the drop of a hat. Reply

Internal Family Systems Model | IFS Institute Introduction to the Internal Family Systems Model | IFS Institute

The outstanding second edition of this classic book presents the preeminent research-supported, integrative family systems approach to working with individuals as well as their couple and family relationships in their larger cultural contexts. The book is beautifully written, the theory is sophisticated and nuanced, and the clinical vignettes demonstrate the details of putting IFS into practice. IFS therapy dovetails wonderfully with the emerging emphasis on body-based psychotherapies, mindfulness practices, and the role of spirituality in mental health and well-being. This book should be read by all therapists--not just those who align with family systems--and should be a core text for graduate programs in all forms of psychotherapy. I will use it in my graduate courses!”--Peter Fraenkel, PhD, Department of Psychology, The City College of the City University of New York The All Parts Are Welcome exercise was created by Schwartz and his team to help the client welcome all parts of their self, using their attention and a few simple questions (Anderson et al., 2017). The Six Fs Schwartz includes transcripts to model how this work is done with his clients. He provides exercises for readers to try on their own & gives recommendations regarding at what point to seek help from an IFS-trained therapist. This model fits in perfectly with Enneagram work & the idea of nonjudgmental self-observation, as well as self-compassion. It feels a bit odd at first, but it makes a lot of sense & has been really helpful for me. One of my favorite things about this model is Schwartz’s assertion that we all inherently have what we need to heal (though we may need a therapist to guide us), & once the Self emerges (or what we would call “True Self” or “Essence” in Enneagram work), the Self seems to know what to do to respond compassionately to the parts & exiles in a way that is healing.Drawing the picture and working through this exercise can help them form a clearer understanding of the parts and their relationship to the self. Identifying Managers and Firefighters Other theories relying on the single or mono-mind model may lead us to fear or dislike ourselves, believing “we only have one mind (full of primitive or sinful aspects) that we can’t control” (Schwartz, 2021, p. 12). Therapies based on this model often require clients to “correct irrational beliefs or meditate them away” (Schwartz, 2021, p. 12). The IFS revolution―how honoring and communicating with our parts changes our approach to mental wellness Is there just one “you”? We’ve been taught to believe we have a single identity, and to feel fear or shame when we can’t control the inner voices that don’t match the ideal of who we think we should be. Yet Dr. Richard Schwartz’s research now challenges this “mono-mind” theory. “All of us are born with many sub-minds―or parts,” says Dr. Schwartz. “These parts are not imaginary or symbolic. They are individuals who exist as an internal family within us―and the key to health and happiness is to honor, understand, and love every part.”

Internal Family Systems Skills Training Manual: Trauma

While there are many aspects to IFS as a theory and treatment model, the primary healing relationship “is between the client’s Self and her young, injured parts” (Sweezy & Ziskind, 2013, p. 1).Feeling another’s pain or sadness can lead to empathy distress. This tool helps turn empathy into compassion. The What the Self Is and Isn’t in IFS Therapy worksheet explores the eight Cs, encourages the client to notice the quality in themselves, and asks what each means to them: I selected a few demonstration videos of IFS sample sessions to help give an idea of how the work might unfold. In IFS therapy, most of the work happens inward however, so these only offer a partial view of what a session is like for the client. If you are interested to experience IFS therapy for yourself and see the inner changes IFS can bring, consider trying out a mini IFS session. The idea that “the mind is not a singular entity or self, but is multiple, composed of parts” is at the core of Richard Schwartz’s internal family systems (IFS) model (Sweezy & Ziskind, 2013, p. xviii). A key aspect of IFS Therapy is to “find, focus on and flesh out” the client’s protective parts and help them “unblend and notice the client’s Self” (Anderson et al., 2017, p. 93). Next, the client can recognize their feelings toward and befriend the target part, explore its fears, and invite it to do something new.

Exploring Your Own System - Derek Scott Exploring Your Own System - Derek Scott

Why not try out some of the worksheets and exercises with your clients to help the self, rather than the therapist, become the primary, caring attachment figure necessary to heal the client’s injured parts? Gourmet vegetarian and vegan meals from our Buffet-plus fish being served three times during the week. The book is an easy read, and is a compilation of the writers theories as well as transcripts of meetings with clients. There is a spiritual element to the book that is carefully managed so its not a significant distraction to those not aligned with the authors worldview. If your protector did step to the side, you probably noticed a big shift” (Schwartz, 2021, p. 130). Repeating the exercise can help clients learn about the parts that protect and how vulnerable they have previously been.As his client some years ago, I had unforgettable experiences on this journey. I remember coming into a session after I had sent the final version of my essay “Facing a Wall of Silence” to the editors. As I listened inside, I did not notice any parts. Instead I had a strong feeling of being alive. He asked me to imagine walking up a path and leaving my parts behind. When I did this, the feeling of being alive only intensified. He invited me to ask this feeling what it had to tell me, and the first thing I heard was: “This is what you are here for.” The same feeling returned strongly and for some time, years later, when I wrote “Alice Miller: War and Betrayal Trauma.” We’re all familiar with self-talk, self-doubt, self-judgment—yet most of us still view ourselves as if we have one uniform mind. Dr. Richard Schwartz’s breakthrough was recognizing that we each contain an “internal family” of distinct parts—and that treating these parts with curiosity, respect, and empathy vastly expands our capacity to heal. Conversations with Alanis Morisette, introduces IFS therapy, focusing on intense parts within ourselves, and trauma. Each part has its own beliefs, feelings, and characteristics and a distinct role in the overall system. They are clustered into the following three groups (Sweezy & Ziskind, 2013; IFS Institute, n.d.): The Identifying Managers and Firefighters Using IFS Therapy worksheet helps identify manager and firefighter parts using the senses and asking a series of questions, including: