Internal Family Systems Therapy

What Are Internal Family Systems?

Internal Family Systems therapy or IFS therapy takes a very unique approach to understanding the mind. It views the mind as an internal family, consisting of different sub-personalities. These sub-personalities, in turn, consist of parts that interact with one another, as family members often do. 

The parts are divided into two categories – wounded parts and protective parts. Wounded parts comprise painful emotions and memories, and protective parts seek to protect the person from the wounded parts. So, basically, what this means is that they are in conflict with one another, leading to inner tension and undesirable behavior. 

The encouraging news is that these parts do not have to be in conflict with one another. The Self – the core of what a person truly is, holds the key to bringing the wounded and protective parts together. The main concept of IFS is to find the “Self” and allow it to lead by engaging and healing these parts. 

At NuView, we build on this approach and enable clients to gain insight into their internal conflicts and foster personal growth. Through psychotherapy, we help them achieve balance and healing.

When Is Internal Family Systems Therapy Used?

IFS  therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy and can be used to treat individuals, couples, and families. It can be used to treat a wide range of conditions:

• Anxiety 
• Phobia 
• Trauma
• Major depressive disorder 
• Bipolar disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder 
• Eating disorders
• Substance use disorder 

IFS therapy views these disorders only as a “part” of the person. It focuses on acknowledging and respecting these parts instead of suppressing or fighting them. IFS therapy encourages approaching these disorders, these parts, with a sense of curiosity and compassion on the path to healing. 

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What Are The Techniques Of Internal Family Systems Therapy?

IFS therapy is talk therapy, wherein a psychotherapist first identifies and understands the sub-personalities that make up the client’s inner mind. There can be several parts playing multiple roles within the internal family of the mind, however, IFS therapy categorizes these parts into three main roles:

• Exiles – These are the wounded parts, and they carry painful emotions or memories from past events. These can range from fear, guilt, shame, trauma, and so on.
• Managers – These are the protective parts, playing the role of protectors. Managers manage day-to-day functioning by keeping the exiles at bay. They do not let them into conscious awareness by planning to avoid painful and distressing events.
• Firefighters – These also play the role of protectors, like managers. However, they kick into action when an event triggers the exiles. They seek to restrict the difficult emotions exiles can give rise to, and their efforts can veer toward the unhealthy category. Like binge eating or substance use.

At the center of IFS therapy, however, is the Self. Self is the core of what a person truly is, and it is responsible for observing, engaging, and leading the wounded and protective parts toward healing. Self has many positive traits, mainly the 8 C’s and 5 P’s.

The 8 C’s are:

1. Confidence
2. Calmness
3. Creativity
4. Clarity
5. Curiosity
6. Courage
7. Compassion
8. Connectedness

The 5 P’s are:

1. Presence
2. Patience
3. Perspective
4. Persistence
5. Playfulness

An IFS therapist uses the Self’s positive traits to identify the relevant parts of the mind and rid them of their burdens through a six-step process:

• Find – Identifying the parts of the mind that need attention.
• Focus – Focusing on the part that needs engaging with.
• Flesh Out – Exploring and learning more about the part, especially the experience of it.
• Feel Toward – Describing the feelings toward the part, basically its presence in life.
• Befriend – Accepting the existence of the part from a place of respect.
• Fear – Talking to the part as a friend, and asking what it fears might happen in case of a change in its role or even its absence.

How Does Internal Family Systems Therapy Work?

IFS therapy works by “unburdening.” What this means is to get the wounded and protective parts of the mind to stop competing and conflicting with one another. The key to this is the Self, which can heal, transform, and get these parts to work together like a well-functioning family. This can be accomplished by simply achieving the goals of IFS therapy:

• To achieve balance within the internal family of the mind by liberating the parts from any extreme roles.
• To uplift the Self as an efficient leader.
• To have the parts recognize the Self as the leader and submit to its decision-making.
• To have the parts co-exist together and be productive in a non-extreme manner.

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Is Internal Family Systems Therapy Effective?

Yes, IFS therapy is effective. As of 2015, it became designated as an evidence-based practice by the National Registry for Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). NREPP is a repository maintained by the U.S. government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

As a mode of treatment, it has been rated as effective in improving the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even some physical health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

However, it is not useful in the treatment of all disorders, especially psychotic disorders. For example, for a person with schizophrenia, the emphasis on “sub-personalities” is not helpful. On the same note, it may not be helpful with dissociative identity disorder for the same reason as well.

What to Expect In Internal Family Systems Therapy?

With IFS therapy, finding a licensed psychotherapist or a counselor with training in IFS therapy is the key. At Nuview , the IFS therapist will begin by covering the basic information and performing an initial assessment. They seek to understand the client’s background by posing relevant questions and frankly discussing what the client can hope to get out of the IFS therapy. The following sessions will see the therapist enable the client to identify the Self and the parts and build cohesion between all of these elements. 

The success of the IFS therapy mainly rests on a rapport between the therapist and the client. The efforts will be toward creating a safe and respectful space where clients are encouraged to explore even the most discomforting emotions or behaviors. The therapist will then facilitate identifying these emotions or behaviors and dealing with them in a healthy manner.