The Internal Family Systems Model (IFS), first developed by Richard C. Schwartz, is an integrative approach to individual psychotherapy that combines systems thinking with the view that mind is made up of separate subpersonalities, each with its own viewpoint and qualities. The focus of IFS therapy is to get to know each of these subpersonalities and understand how they work as a whole in order to better achieve healing. IFS can be used to treat individuals, couples, and families and it has been shown to be effective for treating a variety issues, including depression, anxiety, and panic. Think this approach might be right for you? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s Internal Family Systems specialists today.
With its transformative framework, IFS helps individuals explore their inner world, understand different parts of themselves, and cultivate self-compassion. By developing a compassionate relationship with these parts, healing and integration occur, leading to lasting change and personal growth. IFS empowers individuals to navigate challenges, heal wounds, and discover their innate resilience, resulting in greater well-being, and a more authentic, fulfilling life.
— Rachelle Miller, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Spokane Valley, WAI often incorporate parts work, which allows us to understand, embrace, and nurture all of the dynamic aspects of our personalities and who we are. This helps to cultivate more insight and self compassion, and reduces feelings of shame.
— Ellen Garfield, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Aptos, CAThe Internal Family Systems (IFS) model was developed by Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s and describes and integrative and transformational approach to psychotherapy. The premise of IFS is that much like the complex nature of an external family system, individuals are composed of separate and multifaceted internal Parts in relationship with each other. By changing the relationships between different Parts of ourselves an individual (clients) experiences a sense of integration, self-leadership,
— Gwenevere Abriel, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Coconut Creek, FLPeople naturally understand that they have different parts of their personality. Internal Family Systems builds on this way of understanding ourselves. When I integrate this model into my work, my clients are able to bring more compassion, courage, calm and creativity to themselves and others. This helps bring more satisfaction into their lives and relationships.
— Beth Levine, Clinical Social Worker in Rockville, MDHave a background working at a residential/outpatient treatment facility based in IFS, and continue to refer to the model. Thinking of true self and parts of the psyche has been helpful to most of my clients to move past many of their problematic behaviors/thought patterns and to get to how we can heal their attachment wound.
— Kelley Collins, Licensed Professional Counselor in ,I use parts work and Internal Family Systems to treat any behaviors, thoughts, or sensations that are unpleasant. I am currently enrolled in a Level 1 Internal Family Systems training further providing expertise in this non-pathologizing & evidence based approach.
— Robyn Sonnier, Licensed Professional Counselor in Raleigh, NCI completed my level one training from the IFS Institute in July of 2022. I will be taking a level two training specialized in eating disorders and addictions in November of 2023.
— Christina Sun Oo, Psychotherapist in Arlington Heights, ILInternal Family Systems has been a major part of my own healing journey and it is my favorite way to work with clients. Working with parts is a creative and effective way to find the root of what is causing suffering in one's internal system. In IFS, the concept of 'Self' is what really brings the power. Self is described as a powerful and undamageable entity within that has the capacity to heal our deepest wounds. Helping clients access Self is my motivation and honor.
— Chana Halberg, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in Boulder, COI have recently started utilizing IFS as a treatment approach to my trauma work with clients; I have found that clients with trauma find it especially beneficial but almost all of my clients seem to like it and have found it to be helpful.
— Samantha Bryant, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in , TXUpon completion of the year-long IFS Online Circle training, I've found that I've been able to seemlessly integrate this modality into my work as I'd already been doing it for many years without knowing it! IFS is a relative of a classic modality called parts work. I've found it to be powerful in helping people heal and transform the relationship they have with themselves and their parts by cultivating self-compassion.
— Elana Morgulis, Licensed Marriage & Family TherapistIFS welcomes all of you into the room. Your scared parts. Your bold parts. Your hedonistic, critical, joyful, depressed, shut down, sad parts. We are all complex humans. We have internal conflicts, coping strategies we’ve outgrown, deep hurts we’re carrying. As an IFS therapist, I support you in learning to embrace your whole being. As you connect deeply to your inner landscape, you will find more compassion, acceptance, and understanding for yourself.
— Augustin Kendall, Counselor in Minneapolis, MNI am a trauma-informed therapist. IFS is a powerful tool to explore the reasons why we have certain moods, feelings, thoughts, or behavior that we can't explain. We might feel confused about why we have inner conflicts or difficulty making decisions. IFS can address these concerns with a high efficacy rate.
— Tara Moyle, Licensed Professional Counselor in Glen Ridge, NJLevel 1 training + 20 years of practice
— Elizabeth Hinkle, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Virginia Beach, VAFind out more via my speciality webpage for Internal Family Systems: https://windingriverpsychotherapyservices.com/ifs-therapy
— Tim Holtzman, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Berkeley, CAI utilize parts work and aspects of IFS extensively in my work. We all contain multitudes, as the saying goes. Our inner protectors can use a variety of tactics to keep us safe, but these can often cause us trouble in other ways. In therapy we work to bring insight and voice to those multitudes we contain within us, and we also, importantly, work to build a stronger connection to your core self to allow you more agency to take back the reins and develop self-trust.
— Jackie Turner, Marriage and Family Therapist Associate in Portland, ORIFS gives us the space to externalize important parts of your system that protect you, judge you, love you, or anything in between! It's extremely valuable in helping us identify the patterns that keep you stuck and clarify where you learned them. It can even be a fun experience to hear from new and interesting parts of yourself that you haven't spent time getting to know. Let's be curious about the parts that make you who you are!
— Hailey Hughes, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in Austin, TXInternal Family Systems is the framework I use the most since it is applicable to almost any issue a person is dealing with. Otherwise known as "Parts Work", this approach is considered a "psychospiritual model" which means there is an element of spirituality to this type of work and it's fascinating to see deep transformation in clients who are open to exploring with experiential methods using IFS. It's way more complicated than this but I assure you it would be helpful to you!
— Stacey Hellman, Clinical Social Worker in Ellicott City, MD