Getting to Know Respire: IFS

In this month’s segment we will explore IFS, which stands for Internal Family Systems. IFS is an evidenced based systemic, integrative therapeutic model developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. 

What: The model explores different “parts” of self that interact and have relationships with one another. The model encourages working toward the individual compassionately understanding these parts and how they impact their actions, emotions, and well-being. There are different types of parts that emerge with different goals, i.e. ‘protector’ parts that wish to protect the person from pain or negative outcomes.

How I use it: I find this model effective with several presenting concerns and utilize this model through conversation and experiential exercises. Often this looks like exploring what emotions are coming up and the thoughts attached to those emotions and learning how to name these patterns of emotion and thoughts as ‘parts’ of self. An example is a ‘perfectionist’ part that might hold fear based or pride emotions and is attached to thoughts such as “if I don’t do this perfectly I fail.” For clients that utilize journaling or art for healing, IFS exercises outside of the therapy room can be a beneficial enhancement to this work.

Application: For eating disorders, the ED self (and it’s subparts) can be a particularly dominating part interacting with other parts including critical self and often a part that identifies feeling like “too much”. In clients managing trauma, parts of self can include younger selves, angry, scared, and empowered parts. Exploring, naming, and giving space to each part of self to understand it’s motives and how it presents in our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The idea isn’t to “banish” but to heal with compassion.

Training: I was introduced to IFS in graduate school and then received training and supervision in this model while serving as a community based clinician working with youth and families in San Francisco. I have also completed further training applying IFS to trauma and Eating Disorder treatment.