Internal Family System Therapy (or Model)

[Anarchy]

A bump up and a cross link
Getting Protector Part To Back Down

 

[Hope4Now]

I just read what I wrote about IFS nearly two years ago. Most of it still stands true (and thanks, @Anarchy, for posting the links to Dick Schwartz's youtube videos!) My understanding of the IFS model has deepened appreciably since my last posts. The corrective I would make is that the SELF is NOT a separate part. The SELF is the heart center of a person--a spiritual energy (not spiritual in a religious way) that is a human being's natural state of being before the tribulations of life (both pre- and post-natal) assault the consciousness. Dick Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems, aims at the healing process to allow each individual to be SELF-led. He identifies qualities of the SELF as including: calmness, curiosity, clarity, compassion, confidence, creativity, courage, and connectedness. In my experience, these qualities can also emerge through parts (managers, firefighters, and exiles), but when they do, it is SELF energy coming through.

If anyone is interested, Shwartz has several books on his work. The ones I found particularly helpful were: Internal Family Systems Therapy which is an introduction to the model, and The Mosaic Mind which is specifically about survivors of child abuse.