What is Internal Family Systems therapy?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a non-pathologising, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy. Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, IFS operates on the premise that our minds are comprised of various parts, each with its own unique perspectives, emotions, and functions. Over time, parts of us are forced into extreme roles of protection, or get frozen in time, carrying emotions and beliefs from the past.
At the core of IFS therapy is the belief that every person has a core Self that cannot be damaged. The Self is often described using the 8 C-words: confidence, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, clarity, curiosity, and connectedness.
IFS therapy is a practice that helps us access our Self, a state of inner healing potential that enables us get to know, work with and heal our parts.