Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) is one of the fastest growing therapy approaches in the world because it can be very effective. It is non-pathologising and is appropriate for most issues. Most people can relate to the concept of parts of themselves expressing different feelings and behaviours. We often say things like ‘a part of me thinks I should do this but another part of me thinks the opposite’ or ‘I can’t believe I did that, I don’t know what came over me’ or ‘I hate myself when I behave like that’.

IFS was developed in the 1980s by Dr Richard Schwartz in response to clients’ descriptions of experiencing various parts within themselves. He noticed that behaviour, thoughts or feelings that were experienced as problematic would become less disruptive when these parts felt safe and had their concerns listened to and addressed. He encouraged clients to interact with their parts in the same way that a family might interact, showing each other understanding and compassion. 

The goal of IFS is to listen to problematic parts rather than trying to get rid of them.  Injured parts can be healed so that the more extreme voices calm down and begin to feel safer, lighter, freer, more open and playful.

If you would like to explore more about how this approach could help you, please don’t hesitate to book an introductory chat with me