Internal Family Systems

I find Internal Family Systems theory incredibly helpful for navigating my internal world and the world’s of the people in my life. The basic idea is that all of us have multiple internal parts but we have a core Self that is inherently compassionate, creative and full of wisdom. By learning how to connect with our core Self it’s possible to build relationships with parts of us that are wounded and hurt, and parts of us that are protectors who keep our internal system functioning. The goals is to help parts release their burdens so they can find their preferred roles in the system. It’s deep and creative work.

My friend Jacks and I discovered IFS more than 15 years ago in the early years of the Icarus Project and we incorporated some of the ideas into our community conversations. It’s the kind of thought system that works really well for peer work as well as deeper clinical work. My first meditation teacher was an IFS practitioner and she helped me see how useful it can be to create internal relationships with parts of myself that struggle with anxiety and fear, and build a container for exploring growth and transformation. 

I became a Certified Level 1 IFS Practitioner in 2019 and I have found it a very useful framework and set of tools with my clients. With this common language and practice we can build trust and awareness with your internal system and help to unburden long-held pain and that can end up trapped in the past. If you have questions about IFS I’m happy to answer them. To learn more check out their website.