IFS (Internal Family Systems) is an evidenced based practice that views the mind as being made up of multiple parts, or sub-personalities. These parts can have their own thoughts, feelings, sensations & images. They have positive intent & are not bad, but they can develop complex relationships with each other & develop burdens. Parts language is non-pathologizing & is actually quite common as a lot of us already communicate in ways that express parts of our inner system. For example, when we may say or hear others say “there’s a part of me that feels really angry right now” or “I know I could be making healthier decisions, but there’s still a part of me that just doesn’t want to”, & even “I want to heal my trauma, but there’s still a part of me that fears doing so.” It’s theorized that these parts of us can take on rigid roles & burdened beliefs shaped by our lived experiences. In IFS & with your inner system’s permission, we compassionately & curiously explore these parts carefully & respectfully to increase your access to Self energy. 

Self energy can be described as an inner healing resource within us. We all have Self & it’s always there, but life experiences/situations can alter our ability to have access to it. For example, think of the sun representing Self & clouds representing parts. The Sun (Self) is always there, but the clouds (parts) may cover it - making it harder for us to access the feeling of sunlight. Our Self is our core being. It’s our inner essence, our soul, our inner compass, our inner knowing, our wise self - Self is You … your TRUE Self. Self is a state of being - it exists in everyone & is who we are at our core. It’s recognized in all traditions/cultures & it connects us to all living things. Most importantly, Self has no agenda. Unlike parts, which do have an agenda, Self is inborn & released - not developed or acquired by outside experiences or even therapy. IFS calls it “Self” because clients have said they feel more like “themselves” when they have access to Self energy. Characteristics of Self include: curiosity, compassion, creativity, courage, connectedness, calm, clarify, and confidence (referred to as the 8 C’s of Self). When we have access to these traits, we are in Self energy. 

In IFS therapy, the client is the expert of their own parts & inner system. IFS isn’t a deficit model - meaning it doesn’t assume that clients are missing something and the clinician is there to “fill in the gaps.” Instead, it views the parts of clients as having burdens/constraints that are loosened or released when clients have more access to Self energy. This, in turn, allows the parts to do the job they prefer to do rather than staying in an extreme role. The goal of IFS therapy is to increase the client’s access to their Self energy, create loving relationships with all the parts of them, differentiate parts from Self, unburden negative beliefs, free parts from extreme roles, to develop an ability to lead from Self, & bring Self leadership to external systems. By doing so, IFS therapy strives to assist clients in achieving harmony & balance in their inner system.