WHAT IS INTERNAL FAMILY

SYSTEMS?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a type of psychotherapy that views the mind as made up of different ‘parts’, each with its own thoughts, emotions and roles that interact within a person, similar to members of a family.  To understand it better it can help to think about a key moment in your own life; being asked on a date for instance or to do something important by your boss.  In that moment a part of you may have been excited, maybe it’s something you had been waiting to happen.  But then another part, that may seem at odds with the first part, was nervous or scared.

I like IFS because it helps explain the confusing polarity of emotions we, as humans, can sometimes feel all at once. It helps us to understand and heal these parts by accessing the core ‘Self’, which is a calm, compassionate and wise inner leader. 

The goal of IFS is to create harmony among the parts, to help individuals develop a loving and understanding relationship with their parts, allowing them to heal and work together in a balanced way. Promoting self-leadership, leading to emotional healing and personal growth. This leads to increased capacity, ability and energy.