About Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy?
IFS Therapy works with different parts of your experience through a process of guided inner dialogue. By engaging in an accepting, compassionate conversation with various parts that feel or think differently from each other, you can better understand your inner world, while developing a more creative, calm, and curious stance toward life. Parts of you that may feel depressed, be anxious, or are trapped by painful past experiences can be soothed and healed, freeing you to be more alert and joyful in the present.
Basic Assumptions of IFS
IFS assumes that each person has many "parts" or sub-personalities as well as a healthy core Self. Different people experience "parts" of themselves differently. Some may have an inner voice; other's experience parts as feelings, bodily sensations, or images. However, you experience parts of you; you also have a Self, which is curious, calm, creative, and compassionate to name a few of its qualities. One skill you will learn from doing IFS therapy is how to access and live more often from this healthy center IFS calls, Self.
IFS and Healing from Trauma
Remembering frightening or painful experiences from the past can be emotionally overwhelming and contribute to feelings of instability, depression, and anxiety. Using IFS as a structure for our work together, I will respect your pace and needs for safety as you work through difficult experiences from the past. IFS is particularly effective in helping release difficult feelings related to old wounds, transforming limiting beliefs, and letting go of unwanted behaviors associated with past traumas - filling those places with calm, playful, and hopeful feelings.
Brief History of IFS
IFS was evolved over the past 20 years by Dr. Richard Schwartz, a Chicago-based family therapist. He initially began using this structured dialogue approach with individuals with eating disorders, but went on to work with others including those with severe trauma from childhood abuse, veterans, couples, and inner city kids. He found it was very effective in helping people heal from past wounds, move beyond stuck places in their lives, and decrease damaging behaviors in relationships. The Center for Self Leadership was founded to train others to use IFS both here in therapeutic settings, but also in other fields. IFS has been used in peace making efforts in the Middle East and other places where intense conflict is occurring. Most recently, The Center for Self Leadership is involved in research studies to show how effective IFS is in controlling pain chronic pain. Current studies are in progress for the treatment of complex PTSD.
Please click here, if you want to read more about IFS.
IFS Therapy works with different parts of your experience through a process of guided inner dialogue. By engaging in an accepting, compassionate conversation with various parts that feel or think differently from each other, you can better understand your inner world, while developing a more creative, calm, and curious stance toward life. Parts of you that may feel depressed, be anxious, or are trapped by painful past experiences can be soothed and healed, freeing you to be more alert and joyful in the present.
Basic Assumptions of IFS
IFS assumes that each person has many "parts" or sub-personalities as well as a healthy core Self. Different people experience "parts" of themselves differently. Some may have an inner voice; other's experience parts as feelings, bodily sensations, or images. However, you experience parts of you; you also have a Self, which is curious, calm, creative, and compassionate to name a few of its qualities. One skill you will learn from doing IFS therapy is how to access and live more often from this healthy center IFS calls, Self.
IFS and Healing from Trauma
Remembering frightening or painful experiences from the past can be emotionally overwhelming and contribute to feelings of instability, depression, and anxiety. Using IFS as a structure for our work together, I will respect your pace and needs for safety as you work through difficult experiences from the past. IFS is particularly effective in helping release difficult feelings related to old wounds, transforming limiting beliefs, and letting go of unwanted behaviors associated with past traumas - filling those places with calm, playful, and hopeful feelings.
Brief History of IFS
IFS was evolved over the past 20 years by Dr. Richard Schwartz, a Chicago-based family therapist. He initially began using this structured dialogue approach with individuals with eating disorders, but went on to work with others including those with severe trauma from childhood abuse, veterans, couples, and inner city kids. He found it was very effective in helping people heal from past wounds, move beyond stuck places in their lives, and decrease damaging behaviors in relationships. The Center for Self Leadership was founded to train others to use IFS both here in therapeutic settings, but also in other fields. IFS has been used in peace making efforts in the Middle East and other places where intense conflict is occurring. Most recently, The Center for Self Leadership is involved in research studies to show how effective IFS is in controlling pain chronic pain. Current studies are in progress for the treatment of complex PTSD.
Please click here, if you want to read more about IFS.