Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Rediscover your authentic Self, unburden your parts, and restore inner and outer harmony.
“You are The One you have been waiting for.”
– Dr. Richard Schartz
IFS is a powerfully transformative, evidence-based model of understanding the human mind. It is based upon the understanding that there exists within everyone an energy called the Self, a presence that carries qualities of compassion, curiosity, calmness, creativity, courage, connectedness, and confidence.
When we have the experience of connecting with our Self, we come to realize that this is our authentic nature – who we truly are. Many spiritual and philosophical frameworks converge on this understanding, referring to the Self by different terms: Soul, Christ Consciousness, Essence, Inner Light, Tao, Buddha Nature, Atman, the Beloved.
However, if we encountered painful life experiences when we were young, our Self may not have had enough inner resource or outer support to successfully navigate what was happening to us or around us. This may have led our mind to separate into disconnected parts, distinct subpersonalities that take on burdens in the form of painful emotions (e.g., shame, hopelessness), limiting beliefs (e.g., “I am worthless”, “I am unlovable”), and/or unhelpful roles (e.g., inner critic, people pleaser). These parts helped us survive at the time, but later on in life we may come to realize they are unintentionally creating suffering.
Healing involves reconnecting with our Self, befriending and unburdening our parts, and restoring inner and outer harmony. When our parts are liberated from their burdens, they are free to reclaim and embody their inherent gifts.
“Self is in everybody, can’t be damaged, has all these great qualities like curiosity, calm, compassion, confidence, courage, clarity, connectedness and creativity. And that’s who we really are. And that person in there, once released, knows how to both heal internally and also externally, with external relationships.”
– Dr. Richard Schwartz