Internal Family Systems Therapy

What is Internal Family Systems Therapy?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a new form of therapy that is compassionate, inclusive, spiritual, powerfully healing, and deeply respectful of our inner life. It has evolved over the past 25 years into a comprehensive approach that includes guidelines for working with individuals, couples and families, though it is primarily an individual therapy modality. It represents a new synthesis of two already existing paradigms, bringing systems concepts and methods from family therapy to the world of subpersonalities. Many other theorists have described a phenomenon similar to subpersonalities or parts, but prior to IFS, little attention has been given to how these inner entities functioned together.

Who Developed IFS?

The IFS founder, Richard Schwartz Ph.D., a therapist and family systems professor learned from working with his patients, that inner parts take on common roles and form common inter- relationships. He realized that though these personas had existed over time and served particular functions in the inner system, the roles were not static and could be changed if one intervened carefully and respectfully.

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) website. Website for Center for Self Leadership, Chicago

IFS Classes for the general public. Phone classes and in-person classes and workshops in San Francisco Bay Area.

Introduction to IFS Introduction to the Internal Family systems model by Jay Earley, Ph.D.