Internal Family Systems

ABOUT IFS

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Internal Family System (IFS) is a transformative psychotherapy model with a tenet that every human being is a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core Self. Like family members, we have many parts within our internal family, and some of our inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles because of negative life experiences. Self is in everyone. It can't be damaged. It knows how to heal. 

 

IFS aims to help individuals heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. The IFS therapist supports their clients in accessing their Self and, from that core, coming to understand and heal their parts. The IFS Therapist also helps individuals navigate their personal and intimate relationships and step into life with the 8 Cs: confidence, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, clarity, curiosity, and connectedness. 

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Techniques of IFS

IFS propose three main types of parts: firefighters, managers, and exiles.

 

The Manager: The manager tries to help the individuals from connecting with the deep pain through intense planning. The manager keeps the individual function but is often critical and perfectionist. 

 

The Firefighter: The firefighter part is activated when a trigger is present. The firefighter's role is to shut down the triggers from the painful memory, and they often do it through unhelpful behaviours such as substance abuse, eating disorders or dissociation. 

 

The Exiles: The exiles are parts that carry emotions and memories associated with adverse childhood experiences or trauma, and Exiles hold hurt, fear, or shame from these early experiences. 

 

Both the firefighter's and manager's goals are to keep the exile from emerging and flooding the individuals with memories of pain and trauma. 

 

IFS has been applied effectively in working with individuals with trauma, anxiety, depression, panic, phobias, compulsive behaviours, and general wellbeing. However, IFS is not suitable for working with psychotic symptoms such as psychosis or paranoia. 

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Who may benefit from IFS?

IFS has been applied effectively in working with individuals with trauma, anxiety, depression, panic, phobias, compulsive behaviours, and general wellbeing. However, IFS is not suitable for working with psychotic symptoms such as psychosis or paranoia. 

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How IFS Works?

The IFS-Informed therapist works with the individuals to identify the parts of the Self and build connections between the parts through exploration of their inner parts. As the undamaged core, the Self is the essence of the individual's true Self. The goal is to free the parts from their extreme roles, restore the trust in the Self and coordinate the Self and the parts to work together as a team with the Self in charge. 

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For more information, please email contact@restoringpeace.com.sg. 

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