What is Internal Family Systems (IFS)?
Welcome to the exciting world of Parts Work and Inner Multiplicity.
Non-pathological inner multiplicity in a nutshell: There lives a cast of characters inside everyone of us. And that’s not only normal and okay – it is marvellous.
“Each of us is a crowd
with its own mythology
and we are more or less comfortably
crowded into a single person.“
– Piero Ferrucci, What May Be
You are many.
And that’s beautiful.
Our language brims with expressions hinting at the inner multiplicity we all navigate daily. Phrases like “I am in two minds about this” or “I was beside myself” or “a part of me wants to, another part doesn’t” subtly acknowledge the diverse internal voices.
These common sayings unveil a profound perspective: within each of us lies a rich tapestry of subpersonalities, an orchestra of parts sometimes in harmony, sometimes in chaos, debating over who’s in charge. Despite the challenges, a beauty exists in this rich inner diversity, as each part contributes to the intricate dance of being you.
The view that we are naturally all multiples, has a long standing history. Before modern psychology introduced the mono-mind or single-self paradigm, the perspective of non-pathological internal multiplicity was woven through the tapestry of human understanding across cultures and epochs.
From shamanism and ancient philosophies, to the arts and literature, humanity has long acknowledged that within each individual lies a constellation of characters, each with their own thoughts, feelings, desires, fears, and wisdom.
IFS.
Internal Family Systems.
Conceived in the 1980s as a novel psychotherapeutic model by Dr. Richard Schwartz, IFS weaves the holistic lens of systems thinking—viewing complex systems as a whole, not merely as collections of parts—into the rich beauty of inner multiplicity, creating an integral path for healing and growth.
Over the years, IFS has evolved and today embraces the full spectrum of human experience through therapy, coaching, education, conflict resolution, parenting, and beyond. It encourages a dance of collaboration among our internal parts, guiding us towards a deeper understanding and loving acceptance of our complex humanity.
While other modalities such as Psychosynthesis, Jungian Analysis, Gestalt Therapy, or Voice Dialogue, among others, echo the view of the psyche’s multiplicity, IFS stands out in its origin story. The model wasn’t conceived from theory but from practice.
When his clients kept referring to their “parts,” rather than pathologising, Dr. Schwartz followed his curiosity and ventured beyond the conventional therapeutic frameworks. Together with his clients and their real-world experiences, he created a comprehensive and intriguing map of the rich landscape of the human psyche.
Self.
Your inner essence.
At the heart of IFS lies the Self, an individual’s compassionate essence; an inner guide navigating life’s ups and downs with calm, clarity, and courage.
Imagine your core Self as the conductor of an internal orchestra, with each of your parts as a musician, bringing their own melodies of thoughts, feelings, and desires. Sometimes they play in perfect harmony, at other times they clash, but under the guidance of the Self, the complex and uniquely beautiful symphony of YOU comes to life.
Through the cultivation of Self-leadership, IFS aims to foster loving and caring relationships, inside and outside. The model views humans as intrinsically whole, with a natural capacity for healing and integration.
Through trauma, big or small, parts can adopt protective and sometimes extreme roles to help keep the internal system safe. These roles can unintentionally create internal and external conflicts and tension. Yet, despite their roles, IFS recognises that each part, regardless of its behaviour, is driven by positive intentions.
Parts Work and IFS can be viewed as internal relationship work. Similar to resolving external conflicts, addressing our internal conflicts involves engaging with and understanding our parts, rather than trying to get rid of them.
As these parts gradually place their trust in the leadership of the essential Self, they begin to release their burdensome roles, thus cultivating a more harmonious internal world. This inner transformation has the potential to also sow the seeds for peace in our outer lives.