Self-Therapy

1. Internal Family Systems: A Revolutionary Approach to Self-Understanding

We all have a core part of us that is our true self, our spiritual center. When our extreme parts are not activated and in the way, this is who we are.

IFS model overview. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, developed by Richard Schwartz, views the human psyche as a complex system of interacting parts, each with its own feelings, beliefs, and roles. At the core of this system is the Self, a calm, compassionate presence capable of leading and healing the entire system.

Key concepts:

• Parts: Subpersonalities with distinct roles and emotions
• Self: The core essence of a person, characterized by calm, curiosity, and compassion
• Protectors: Parts that guard against pain and vulnerability
• Exiles: Wounded child parts carrying burdens from the past

IFS provides a framework for understanding internal conflicts, healing past traumas, and achieving greater self-awareness and harmony. By recognizing and working with these parts, individuals can access their innate healing capacity and lead more fulfilling lives.

2. Recognizing and Accessing Your Inner Parts

Parts are entities of their own, with their own feelings, beliefs, motivations, and memories.

Identifying parts. The first step in IFS work is learning to recognize and access different parts of your psyche. This involves developing an awareness of your internal experiences and the distinct voices, emotions, and body sensations associated with different parts.

Methods for accessing parts:

• Focus on emotions or body sensations
• Pay attention to internal dialogue or voices
• Visualize images or scenes representing parts
• Notice patterns of behavior or recurring thoughts

Practice observing your internal experiences without judgment, allowing parts to reveal themselves naturally. As you become more attuned to your inner system, you'll develop a clearer understanding of how different parts interact and influence your daily life.

3. Unblending: The Key to Self-Leadership

To work with a part successfully, it is best if the part is activated but not too blended with you.

Understanding blending. Blending occurs when a part takes over your consciousness, causing you to lose access to your Self. This can lead to extreme emotions, distorted perceptions, or reactive behaviors. Unblending is the process of separating from an activated part to regain access to Self-energy.

Techniques for unblending:

• Notice when you're blended with a part
• Ask the part to "step back" or give you some space
• Focus on grounding sensations in your body
• Visualize the part at a distance from you
• Use a brief centering meditation

Practicing unblending allows you to maintain a compassionate, curious perspective even when parts are activated. This skill is crucial for effective self-therapy and internal leadership.

4. Developing a Trusting Relationship with Protector Parts

Protectors long for someone to understand why they are performing their roles and appreciate their efforts.

Befriending protectors. Protector parts often employ extreme strategies to shield us from pain or vulnerability. Rather than trying to eliminate or override these parts, IFS emphasizes developing a trusting relationship with them.

Steps to connect with protectors:

1. Access the protector part
2. Unblend from it if necessary
3. Ask about its role and concerns
4. Listen with curiosity and compassion
5. Acknowledge its positive intent
6. Express gratitude for its efforts

By approaching protectors with respect and understanding, you can gain their cooperation in the healing process. This allows for deeper work with exiled parts and ultimately leads to more harmonious internal relationships.

5. Accessing and Healing Exiled Parts

Exiles are often stuck at a particular time in childhood, at a specific age. They are literally two years old, or five or seven, and they exist in a situation from that time in your life.

Working with exiles. Exiles are young, vulnerable parts that carry the pain and trauma from our past. Accessing and healing these parts is a crucial aspect of the IFS process, but it requires care and preparation.

Key steps in exile work:

1. Obtain permission from protectors
2. Access the exile carefully
3. Witness the exile's story and pain
4. Reparent the exile, providing what it needed in the past
5. Retrieve the exile from traumatic situations
6. Unburden the exile of negative beliefs and emotions

Approaching exiles with compassion and patience allows for deep healing of long-held wounds. As exiles are unburdened, the entire internal system can shift towards greater balance and well-being.

6. The Unburdening Process: Transforming Your Inner System

The unburdening step, which is the culmination of the exile work, is done through an internal ritual in which the exile lets go of its burden and is transformed; then it can manifest its natural qualities.

Releasing burdens. Unburdening is a powerful IFS technique for helping parts release the painful emotions, beliefs, and roles they've been carrying. This process allows parts to reclaim their natural, positive qualities and find new, healthier ways of being.

The unburdening ritual:

1. Identify the specific burdens the part is carrying
2. Ask if the part is ready to release these burdens
3. Visualize how the part carries the burden (e.g., as a weight, a color)
4. Choose a natural element (light, water, fire, earth) to transform the burden
5. Imagine the burden being released and transformed
6. Notice the positive qualities that emerge in the unburdened part

After unburdening, parts often experience a profound sense of relief and liberation. This transformation ripples through the entire internal system, leading to significant changes in thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

7. Integrating IFS into Daily Life: Self-Therapy and Beyond

IFS is not only a powerful form of therapy, it also lends itself especially well to self-therapy and peer counseling.

Ongoing practice. While IFS can lead to profound insights and healing in formal therapy sessions, its real power lies in its application to daily life. Integrating IFS principles into your everyday experience allows for ongoing growth and self-awareness.

Ways to practice IFS:

• Regular self-check-ins to notice activated parts
• Journaling dialogues with different parts
• Partnering with a friend for peer counseling sessions
• Using IFS techniques in moments of stress or conflict
• Cultivating Self-leadership in decision-making

By consistently applying IFS concepts, you can develop greater internal harmony, improved relationships, and a deeper sense of self-understanding. The goal is not to eliminate parts, but to create a balanced internal system led by a strong, compassionate Self.

Last updated: January 22, 2025