Internal Family Systems
Level 1 Certification Completed May 2022
Level 2 Addictive processes and Eating Disorders Completed
Level 2: Expanding - June 2023
Level 2 Adolescents - August 2023
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy that helps individuals gain insight into their inner world and how their emotions, thoughts and behaviors are connected. This type of therapy views the individual as composed of distinct parts, or sub-personalities, that interact with each other to try to maintain balance and adapt to life’s stressors. IFS uses a non-pathologizing approach to help individuals identify, understand, and bring healing to the parts. This allows individuals to become more self-aware so they can better understand their own needs and feelings as well as those of others. Through this process, clients can unburden beliefs, emotions, and memories of the past to bring healing and integration to their system.
We all have parts that work together to help us survive and thrive. When we can learn to understand and appreciate the roles of these protective parts, we can begin to heal our emotional wounds.
Managers
Managers are the parts of us that are logical, organized and in control. They help us make decisions and take action in order to achieve our goals. They work to protect from vulnerability or another emotional injury happening again. Often their motto is “never again”. Examples: guilt, anxiety, criticism, depression, etc.
Firefighters
Firefighters are the parts of us that act on impulse and try to numb, soothe, or comfort quickly without thinking through all the consequences. They often create more problems than they solve. Examples: dissociation, numb, addiction, eating disorders, self-harm, etc.
Exiles
Exiles are parts of us that carry our deepest emotional wounds and need healing and resolution. Exiles are often younger versions of ourselves (inner children) that were injured in childhood. These younger parts often hold on to the beliefs, feelings, and the memories. Examples: shame, abandonment, rejection, not good enough, etc.
Self-Energy
8 C’s of Self Energy
Curiosity
Compassion
Calm
Confidence
Connected
Clarity
Creativity
Courage
What is Self Energy?
Self energy is the core of our being and everyone is born with all the resources of Self within them. It has the ability to help us understand and bring healing to our parts. IFS teaches us how to recognize and manage our different parts, or “subpersonalities”, so that we can access our inner strength and resources more easily. It also helps us develop a greater sense of self-awareness and understanding of how our emotions affect our behavior and choices. By learning to trust ourselves and access the power of self-energy, we can create a life of greater balance, joy, and fulfillment.
