What is IFS? Why IFS?
IFS stands for Internal Family Systems. It is a modality that was developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz over 20 years ago.
Bryan Counseling is an IFS based practice in Colorado, with both trained and informed clinicians, because of a desire to help deepen and expand the healing potential for clients. IFS is an evidence-based modality, meaning there is research to back it’s effectiveness. The evidence-based label simply means that what people were intuitively seeing as effective and healing for people, actually was scientifically proven to be healing and effective for people!
The Center for Self Leadership (IFS hub) website indicates the following proven uses for IFS:
“As a clinical treatment, IFS has been rated effective for improving general functioning and well-being. In addition, it has been rated promising for each of: improving phobia, panic, and generalized anxiety disorders and symptoms; physical health conditions and symptoms; personal resilience/self-concept; and depression and depressive symptoms.”
What does an IFS session look like?
On a very basic level, IFS therapy explores the many “parts” of who we are.
We often say, “Part of me really wants this but a part of me really wants that” (often two contradicting or opposing desires/directions/needs). We spend time exploring what is going on in that dilemma and from there we often find much that is worthy of being seen, known, and reclaimed in our hearts.
IFS therapy is a non-pathologizing model of therapy. It is first and foremost a model based on curiosity rather than managing a set of behaviors or banishing a set of emotions. This can be alarming to people who come into therapy ready to “get rid of some stuff” or ready to “stop feeling a certain way.” Through IFS, we have seen clients break free from lifelong struggles, but the way they do it is different than what they may have hoped or assumed it would be. The goal is not to “white knuckle” your way through life. The goal is to actually heal what is driving the behaviors or emotional states people are longing to “get rid of.”
How this actually looks is hard to explain in a quick way. IFS provides an intricate and fascinating way to discover yourself that is more experiential than easily explainable. All we can say, is that most clients express knowing themselves in ways they never dreamed they could, and finding much needed freedom from pathologizing, banishing, and endlessly correcting parts of who they are. We are complicated beings and as we explore that from a place of curiosity we discover so much FREEDOM.
Want to learn more?
Click on the link below to learn more about this powerful therapeutic model: