Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS): A Compassionate Approach to Therapy

Abstract

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) has gained recognition globally as an effective psychotherapy and an evidence-based practice. It has seen widespread acceptance and application not only in individual, couple, and family therapy but also in diverse fields such as education, coaching and more. The IFS model was developed by Dr Richard Schwartz based on the concepts of systems therapy and multiplicity of the mind. The non-pathologising approach of IFS views the psychiatric symptoms that a client comes into counselling with, as protectors or parts forced into extreme roles caused by circumstances and experiences for the positive intention of maintaining functioning, despite negative consequences. The approach of IFS reflects compassion and its goal is to restore balance to the client’s inner system by unburdening the parts of their extreme roles, beliefs or feelings, and to restore the client’s Self to leadership. IFS offers an alternative neuroscience-informed intervention model to the stage model of treatment for trauma. The contribution of IFS is not only in the interventions itself but also in advancing therapeutic relationship and for self-therapy. This paper describes the application of IFS therapy to individuals by providing vignettes to highlight the impact of its non-pathologising approach on the client as well as the therapist in the counselling process by viewing parts from a lens of self-compassion.