Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), developed by Richard C. Schwartz, is a therapeutic approach that envisions the human mind as a family of sorts. The approach recognizes that we all have distinct inner personalities, or "parts", within us, each with its own unique purpose and perspective. While some parts are protective, like guardians, others may be wounded and vulnerable. Fostering harmony and cooperation among these internal players is vital to living a balanced, meaningful life, and this is the goal that Internal Family Systems Therapy aims to achieve.
If you’re seeking a Calgary psychologist to help you embrace the many shades of you as a human being and find harmony within, a therapist who works with the IFS model may be a perfect choice. To learn more and to start taking control of your mental health, contact One Life Counselling & Coaching Ltd. directly.
Picture this: The human psyche as a bustling dinner party, where various guests represent different parts of your personality, desires, and emotions. Now, imagine being the host, inviting these diverse inner characters to the table, and understanding their stories, needs, and motivations. This is the internal family system in a nutshell.
In the IFS approach, you, the star of your own internal show, take on the role of the compassionate and curious leader—the therapist within. You begin to engage with your parts, those fragments of yourself that might have been neglected, suppressed, or wounded over the years, and to understand how each one contributes to your overall emotional landscape.
By acknowledging and listening to the various parts within you, you create a safe space for them to express themselves. IFS foregrounds the importance of cultivating a nurturing stance toward each and every part of yourself (even the ones you may not inherently like or understand) and treating them all with the same care and attention that you would a dear friend.
As you explore your internal dynamics, you'll gradually uncover the origins of each part's behaviour, often rooted in past experiences and wounds. Such insights will allow you to untangle emotional knots and solve puzzles that were previously a mystery. The goal? To create a symphony of collaboration among your internal cast of characters, rather than a cacophony of chaos.
IFS can be effectively used in individual counselling, couples counselling, or family counselling to explore and treat a wide variety of mental health concerns and relationship issues. The transformative power of compassion and self-acceptance underpins individual and relationship work alike and can be applied in countless contexts. As you learn to embrace all your many parts, like a loving host guiding their guests, you'll find yourself more capable of handling the twists and turns life throws at you every day.
Parts work equips you with the tools of self-leadership and emotional regulation. By diving into the depths of your emotions and learning to navigate their currents, you discover your innate ability to handle your full spectrum of emotions with grace and resilience.
In IFS Therapy, the parts within you are grouped into three primary categories:
Like a manager in a work setting, manager parts work to hold everything together and keep you functional, operational, organized, and safe in your day-to-day life.
Exile parts represent injured parts that have undergone trauma and been sent away by manager parts. If not acknowledged, understood, and integrated, exile parts can take on increasingly extreme roles and challenge manager parts for control.
Firefighter parts function as protectors that put out emotional fires, but not always in healthy ways. Approaching firefighter parts without judgment can help you restore your inner mental balance.
Internal Family Systems Therapy is a journey of understanding, self-compassion, and integration—where you become the conductor of your own emotional world.
Are you ready to embark on this journey under the guidance of a highly trained and experienced IFS therapist? Whether you need a counsellor, a life coach or a registered psychologist, at One Life Counselling & Coaching Ltd. in Calgary, our dedicated team of compassionate professionals are ready for you. Contact us today to book an appointment!
If being able to use your insurance benefits is an important factor in your selection, our team would be happy to recommend one of our therapists who's services are covered by most insurance plans. Please be sure to confirm in advance if insurance coverage is preferred.
Our standard fees are aligned with the recommended fee schedule from the Psychologist’s Association of Alberta. However, we offer the added value of 60-minute sessions in contrast to the recommended 50-minute session for this fee.
"*" indicates required fields
