What is Internal Family Systems? Why does Karen Use it?
Internal Family Systems helps people work with inner parts of themselves that are causing difficulties in their lives. We all know we sometimes argue with ourselves, saying "I'm on a diet" while we eat yet another piece of cake, or promising to finish a task that will be procrastinated yet again. In Internal Family Systems (IFS) we have ways to find those conflicting parts, learn what caused them, and even heal them so we're not so conflicted any more. You can learn to work directly with previously unconscious parts of yourself and become better able to deal with challenges that come up for you.
I (Karen) first started working with parts that were making me overwork, people-please, and try to make everything I did perfect. I found, to my amazement, that they were protecting some very young parts of me that still remembered being hurt by parents and teachers. Mainly those people were trying their best to teach and help me, but they didn't know the best ways to do that. So they yelled, or threatened, or spanked. This caused overwhelm to my young self and drove the hurt parts underground. Protective parts such as perfectionist and people-pleaser took over, trying to make sure those things never happened again. Thus an inner system was born. When I learned to do IFS work I began to heal my inner parts, and help those parts shed their unhealthy roles. I stopped driving myself so hard and instead learned to take care of my inner parts. I'm not perfect at that either, but I try :)
Now I teach others these skills. I teach them to find their inner parts, get to know them, witness their memories, retrieve them, and release their burdens. I am certified as a practitioner in this IFS method. In addition to leading IFS sessions with people, I also teach them to do their own inner work so they can handle daily challenges on their own.
I (Karen) first started working with parts that were making me overwork, people-please, and try to make everything I did perfect. I found, to my amazement, that they were protecting some very young parts of me that still remembered being hurt by parents and teachers. Mainly those people were trying their best to teach and help me, but they didn't know the best ways to do that. So they yelled, or threatened, or spanked. This caused overwhelm to my young self and drove the hurt parts underground. Protective parts such as perfectionist and people-pleaser took over, trying to make sure those things never happened again. Thus an inner system was born. When I learned to do IFS work I began to heal my inner parts, and help those parts shed their unhealthy roles. I stopped driving myself so hard and instead learned to take care of my inner parts. I'm not perfect at that either, but I try :)
Now I teach others these skills. I teach them to find their inner parts, get to know them, witness their memories, retrieve them, and release their burdens. I am certified as a practitioner in this IFS method. In addition to leading IFS sessions with people, I also teach them to do their own inner work so they can handle daily challenges on their own.
What Evidence is there that IFS is effective?
SAMHSA’s independent scientific review of the study and NREPP application affirmed the following findings, which are now listed, as of November 23, 2015, on the federal NREPP website: NREPP.SAMHSA.gov.
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.
These scientific findings and the ensuing listing of IFS on NREPP affirm the vast potential of IFS Therapy for advancing emotional healing and mental well-being. In particular, they indicate promising effects on mind (depression, anxiety), body (physical health conditions), and spirit (personal resilience and self-concept).
The original study can be located at www.jrheum.org/content/early/2013/08/10/jrheum.121465this link
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.
These scientific findings and the ensuing listing of IFS on NREPP affirm the vast potential of IFS Therapy for advancing emotional healing and mental well-being. In particular, they indicate promising effects on mind (depression, anxiety), body (physical health conditions), and spirit (personal resilience and self-concept).
The original study can be located at www.jrheum.org/content/early/2013/08/10/jrheum.121465this link