You have probably heard all the talk in the therapy world about Internal Family Systems Therapy.  What is all the chatter about?  IFS is an evidence-based model of therapy that has proven to make lasting changes for clients.

Rather than the more traditional, cognitive models of therapy, IFS gets to core wounds and helps our clients connect with who they are at their core - their true and authentic selves.

If you are new to this model of therapy, it can feel difficult to implement at first.  One tip is to Introduce the basic theory of IFS this way:

a. I share that I primarily use a model of therapy called Internal Family Systems – the basic premise being that everyone of us has a Self – the core of who you are – who you were made to be consisting of your unique personality, gifts, passions and the universal qualities of compassion,…(the 8 C’s). 

b. However, every one of us has been wounded in life, in some form – from our families, schools, bullying or more global forms of trauma. From events or dynamics, parts get exiled off. c. Then to keep the pain at bay, protective parts are born – like anxiety, anger, addiction, worry, internal critic, etc. They serve to keep the emotions buried or work hard to prevent the wounds from recurring. 

d. (So – I will share some or all of that as an explanation of the model. Some people want the description – some may not.)

If you want to energize your practice through implementing this ground-breaking model of therapy, learn more through IFS!  We have an introductory workshop at Bareiter Counseling Center in Charlotte, NC:  An Experiential Exploration of Internal Family Systems.

 By Carol J. Hollandsworth

MA, LCMHCS, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (NC, SC)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy (NC, SC), Level III Certified IFS Therapist