Internal Family Systems

Internal Family Systems therapy is a way of working with the various parts of a person, thus Parts Work is the name that IFS therapy is often referred to. We think of ‘parts’ when we experience shifting states of mind that each have unique thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, which then in turn create patterns that recur within us and that we begin to recognise as parts of ourselves. These parts can at times be quite different from each other.
​IFS aims to assist the individual to gain a perspective that allows the state of mind we call “Self” to be in charge and to orchestrate a more balanced life.

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“The underlying premise of IFS is that all ”people have a calm, compassionate core 'Self' and that healing the wounded parts restores balance to the self."

As of November 2015, this type of therapy is listed in the National Registry for Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) as an evidence-based practice.  It has been shown to be effective for the improvement of general emotional and mental well-being and has been rated as promising to improve symptoms of phobia, panic, generalised anxiety, depression, and certain physical ailments. 

IFS may be applied in family, couple, and individual situations to help with:

• Trauma
• Physical, emotional or sexual abuse
• Compulsive behaviours
• Depression.
• Bi-polar
• Anxiety.
• ​Body image issues
• Phobias
• ​Substance dependency