Health and Fitness

How Does Internal Family Systems Therapy Work?

Systemic Internal Family Therapy (IFS) is a relatively new and highly effective form of therapy. Studies show that IFS is effective in treating anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other trauma-related disorders, as well as various other mental and even physical problems.

The basic idea of IFS is that the soul is made up of three distinct categories of parts: exiles, managers, and firefighters. The psychological part in each of these categories is essentially a super personality with different – and extreme – ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. You can find the internal family systems group therapy services via the web.

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Exile is an aspect of the psyche that has been frozen in the past by trauma or stressful family or cultural restrictions. They contain insurmountable horror, loneliness, sadness, emptiness, and feelings of worthlessness. When isolation is triggered, people tend to lose control completely and sink in to overwhelming emotions.

Managers are the aspect of the soul that prevents outcasts from being activated by trying to control our inner and outer worlds. They are usually tough task managers and, while protective, often cause serious problems. 

Firefighters' activities can include overeating, drug or alcohol abuse, promiscuity, self-harm, and even suicide. Of course, the work of firefighters is often quite destructive and causes deep embarrassment.

Finally, there is self. The self is not the deepest part of the human being. Where the parts are recognized by their extreme nature, the self is recognized by curiosity, compassion, trust, clarity, and connectedness.