IFS stands for ‘Internal Family Systems’.  IFS is “an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people heal by accessing and loving protective and wounded inner parts.” (The IFS Institute)

IFS gives us a way of understanding ourselves as complex beings with a core Self plus a number of parts, or distinct identifiable aspects of ourselves.

The core Self is capable, kind, wise, and much more. It’s common for us not to be aware of our essential core Self, because it’s usually covered over by the dominant thought patterns, emotions and activities of our parts.

Our parts can be put into 3 categories: healthy parts,  highly-charged ‘Protectors’ and ‘Exiles’.

Healthy parts don’t usually require attention in therapy. It’s nice to know that we have parts that are fine and do their things without any worries or concerns. they are parts of us that can just get on with the tasks, or help us enjoy things without any additional worries or concerns.

Worries and concerns are where the Protectors come in. They come in 2 kinds: ‘managers’ who use preventative strategies, and ‘fire-fighters’ who use reactive strategies. They are parts of us that must do what they do, to keep us from being overwhelmed or disrupted by our exiles.

Exiles are parts of us that we have isolated from the rest of our system, because they are where we are carrying burdens of intense or difficult feelings or beliefs (such as “I’m worthless”).

By helping people first access their Self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts, IFS creates inner and outer connectedness.