Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Beginners

Have you ever noticed that you don't always feel like the same person?

That there seem to be opposing voices or tendencies within you.

One part of you wants to rest,

Another part just keeps working.

One part of you wants to be kind.

Another part suddenly snaps or shuts down.

One part of you wants to be calm.

Another part overthinks and grasps for control.

And when parts of us take over and do seemingly irrational things.

We often judge ourselves for it.

Why can't I just relax?

Why do I keep doing this,

Even though I know better?

Internal Family Systems or IFS.

IFS.

Offers a completely different way of looking at this.

It teaches us to radically embrace all parts of ourselves with compassion.

And to give them a voice.

Instead of seeing these reactions as flaws,

Weaknesses,

Or symptoms,

That we need to get rid of.

IFS sees them as parts of us that are trying to protect us,

Often with feelings and strategies that they learned long ago.

IFS starts with the assumption that even the parts of you that create problems have a protective logic underneath them.

They have good intentions.

The perfectionistic part may be trying to prevent failure.

The anxious bar may be trying to keep you prepared so you won't get rejected.

The numbing part may be trying to give you a break from overwhelm.

And the angry part.

May be protecting your boundaries.

That doesn't mean every behavior is helpful right now.

Some protective strategies can become very painful or destructive.

But IFS asks us.

Not to pathologize these parts.

But instead.

.

.

To listen with curiosity and compassion.

To move from fixing,

How do I get rid of this part of me?

To understanding.

What is this part trying to do for me?

What is it afraid of?

What happened?

If it stopped doing this.

Why does it need me?

To understand.

Every part of us has a story to tell.

Thank you for your curiosity in IFS.

I'm looking forward.

To practice together.

My name is Inga.

I'm an IFS therapist,

Breathwork coach,

And yoga teacher here on Insight Timer.

I'm wishing you a lovely rest of your day.