11:14

Embodiment: Internal Family Systems (IFS)

by Dr Richard Schwartz

Rated
4.8
Type
guided
Activity
Meditation
Suitable for
Everyone
Plays
91.6k

Dr. Richard Schwartz guides the listener through the steps of identifying Trail Heads and working within the body to sooth parts and give them comfort. He encourages the listener to engage even difficult parts with curiousity, compassion and love.

EmbodimentInternal Family SystemsIfsBody ScanParts WorkLoving KindnessEmotional AwarenessSpaciousnessBreathworkEnergy FlowTrust BuildingCompassionLove

Transcript

Okay.

So let's take some deep breaths.

And we're going to just see what parts are here.

And to do that,

Go ahead and scan your body for places of tension or achiness or congestion,

Stiffness,

Pressure.

Because often those are what we call trailheads.

Those are manifestations of parts that are present.

You can also scan your mind for agitated thoughts or emotions.

Just doing a kind of inventory to see who's here right now.

And as you notice,

A trailhead or a part,

Then go ahead and focus on it.

On that place in your body or your mind.

The goal of this meditation isn't right now to get to know it so much as to help it know that it's not alone.

So as you focus on it,

Let it know that you're there with it.

And if it's possible,

In a sincere way,

Let it know that you care about it.

Even if it's a part that gets in your way in your life.

You can do that by giving it some comforting words or extending a kind of loving energy to it or around it.

You could even breathe into it using your lungs as a kind of bellows aimed at it.

Just do one or all of those things until the part seems to relax.

And if it does relax,

You'll notice a kind of shift in that place in your body or your mind in the direction of more space.

And if it doesn't relax,

That's okay.

It just means that it needs more attention from you some other time.

So for now,

You can let it know that you get that and you'll return to it later when you have more time for it.

And then you can move on to a different part.

But if it does relax and you feel that increase in spaciousness,

Then also move on to another part.

Extending a loving energy to it or comforting words or breathing into it.

Helping each of these parts know they're not alone,

That you're there with them,

That they can trust you,

That they can trust you to be in your body.

And as they relax and you experience more spaciousness,

You may notice a kind of energy flowing in and around that space and around your body.

As you are in your body more.

You can shift your attention between the energy as it flows and then back to the parts,

Bringing more of that energy to them.

But also noticing qualities of the energy.

Noticing the vibratory qualities of the energy or the sense of well-being that comes with it.

Sense of space.

Calm.

You'll notice a kind of virtuous cycle happening where the more you embody,

The more your parts relax and let you embody.

And soon you can begin to shift your focus back to the outside world.

But just see how possible it is to hold this spacious awareness,

This energy in your body,

Even as you begin that shift.

Because with practice,

It is possible to be in this state even when you focus outside,

Even when you interact with people.

It's all a matter of helping your parts trust that they can let you lead in this way.

When the time feels right,

Then come on back to the outside world.

Thank you.

Meet your Teacher

Dr Richard SchwartzBoston, MA, USA

4.8 (3 869)

Recent Reviews

Mona

November 12, 2025

I’m grateful to Richard Swartz for his wisdom and dedication to improving the lives of others.

Christine

October 3, 2025

My mind kept wandering throughout the session, but Dr. Schwartz’s calming voice was a steady presence that I could return to whenever I drifted back.

Hope

September 16, 2025

Really good today just relax before getting ready for bed

Zhenia

September 8, 2025

Thank you. Your meditations and IFS are really helpful and calming. I just find the end music doesn’t fit the stare it creates. No music or a more soothing choice could work better, at least for me

Irene

July 28, 2025

Really benefitted from that meditation today. Nice pace.

Rachel

July 27, 2025

Such a great meditation. Plenty of time inbetween prompts to interact with your parts. Felt a little breakthrough. Thank you 🙏

Jonah

June 27, 2025

This helped me connect with fear and worry in myself and bring more compassion to these parts.

Marguerite

March 28, 2025

That was so helpful. Thank you so much for this and for Internal Family Systems.

Jean

March 12, 2025

just embarking on inner family systems work. Thank you.

Rachel

March 8, 2025

I love IFS and Dick Schwartz’s voice and energy in particular. Wish there were many more meditations by him.

Julia

February 27, 2025

Thank you so much for this and for your IFS work. I have always noticed a block or tension (discomfort) just below my diaphragm all across my upper abdomen. I am not sure why it never occurred to me that a part resided there that was asking to be seen, heard, and cared for. The tension is still there but she’s been there asking for some attention for 50+ years so it’s going to require more than a 12 minute practice to get that part to feel safe, but now I know where the work needs done 🙏🧡

Kenyon

February 17, 2025

Love this and love your work. IFS has been pivotal for me in my understanding and healing. There is a white noise/noise gate artifact on the voice in the first half that is distracting. However, it resolves at around 5:45. Would be great if the whole track had the voice clarity of 5:45 onward. Thank you for this!🙏

Malin

January 20, 2025

Dick, IFS and other parts work have been a life saver for me. Thank you so much from my Self and my inner team.

Christine

November 5, 2024

The perfect sized meditation to reach great depths. I will return to! Thank you!! 🙏🏽🤍

Shari

October 19, 2024

So grateful for your book(audio( with guided practices and absolutely delighted and moved by your generosity in being on insight timer. Thank you

Amelia

October 16, 2024

Looking forward to reading your book. I just discovered IFS.

Margie

September 5, 2024

I like that it gave me space to experience what was happening without feeling pressured to move on. Thanks! 🙏

Carrie

May 9, 2024

So grateful for these IFS meditation as I’m taking a break from therapy to pay off some other health expenses. I thought I couldn’t do the work without my therapist, and while it’s not 100% the same, it is EVERYTHING to still be lovingly connecting with my parts and Self. Thank you for making these available here!🙏❤️

Caroline

March 26, 2024

Really gentle, powerful, practice. I don’t think I really grasped this concept before. Thank you 🙏

Laura

March 25, 2024

This was completely amazing. I can’t believe how much I relaxed- it was shocking.

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© 2025 Dr Richard Schwartz. All rights reserved. All copyright in this work remains with the original creator. No part of this material may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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