Internal Family Systems

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a therapeutic approach that is known for being a gentle, respectful and compassionate way to understand ourselves and build a better relationship between our wounded parts, protectors and our core self.

We can be impacted by life experiences, and this can cause a part of us to be wounded and exiled away within our systems. This wounding can sometimes become frozen in time and stuck within us. Years later something may happen that triggers this young wound, and we can become young and vulnerable. Some examples of wounded parts are: The Traumatised, The Rejected, The Worthless, The Betrayed or The Abandoned.

When the wounding happened, a protector would have taken on a role in our system to try and protect and stop anything hurting this young vulnerable part. Our protectors also appear in many different ways. Some examples of protector roles are: A Pleaser, A Rescuer, A Joker, an Overachiever, an Analyst, a Perfectionist, or even a part that feels the need to Numb. 

These roles are all created to protect the wound for feeling any further pain. They have good intentions, but sometimes the protectors don't realise that some of these behaviours may be causing more conflict within our systems and this can create further upset within us and those around us. Resulting in negative behaviours and reactions.

IFS therapy enables us to connect to these protectors and help us understand their intentions, while building a better relationship with our core self. We can unburden the wounded parts and help them release the negative thoughts, feelings, beliefs or memories that have been holding them down for so long and set them free.

IFS is a fascinating way to truly understand who we are and understand why we do what we do. It is not about judging the behaviours in a negative way. It is about holding compassion for the role they have taken on to protect us. Building a better relationship between self, the protectors and unburdening our wounds. IFS enables us to live a better self-led life and become happy with who they are.

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