Internal Family Systems

Internal Family Systems looks at the individual as being made up of several different “parts” or sub-personalities as well as a core “Self”.  This is a non-pathological way to look at parts of a person one by one to discover how and why different parts of the personality formed.  This understanding brings insight and strength to the core self to facilitate higher functioning.  All parts are important regardless of how disruptive they appear to be.  All parts are present in order to protect the self, but they have misguided ways of helping and end up causing more damage, especially in relationships with others.  Therapy will help guide the part to a restorative way of protecting the Self.  Broadly speaking, a part would be anytime one reacts to a given situation with an intense or dysfunctional emotional reaction.  A specific example would be: after a person receives the slightest criticism from another and then feels intensely inadequate.  Extreme parts, called “firefighters” include: eating disorders, fighting, gambling, using substances, etc.

What I find to be most helpful to clients is combining the theory of Internal Family Systems with the skill of hypnosis.  I find this combination leads to insight and awareness while reinforcing the message to the subconscious to maintain a healthier state of functioning.