Have you ever felt like you were two different people? Like one part of you wants to achieve your goals, but another part of you gets in the way? That’s because we all have different parts of ourselves, or what’s called an “internal family.” And, just like any family, our parts can sometimes conflict with each other.
But there’s good news. The internal family system (IFS) is a therapeutic approach that can help us understand and heal our different parts. Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health is a mental health clinic that offers an internal family system program in Sharon, Massachusetts.
Learn more about internal family systems’ benefits and how the program can help you recover from mental health issues. Contact us at 855.520.0531.
What Is Internal Family Systems?
IFS is a type of psychotherapy developed by Richard C. Schwartz that focuses on understanding and transforming the internal dynamics of a person’s personality or family of origin. It views a person as composed of multiple sub-personalities or “parts” that are in constant interaction and influence each other. IFS tries to create a self-led system of healing and growth by helping people to identify, understand, and accept their parts.
The Internal Family System Philosophy
The fundamental concept of IFS is that every person is composed of multiple parts. These parts are not necessarily separate entities but rather aspects of the person’s life and identity. IFS views these parts as having both positive (protective) and negative (vulnerable) qualities.
The parts interact with each other and can form alliances. These alliances can become rigid and unhealthy, leading to a person’s internal struggles. IFS aims to help individuals identify and understand their parts, learn to connect with them, and create a healthier internal system.
IFS also seeks to help individuals differentiate between their parts and their self. The self is thought to be the core of a person and is not affected by the parts. It is the part of a person that is most aware and has the most insight. IFS seeks to help individuals gain access to this part of themselves so that they can be more aware of their parts and how they interact with each other.
5 Internal Family Systems Benefits
Internal family systems therapy is based on the idea that each person has many different parts or sub-personalities, each with its own unique perspective, beliefs, and feelings. IFS therapy helps individuals to understand and work with these different parts in a way that can be healing and transformative.
There are many benefits of internal family systems therapy for individuals who are struggling with mental health issues, including:
- Increased self-awareness – IFS therapy helps individuals to gain a deeper understanding of their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This can lead to greater self-awareness and self-acceptance.
- Improved relationships – IFS therapy can help individuals to improve their relationships with others by teaching them how to communicate more effectively and resolve conflicts in a healthy way.
- Greater flexibility – IFS therapy encourages individuals to be open-minded and flexible in their thinking and behavior. This can lead to greater adaptability and the ability to cope with stress and change.
- Reduced symptoms – IFS therapy can help individuals to reduce symptoms of mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
- Increased well-being – IFS therapy can help individuals to feel more balanced, grounded, and at peace with themselves and the world around them. This can lead to greater overall well-being and happiness.
The ultimate goal of IFS is to help individuals become aware of their parts, learn how to manage them, and ultimately become more integrated and self-aware. Through IFS, individuals can gain insight into how their parts interact and how they have been influenced by their family of origin. This can provide a platform for healing and growth.
Internal Family Systems Therapy at Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health
Overall, internal family systems benefits can help someone transform the internal dynamics of a person’s family of origin. The therapy can help individuals better understand and accept their parts, gain access to their self, and ultimately become more integrated and self-aware.
Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health offers internal family systems with a team of highly skilled and trained therapists that can help individuals to understand and work with their internal parts in a way that can be healing and transformative. If you are interested in learning more about IFS therapy and how it can benefit you, please contact us to schedule an appointment at 855.520.0531.