Introduction

This course is a broad overview of Internal Family System, otherwise known as IFS.

The courses purpose is to give people a general understanding of this therapy as a therapeutic option for emotional issues they may have in their life.

The Internal Family Systems Model (IFS) is an integrative approach to individual psychotherapy. It combines systems thinking with the view that the mind is made up of relatively discrete subpersonalities, each with its own unique viewpoint and qualities. IFS uses systems psychology, particularly as developed for family therapy, to understand how these collections of subpersonalities are organized.

IFS was developed in the 1980s by Richard Schwartz, who holds a PhD in marital and family therapy.  While treating adolescents for eating disorders at that time, he noticed his clients routinely talk about internal conversations with what they called “different parts”. Rather than fighting with these “parts”, Richard explored more of the nature of his clients’ inner struggles, and developed a system to dialogue with these “parts” instead.  This opened a whole new inner world for his clients to see what they have always experienced, from a new and different perspective. And with these new insights, they were able to draw on deeply ingrained POSITIVE qualities of themselves in order to guide and heal their past pains and fears to experience a more rewarding and satisfying life instead.

Mr. Schwartz has found that these positive qualities are aspects everyone has been born with. These qualities he found are also impervious to any trauma or pain a person may have suffered.  Nor are any severe emotional disorders a person may have able to  affect or damage this deeper positive quality that is hardwired into a persons neurology. 

For any feedback or suggestions, please contact the course creator at:

Andrew.mc@gmx.com