IFS Methodology

IFS practitioners report a well-defined therapeutic method for individual therapy based on the following principles. Here, the term "protector" refers to either a manager or firefighter.

·       Parts in extreme roles carry "burdens": painful emotions or negative beliefs they have taken on as a result of past harmful experiences, often in childhood. These burdens are not intrinsic to the part and therefore they can be released or "unburdened" through IFS therapy, allowing the part to assume its natural healthy role.

·       The Self is the agent of psychological healing. Therapists help their clients to access and remain in Self, providing guidance along the way.

·       Protectors usually can't let go of their protective roles and transform until the Exiles they are protecting have been unburdened.

·       There is no attempt to work with Exiles until the client has obtained permission from the Protectors who are protecting it. This allegedly makes the method relatively safe, even in working with traumatized parts.

·       The Self is the natural leader of the internal system. However, because of past harmful incidents or relationships, Protectors have stepped in and taken over for the Self. One Protector after another is activated and takes the lead, causing dysfunctional behavior. Protectors are also frequently in conflict with each other, resulting in internal chaos or stagnation. The aim is for the Protectors to trust the Self and allow it to lead the system, creating internal harmony under its guidance.

The first step is to help the client access the Self.

Next, the Self gets to know the Protector(s), its positive intent, and develops a trusting relationship with it.

Then, with the Protector's permission, the client accesses the Exile(s) to uncover the childhood incident or relationship that is the source of the burden(s) it carries. The Exile is retrieved from the past situation and guided to release its burdens.

Finally, the Protector can then let go of its protective role and assume a healthy one.