Internal Family Systems is an approach to understanding our personality and harmonizing our mind, body, spirit. It was founded by Dr. Richard Schwartz. It is grounded in the acceptance that the mind is naturally multiple, that all our inner parts, even those that we dislike and cause us trouble, have good intentions and contain valuable qualities. By welcoming all of our parts and getting to know them and appreciate what they are intending to do for us, begins the process of understanding ourselves, validating and appreciating our inner world.
In getting to know our inner parts, we begin to recognize that there are parts that are vulnerable and sensitive, that get hurt and hold emotions, shame, sadness, loneliness that block our natural joy, trust and love. These tender parts have protectors, that manage and prevent these sensative parts from being hurt again and reactive parts that respond when hurt parts get triggered. These familiar patterns of behaviors and feelings and reactions can feel stuck, repetitive and hopeless. By witnessing, and inviting relationship between our Self and our parts we can shift these patterns and become more whole.
Qualities of our core Self, or essence include: Compassion, Curiousity, Courage, Calmness, Connectedness, Creativity, Confidence, Clarity