Internal Family Systems

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a form of psychotherapy that views the mind as made up of different "parts" or subpersonalities, each with its own feelings, desires, and roles. The goal of IFS is to help individuals understand and heal their internal conflicts by fostering communication between these parts and their core "Self," which is seen as a compassionate, centered, and wise presence that can guide the healing process.

In IFS, there are typically three types of parts:

1. Managers: These parts try to control and protect the individual by preventing painful emotions from surfacing, often through behaviors like perfectionism, overworking, or emotional detachment.
2. Exiles: These parts are often associated with painful emotions or traumatic memories that have been suppressed or "exiled" to protect the person from pain.
3. Firefighters: When exiles' emotions are triggered, firefighters act quickly to suppress or numb these feelings, often through impulsive behaviors like substance use, binge eating, or other distractions.

IFS therapy encourages individuals to become aware of and understand these parts, develop compassion for them, and help them release their extreme roles so that the core Self can take a leading role in their life, bringing balance and healing.

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