Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Since Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy was developed in the mid-1980s by Dr. Richard Schwartz, it has continued to gain a lot of popularity in recent years, particularly in North America, Europe and Australia, as evidenced by the number of therapists trained in the use of the model and clients who are seeking its non-pathologizing approach to therapy. IFS provides a coherent systemic model of therapy that has been deemed to show significant impact on general functioning and well-being as rated on the National Registry for Eviden-Based Programs and Practices (NREFF), a U.S. national repository and review system providing the public with a reliable information on mental health and substance treatment that is maintained by the U.S. government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA).
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic approach that views the mind as consisting of different subpersonalities or "parts" that interact with each other in various ways. In IFS, the therapist helps clients access a core sense of self, called the Inner Self or Self, which contains qualities of curiosity, confidence, caring, compassion, calm, courage, connection and clarity. The IFS therapist then facilitates a process helping clients to understand, interact with and ultimately heal wounded or exiled parts by accessing their Self. IFS is a powerful, integrative framework used by therapists around the world to facilitate clients' inner growth and resilience."