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From the IFS lens our minds are viewed not as monolith, but rather a mosaic. Internal Family Systems states that we all contain a variety of "parts," each with distinct roles, emotions, intentions, and protective strategies which havc developed over the course of our lives.
Some parts of us may hold pain, shame, or anger, while others may serve to protect us from deeply connecting with those uncomfortable feelings, often because they feel that is that pain was contacted it may overwhelm or even disable the whole system (Aka you).
Although extreme parts may limit us or even harm us, when we start to get to know them we find that they all actually have our best interests in mind. Oftentimes our most destructive patterns are a misguided attempt at protecting ourselves from a difficult or overwhelming experience.
At the core of each of us, beneath all of our parts, lies what IFS calls “the Self”, an innately calm, wise, and healing presence that exists within everyone. This core Self naturally has the capacity to hold and heal all internal parts with compassion, curiosity, and clarity. The therapeutic work involves helping parts step back from their protective roles so that the Self can emerge as the primary leader of the internal system, creating profound harmony and wholeness where once there was conflict and fragmentation.
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Multiplicity as Natural State: Rather than viewing internal conflicts as dysfunction, IFS recognizes that we naturally develop different aspects of personality to navigate complex life experiences, and conflict is to be expected. Problems arise when parts become extreme in their protective roles. These extremist parts can manifest in various including as addiction, self harm, or isolating behavioral patterns, as negative or highly critical thought patterns.
In order to remedy these problems IFS states that we must turn towards our extremist parts, dialogue with them, understand their needs and concerns, ultimately in order to earn their trust in the Self. Once trust is established parts no longer take on potentially destructive extremist roles, and instead integrate into the whole as a healthy part of the system.
Self-Leadership: Every person possesses an undamaged core Self characterized by compassion, curiosity, clarity, courage, creativity, calmness, connectedness, and confidence (the 8 C's of Self-leadership). When parts are not overwhelming the system, Self naturally emerges to provide wise, loving leadership. This understanding serves as the foundation of IFS therapy. It’s extremely important to understand that each of us are inherently able to heal ourselves, If you can learn how to access the Self.
No Bad Parts: All parts, even those that appear destructive or problematic, developed for positive reasons and continue trying to help in the only ways they know how. The goal is not to eliminate parts but to help them find new, less burdensome roles within the internal system. As I’ve stated previously, each of these parts have our best interests in mind. However problems arise when these parts feel they must take on new, extreme roles in order to keep the system safe.
