| Internal Family Systems | |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ɪnˈtɜːrnəl ˈfæmɪli ˈsɪstəmz/ |
| Other names | IFS, IFS therapy |
| Specialty | Psychotherapy, clinical psychology, trauma treatment |
| Uses | Treatment of C-PTSD, anxiety, depression |
| Outcomes | Integration of parts, reduction of trauma symptoms, restoration of Self-leadership |
The Internal Family Systems (IFS) model is a non-pathologizing approach to individual psychotherapy developed by Richard C. Schwartz. It combines systems thinking with the view that the mind is composed of relatively discrete subpersonalities, or "parts," each with its own unique viewpoint and qualities. The goal of the therapy is to help clients access their "Self"—described as a core state of compassion and clarity that remains undamaged by trauma—to heal and integrate these parts. [1] In 2015, IFS was listed on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) as an evidence-based practice. [2] It is frequently applied in the treatment of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), anxiety, and depression. [3]
The model has been widely adopted in clinical trauma treatment and popularized by media such as the film Inside Out . However, it has also faced scrutiny regarding its training practices and rapid expansion. A 2025 investigative report by New York Magazine criticized the model as "pseudoscientific," alleging that 'parts work' can be destabilizing for clients with complex trauma if protective mechanisms are bypassed too quickly. [4] In response to the report, the IFS Institute disputed the characterization of the therapy as pseudoscientific, stating that the cases cited involved extreme misapplications of the model distinct from standard training protocols. [5]
IFS has three core theoretical principles: Non-pathological multiplicity of the mind, systems theory, and an adaptation of Buddhist philosophy's practice of witnessing consciousness. [3] Broadly, these principles are used to non-judgmentally observe and evaluate complex mental systems. [6] This approach builds on Richard Schwartz's experiences with persons experiencing eating disorders, who he noticed often spoke about the self as various conflicting "parts" or sub-personalities. [3] Trained as a family therapist, Schwartz noticed that these parts exhibited common presentations in family therapy, leading him to develop the approach. IFS is distinct from other parts-based therapies (such as Gestalt therapy) in its emphasis on the systemic relationships between parts and the existence of an undamaged "Self" that acts as an active leader of the system, rather than a passive witness. [2]
Richard Schwartz's later work introduces metaphysical concepts distinct from the core clinical model, specifically "guides" and "unattached burdens", which are described as external entities rather than internal parts. [7] According to Schwartz, unattached burdens tend to enter a person's mind when they are out of their body, such as when being abused, having an operation, or during psychedelic experiences. [7] Guides are benevolent entities that wish to benefit the person and humanity as a whole, whereas unattached burdens do not have a positive intent and may wish to harm the person. Schwartz proposes that these entities can be removed using visualization techniques (such as imagery of light or fire), a practice labeled "exorcism" by critics but described by proponents as an energetic release. [8]
While IFS utilizes language that can appear spiritual, proponents describe these terms as phenomenological metaphors for neural networks or dissociated affective states. In clinical practice, the "Self" is not treated as a metaphysical soul, but as a state of "neurological integration" where the prefrontal cortex is able to observe emotional reactivity without being overwhelmed by it. [7]
IFS posits that the mind is made up of multiple parts, and underlying them is a person's core or true Self. Like members of a family, a person's inner parts can take on extreme roles or subpersonalities. Each part has its own perspective, interests, memories, and viewpoint. A core tenet of IFS is that every part has a positive intent, even if its actions are counterproductive or cause dysfunction. There is no need to fight with, coerce, or eliminate parts; the IFS method promotes internal connection and harmony to bring the mind back into balance. [1]
IFS therapy aims to heal wounded parts and restore mental balance. The first step is to access the core Self and then, from there, understand the different parts in order to heal them. According to Schwartz, "Self energy" (which permits healing) can be deepened or accessed during a "non-dual state," a state he notes is sometimes facilitated by the use of psychedelics. [7]
Schwartz identifies eight qualities that characterize the state of "Self-energy," often referred to as the "8 Cs":
In the IFS model, parts are categorized into three roles:
IFS focuses on the relationships between parts and the core Self. The goal of therapy is to create a cooperative and trusting relationship between the Self and each part. There are three primary types of relationships:
IFS practitioners report a therapeutic method for individual therapy based on the following principles. In this description, the term "protector" refers to either a manager or firefighter. [3]
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 often soften up or release from their roles when they establish a harmonious relationship with the Self. [3]
Some protectors unburden themselves from their roles only once 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. It is paramount in IFS therapy that the therapist ensures that the client's Self has established trust and safety with the protectors before approaching the exiles. IFS therapy emphasizes that when protectors are not respected or bypassed, there is potential for their backlash. Such bypassing can result sometimes in some serious firefighter parts activating, such as suicidal parts. Proponents argue that this protocol makes the method relatively safe, even when working with traumatized parts. [3]
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. [3]
The first step is to help the client access the Self. There are two methods for accessing Self-energy of the client:
A primary technique in IFS is the "6 Fs," a protocol used to help the client differentiate ("unblend") their core Self from a protective part:
Once the Self gets to know the protector(s), and the protector(s) feel understood by the Self, the internal attachment rupture is repaired. The process of understanding the protector's positive intent through witnessing can be a slow and iterative process. 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 less extreme role or a healthy one. [3]
Proponents of the model argue that the "witnessing" and "unburdening" phases of IFS parallel the neurological process of memory reconsolidation. According to researchers such as Bruce Ecker, the IFS process satisfies the brain's requirements for unlocking and updating a traumatic memory pathway. [9] Specifically, the model simultaneously activates the original emotional memory (via the exile) while creating a contradictory experience of safety and compassion (via the Self), a state known as a "mismatch experience" or prediction error, which is necessary to permanently revise neural networks. [10]
Early research into IFS has focused on its efficacy for trauma and physical health conditions. Pilot studies have reported positive outcomes for PTSD, with one study (Hodgdon et al., 2022) noting significant reductions in depressive symptoms and dissociation. [11]
In a 2013 randomized controlled trial (n=79) published in the Journal of Rheumatology, patients receiving IFS therapy demonstrated statistically significant reductions in pain and physical impairment (p < .05) and depressive symptoms (p < .01) compared to the control group. The study noted that sustained improvements were observed one year post-intervention. [12]
While large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remain limited compared to modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy, a 2025 scoping review published in Counselling Psychology Quarterly analyzed the growing body of peer-reviewed research. The review identified IFS as a "promising therapeutic approach" for conditions such as PTSD, depression, and chronic pain, noting significant symptom reduction in pilot trials. However, the authors concluded that further rigorous, large-sample studies are required to fully establish efficacy and determining specific contraindications. [13]
IFS was developed by Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s. [1] Schwartz developed the model based on his work with family therapy clients who described their internal lives as interacting parts, though he has also cited spiritual influences and 'guides' in the development of his later theories. [7] The model was initially met with skepticism in academic psychiatry, with some concerns raised regarding its safety. However, it later gained significant traction among clinicians. Schwartz eventually left academia and pursued a "grassroots" approach, promoting the model to a wider audience, including practitioners, coaches, and the general public. In 2000, he founded the Center for Self-Leadership (later renamed the IFS Institute) to promote the therapy. [4]
In 2015, IFS was listed on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) as an evidence-based practice. The registry rated the model as 'effective' for improving general functioning and well-being, and 'promising' for treating phobias, panic, and generalized anxiety. [2]
The therapy also gained wider public recognition in 2015, which Schwartz credits to the Pixar movie Inside Out . [4]
Therapists Sharon A. Deacon and Jonathan C. Davis suggested that working with one's parts may "be emotional and anxiety-provoking for clients," and that IFS may not work well with delusional, paranoid, or schizophrenic clients who may not be grounded in reality and therefore misuse the idea of "parts". [14]
In 2025, New York Magazine (The Cut) published an investigative report linking IFS techniques to malpractice allegations at the Castlewood Treatment Center. Former patients alleged that aggressive "parts work" was used to induce false memories of abuse. The report noted that Castlewood was directed by Mark Schwartz (no relation to IFS founder Richard Schwartz), though Richard Schwartz had served as a paid consultant for the facility. [4]
In response, the IFS Institute stated that the specific malpractice allegations at Castlewood Treatment Center involved a former consultant rather than the model's founder, and reiterated that official IFS protocol explicitly cautions therapists against validating recovered memories without corroborating evidence. It was stated that the coercive techniques described—such as forcing "parts" to reveal trauma before a client is stable—violate the model's core safety protocols. [15]