Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an approach to psychotherapy that recognizes each individual is comprised of subpersonalities, working together to drive your thoughts and behaviors. In a perfect world all of these inner parts are working together efficiently to create a healthy balance. However, when a trauma is experienced, resulting in pain and struggle for some of these internal workings, this can lead to internal conflict. IFS therapy focuses on identifying these damaged parts and allowing them to begin the healing process. This revolutionary therapy technique encourages the individual to appreciate each of these subpersonalities. By allowing the damaged parts the chance to heal, all of these inner workings can once again resume a healthy balance.
Goals of Internal Family Systems Therapy
Awareness is an important part of IFS therapy. A therapist can help the patient become more cognizant of the many parts that make up this Internal Family Systems, and each one’s role as a unit. By identifying the parts within yourself that are hurt or damaged by the past trauma, you can begin to heal and transform, letting go of the damage. As the individual goes through the process of healing these damaged parts, they can also learn to trust in themselves to take control of their own life in a positive way. This healing transformation will take place through compassion and understanding while ensuring that you are on the right path for the future. Once the burden of the past trauma has been addressed and the important healing steps have been taken, the individual can begin to feel a restored inner harmony. The internal feeling of fighting against yourself is gone and the balance with all parts working in sync has been restored. This is the ultimate goal of IFS therapy. While the process may be in depth and arduous, the resulting peace within yourself is well worth the journey.
How IFS Therapy Can Help Those Suffering with Addiction
Those that have experienced significant past trauma may turn to drugs or alcohol to manage these feelings. The Internal Family Systems approach recognizes that this type of substance abuse is harmful but has served a purpose in the past. Instead of wanting to become an addict, the individual was looking for a way to manage the internal pain that they were feeling. This allows the addict to set themselves free from the guilt and self-loathing that may have gone hand in hand with their addiction. Instead, the focus can be shifted to developing effective coping mechanisms, beyond drugs and alcohol, to manage these feelings and begin the work to heal those damaged parts.
Giving yourself the grace needed to accept the past and move forward in the future is an important step in the recovery process. IFS Therapy is a good way to work on healing from your addiction, while recognizing that this was caused by some internal parts that were not working properly due to past trauma. An experienced professional trained in Internal Family Systems Therapy can help guide you on this journey through the healing and recovery process.
