Absolutely yes! IFS has been an evidence-based practice since 2015. Since then, it has quickly become one of the favorite modalities by clinicians worldwide due to its non-judgmental and non-pathologizing approach. It accurately and compassionately reframes a person’s internal experience, and has given many clients the insights they have been looking for regarding why they are the way they are.

Personally, I have been receiving IFS therapy in my own work as well as IFS training, which I can honestly say have transformed my relationship with myself fundamentally.

Professionally, I have been using IFS in my practice for years, and have witnessed profound and amazing changes in my clients. Due to its experiential nature, my clients have been able to apply it to their lives outside the session much more easily, leading to long-term and stable positive outcome.

Even though there is the word “family” in Internal Family Systems, the primary focus of this therapy modality is actually you, and your own INTERNAL system, such as your own thoughts, feelings, sensations, and memories).

By focusing and exploring your own inner system, you will be able to gain powerful insight and knowledge on why you are the way you are.

Even though the focus is not on the external systems in your life, you will be gain new level of understanding of how your external systems work, and how to navigate conflicts with others because of the work with your inner self.

Definitely not! Every person has many different “parts” or “sides” of their personality. This itself is very common and normal.

It is different from the “personality” referred to in Dissociative Identity Disorder (a.k.a. Multiple Personality Disorder).

As a matter of fact, many people that come to therapy share the same struggle of being vulnerable and open with their own emotions. You are not alone at all.

The wonderful thing I love about IFS is its non-pathologizing approach toward our inner experience. For example, this part of you that does not want to talk about emotions…instead of judging it, we might want to start with focusing on this fear of talking about emotions curiously, to see if we can find out more about it, such as what it is trying to accomplish, and how it has been serving you.

It might feel counterproductive to focus on this because you might have been told by others (or another part of you) “just do it!”. In my clinical work, many clients shared with me that when they became more curious of their own fears or thoughts, they usually had very powerful realization about themselves. Once you get to know yourself better, you will naturally start to fight with yourself less, and things will naturally feel much easier.

Yes! For videos on IFS, please visit IFS Institute here.