What Is IFS?

The IFS lens sees that we are multiple, having many parts that hold varying beliefs. For example, a part of me really wants to buy an item, while another part says, ‘That’s not in our budget!’
IFS also promotes that our parts either have helpful intentions, or are holding pain. For example, some parts may attempt to protect us by:

• anxiously anticipating every possibility, or working extremely hard to always do the right thing
• shutting us down, or outbursts of anger when it all feels too much or like we’re under attack

Other parts may carry painful beliefs, such as ‘I’m not good enough’, or ‘I will always be alone’. These are the parts that cause our protective parts mentioned above to play their roles – both by anticipating and responding to these painful beliefs.

The IFS understanding is that there is also a Self, our inner resource. Our Self has always been there, is our inherent essence as humans, and is not broken. The Self desires to connect, love, and heal all our parts, and just needs to be rediscovered.

As this is a relational process, IFS is not commonly a brief therapy. Our parts rightfully need to give consent to the work, at every stage. This validating and trauma-informed approach is gentle and also means our parts are not pathologised or shunned. We turn towards them and listen to their stories. This growing understanding and compassion for our parts results in a renewed narrative, clarity, and harmony within.