What's it all about?

More than 30 years ago, a man named Richard Schwartz realized that we all have different aspects of our personality. His clients often called these parts, as in ‘I mostly like my job, but there’s a part of me that wishes I could see what else is out there.’ Of course, people talk in this way about much more than their jobs.

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This is normal. Every person has them. It’s how we’re wired as humans.

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Parts

These different aspects of our being may appear in many different ways. Normal thinking, or talking to ourselves in our mind, strong feelings, or physical sensations in the body can all be coming from parts. So can habits and patterns. IFS gives us the tools and the framework to make sense of this.

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Our parts are trying to help us, and many times they do. But sometimes, they take on roles and behaviors that cause trouble in our lives. Even though they are doing what they think they have to do to protect us, or motivate us, or keep us safe, they can cause unwanted consequences. 

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In IFS, we learn to build relationships with our parts, rather than be taken over by them. When we discover how they came to believe what they believe, we can help them heal or release what’s bothering them. Then they often relax back, or contribute in more helpful ways, and let us have more choice about how to handle things.

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The Self

Beneath our parts, at the core of our being, we also have a true Self. It’s a natural energy and way of being. When we feel it, we have a sense that is often described with 8 ”C” words: a sense of calm, clarity, courage, connection, compassion, confidence, creativity, and curiosity. As we learn to help our parts release their burdens, they allow the Self to shine through, and we experience these qualities more often.

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Because IFS is so powerful, compassionate, and effective, it is woven into many other hypnotherapeutic techniques.